In this thought-provoking piece by Terry Bisson, a conversation takes place between two individuals discussing the nature of extraterrestrial life. The dialogue reveals that human-like beings are actually made entirely of meat, leading to skepticism and disbelief. The author highlights the unique concept of sentient meat, emphasizing that it is capable of thinking, dreaming, and even communicating through flapping and singing. The controversial aspect lies in the decision to either make contact with these meat creatures or ignore them entirely. Ultimately, the conversation ends with the realization that the universe would be a lonely place without the possibility of connecting with other forms of life.
https://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/thinkingMeat.html