On: Ask HN: Do you believe we'll ever encounter aliens?

[proexploit]

Finding non-intelligent alien life would not make it more likely that intelligent alien life exists. It either exists or it doesn't. :)

[byoung2 → proexploit]

I think he meant that finding non-intelligent alien life might make the possibility that there is also intelligent alien life more believable.

[InclinedPlane → proexploit]

This is semantics.

Finding non-intelligent alien life would raise our current estimate for the likelihood that intelligent non-human life exists.

Is that better? :P

[proexploit → InclinedPlane]

Yes, much better, I was just having a little fun.