-=> Quoting Charles Daniels to Jack Sargeant <=-
 CD> I wonder what would happen if one day we were to build probes piloted
 CD> by an artificial intelligence which met up in deep space with an alien
 CD> probe piloted by an ai.   Seems a lot more likely to happen that way
 CD> than by two biological crews.
     Hmmm ... So now we have these two probes out there, sniffing 
at each other like a couple of dogs.  Or, if they've got the 
smarts and fuel, dancing around each other as they try to position 
themselves for a better look.  
     "Yo!  Stand still.  I wanna have a look at you."
     "You stand still!  This ain't your back yard."
     "Ain't yours either, bud.  Now settle down afore I smack you 
one along side your power pack with my sensor boom."
     Etc ... 
     Hmmm ... yea, maybe manned missions aren't such a good idea.  
Probes are a lot less likely to get into a territorial dispute.
Michael
... I've been sane.  I am, at present, exploring my other aspects.
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