While laudable, I find myself returning to the same thought every time I hear something about S.E.T.I.

Shouldn't we be looking for it here at home before we go poking around the universe for it?

Why is there a "should"? Does one preclude the other? Does it have to be first/then, either/or? Does there have to be a "sequence"?  

I'm with Doc.  Google  and Facebook could fund the search,  Google to help find them and FB to get to know them when we do.

2 million is not much for this type of program ... if the US can't pay for it, why on earth are they spending billions on Afghanistan's defense force.

There ya go, Wiz! We'll be able to "friend" them!

Seriously, though... I believe in "discovery" and "hope". They are powerful motivators.

"SETI" was the first "social" effort to generate computing power across vast segments of the public... the people who share a dream and want to be part of it in whatever way they can... I saw the benefit of that then, and want to see it continue in the present and future. 

Not everyone can be an explorer in the physical sense. But: Everyone can help explore. I don't want that taken away from people.

People have to be able to dream and hope to get someone to a mountain top to look farther. All they want is to be part of the "stand on my shoulders".

I love the romantic idea of SETI... making contact.... ending up like a warm and fuzzy episode of Star Trek.... but, in reality,  I have come 'round to the thinking of Stephen Hawking...

'If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.'

I think we should still explore.... just not advertise.... 

it's unwise to be attracting such attention with possible advanced civilisations who have possibly screwed up their planet as we are doing a good job on ours...and looking for new digs...or resources.....

hell, we're still unable to protect ourselves from civilisation-dooming sized comets/asteriods impacting the Earth.... 

and Hollywood sure ain't gonna come to the rescue...  

Frankly, I think the aliens should meet us half way and help fund SETI.

I'd definitely agree with that, syd.

Of course, should they be unfriendly... we have the ultimate weapon. starkers. (assuming they breathe, and understand British humour).

HEY!

Happy Diamond Jubilee to you guys.

see.... it's not  a good ending....   

There are lots of animals out there in the universe and they do not use radio signals.

Believe me, extraterrestrial beings want nothing to do with this sick planet. Why do you think they come back and check on us every now and then? I mean, who would want to deal with a race that does nothng but pollute their planet and kill each other constantly? I know I wouldn't.

They want nothing to do with a low life intelligence like us.

So while I believe in what SETI is trying to do, I don't really see it ever accomplishing anything in the long run.

This planet is a cesspit, why would anyone come here. I'd leave if I could...

SETI used to be pretty good "bang for buck", a lot in part of the network of users who contributed processing power. I remember setting up computers to have a screen saver so that they could process packets of information. Talk about security risks in today's world. A real bug.

My first thought was, "they can't go broke, they don't cost anything". I saw a program several months ago that showed the real business end of SETI, the telescopes and such. That definitely costs money. Don't those big guys have their own radio telescopes?

Just one look at their web site shows money being spent, I'm sure that it is necessary now days.

http://www.seti.org/

Honestly SETI is a waste. Its looking for radio waves transmitted by a civilization at exactly a specific point of radio development (which lasted under 100 years for humanity) while also advertising ourselves to potential hostiles...

What we need is development of orbital infrastructure and 100% space based industry (we need to colonize the asteroid ring not other planets).

The notion aliens will want earth for resources is absurd. Space is too big and earth is too small... the only interest they will have in earth is that humans are on it.

However, they could try to exterminate us from xenophobia, or uplift us, or who knows... and they could just come here to colonize the star system (not earth specifically) which happens to INCLUDE earth.

As far as columbus and indians. As much of an ass as he was, indians got wiped out via disease due to hundreds of years of living in clean conditions. While the europeans lived in high density and filth and constant plagues to toughen up their immune systems. Not colonists.

Biased... who says it's the same for other civilizations?

The infrastructure on earth needs some help until then.... and again, why either/or?

Not in the least.