I suspect it is a mix of both...

Terrestrial Planet Finding is excatly about SETI - that's the only reason the public pays for it. They don't give a s*** about solar system formation... but those that do are willing to pander to them in order to get funding to feed their research addiction monkeys...

How the hell would TPF find ETI?! It can detect and learn a lot about other planets, but is essentially useless for SETI- only an uninformed twit, such as yourself, would think otherwise... Please tell me how TPF would detect SETI? The CLOSEST it could come is MAYBE detect free oxygen that MIGHT indicate some form of life exists on the planet... SETI is FAR better done with other methods... YOU clearly do not understand this- you are making a fool of yourself. I have studied interferometers, My place of work has an astronomical interferometer in the basement... Do you REALLY want to continue humiliating yourself publicly by arguing this with me? You WILL lose...

As for what the public is interested in- so what? The public doesn't care about verification of relativistic frame dragging, yet we just put gravity probe B up...

Just because researches are not focussing on your pet obsession doesnt make them "research addiction monkeys"... They study important things and contribute to human understanding of the universe, wheras you just waste bandwidth with you inane ignorant ramblings...

The situtation here is similar to the situation with NASA's Mars research - a large number of people are still deluded that Mars is an Earth-like planet, one easliy settled by people. Despite the plain facts that neither of these is true, none the less NASA will pander on along...

Who thinks mars is 'earth-like' ? The most I have heard anyone say is that mars may have been kinda earthlike a few billion years ago- why do you resent that NASA studies mars? We are learning valuable information... asteroids and comets arent earth like either but we study them abd send probes to them too- do you resent that as well...

It is true that when it comes to long-term habitation mars is the best body in the solar system other than earth... thus it deserves study...

The bizarre thing though is that as Mars reasearch progresses it more and more clearly demonstrates the falsity of both beliefs... just a little over 5 months to go...

What planet are you on? Studies are showing that mars once had standing water and has water ice - its not 'earthlike' by any stretch of the imagination, unprotected humans would be immediately freeze dried, but we are finding recources on mars that make visiting there more practical than we thought before... You are skilled at demonstrating only your ignorance and bias...

I love it. First you tell me that Terrestrial Planet Finding is not about SETI, then you immediately tell me that spectra will show free oxygen, water, and land...

Now you show your lack of integrity- I NEVER SAID THAT- I said what information you COULD get IF you detected such things in the spectra... guess you realized that your argument was lame so you try to put words in my mouth... talk about gutless intellectual dishonesty!

I suppose the issue is one of self delusion: You're interested in SETI as well, for your own reasons, but just too afraid to admit to it. Me, I would like to see the Congressional legislation on this changed, and am not afraid to tell anyone why.

You are the deluded one- self deluded... sure, I think SETI is interesting, but it doesnt make it to anywhere _near_ the top of my priorities, Personally I think such searches are likely to be fruitless... but still have value... Why you decided to distort me as some SETI fanatic is beyond me- just more of your gutless intellectual dishonesty, I guess...

If this little note cuases you to show some guts, and some intellectual honesty, then I suppose it will have been for the good.

E.P. , you lecturing me on intellectual honesty is rediculous- you have neither intellect, or honesty...

Honestly, it is clear you are not up to discussing this intelligently, due to your lack of education and your bias...