[Singollo]

I'm with Geo on this one. Given the vastness of the Universe, and the absurdity of the assumption that life must necessarily involve oxygen, water, rock planets, etc., I think it's pretty much a given that other life has existed, exists, or will exist. Seriously now, this may sound really corny and stupid, but for a long time now I have been fully and completely convinced of this. You wouldn't surprise me by proving it to me; I judge it as truth already. It seems so obvious...I even find myself taking it for granted in conversations with others (which is a little embarrassing, as you can imagine). The idea that we could be the only intelligent life in this Universe is incomprehensible to me.

That being a given, the real question, and point of contention, is this: is there other intelligent life out there right now? As has been pointed out earlier in this thread, we as a species have only been "sentient" and "aware" (if, indeed, we are) for a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a second, from the Universe's perspective. I think it is granted that there is/was/will be intelligent life out there...but I think that it is perfectly possible that we are the only intelligent life at this point in time.

For me, this creates a scenario of haunting sadness. Imagine dozens, maybe hundreds, of intelligent civilizations rising, expanding, and dying out, all without ever having contacted one another, existing alone in time, always wondering if there is anybody else out there. It makes me feel very lonely.