Is Distributed Computing Being Distributed Badly?

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Distributed computing could help researchers studying climate change or Alzheimer's, but SETI@home's search for extra-terrestrial intelligence continues to dominate. Wall Street Journal columnist Lee Gomes says that's a big waste, especially because SETI doesn't seem likely to yield results: 'This continued fascination with living-room SETI comes as professional setiologists concede that early assumptions about the search for intelligent life -- notably those popularized by astronomer Carl Sagan -- have proven naively optimistic. For instance, it's now conceded there is little chance of detecting the "leaking" transmissions of another planet -- its version of "I Love Lucy" broadcasts. Those signals are too weak to stand out from the universe's background noise.' Gomes also traces the origins of SETI@home to Berkeley computer scientist David P. Anderson, and explains that users stuck with the ET search rather than medical investigations in part because of nationalistic competition. Yet Anderson no longer runs SETI@home. 'Instead, he donates his spare computer power to a global warming project. But he doesn't presume to tell others what they ought to be doing with their CPU cycles.'"

Comments

Re:People are using their things wrong

[kabocox]

It's a waste that people use their cars to go see a movie when they could be delivering food to the homeless shelter.
It's a waste that people are storing ice cream in the fridge when they could be storing donated blood plasma.

How did this get modded Insightful?
Its a waste of my time and money to donate food or resources to a homeless shelter when I could be watching a movie.
Its a waste of my time and blood plasma to donate for use to others when I could be storing ice cream in my freezer.

Am I a selfish SOB? No, I'd just rather only "donate" resources to family and maybe some friends. It's vastly wasteful of my resources to "help" nameless others when I could be "helping" those I know and have relationships with. I'd give a whole paycheck's worth for "family needs." I wouldn't give a whole paycheck to nameless others. I'd get the paycheck's worth back from family. Would I get the money back from nameless others? Here is a concept every organization that recieves donations having to give the money or resources back after about a year. When I was in scool, I had to sell all sorts of things to fund school activities. My kids do the same. Why can't these "homeless" work at selling something to fund their own "homeless" shelters?

Another view

[CODiNE]

I see many comments leaning way over on the defensive side, and it's certainly true that you're all free to do what you like with your computers.

However... To help you understand how those who feel SETI is a collosal waste of time and energy, let me rephrase the story a bit.

Imagine the report of most distributed computing being devoted to SFAW that is the Search For Angel Whispers.

Can you at least comprehend how others who do not have the same faithed based system of reasoning may feel your efforts could be better used?

And yes, belief in extraterestrials is just that, and running SETI for all time knowing that SOMEDAY you'll hear something is faith.