I read Fred Hoyle's Black Cloud many decades ago, and have never considered our life forms the only ones possible. However, I'll believe in the reality of alternatives when we see them. In the meantime, back on earth, I will not be shocked if my great-great grandchildren have minds made of transistors. Surprised, but not shocked.
That's no biggie, since we were already deep into believe-it-when-I-see-it territory the moment we started talking about extraterrestrial civilizations.
In the meantime, back on earth, I will not be shocked if my great-great grandchildren have minds made of transistors.
And I'll be downright disappointed if I can't get myself one of those, someday.
If you are still alive then, I would hope you would at least be terribly sad for them. If not, then I'm terribly sad for you.