not at all!
It's just that I have far greater trust in Nature than Natures design for man/woman.

Rick you always ignore my micro-organisms. Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, microfungi and algae will be here when we are gone and they don't have consciousness (OK I made a contradictory post elsewhere on this forum, but I've got a different hat on today) for their memory or decision-making (better as "response" to stimuli). In particular, the prokaryotic cell has been around longer than any other type, so doesn't that show an evolutionary advantage?

Im curious how does one define what is and isnt conscious, is it not possible that we are unconscious right now and this is just a play thing for our subconscious?

if you are unconscious right now, then how can you be aware of reading these words?

I guess it depends on the organism. Trees would not benefit from consciousness, as sitting around soaking in rays doesn't require much thought. It seems, though, that large and complex animal life benefits from consciousness in a signficant way. Perhaps it is in complexity of interaction with the environment that consciousness becomes important. Perhaps consciousness is favored because it increases the computing power of the control system (nervous system) of the organism.

I think that if anything else were truely consciously aware out there, then we (the human race) would surely have discovered it (and exploited it, and drained it of its conscious energy?) by now.

This makes me genuinely laugh hey hey....you're always there with that British humour.

....other British comedy that I like include ----> Monty Python, Mr. Bean, Red Dwarf, and Absolutely Fabulous.

maybe something is watching us all the time, and laughing its socks off !

That's exactly what Stephen Jay Gould (http://www.stephenjaygould.org/) says as he argues against humanist chauvenism: we tend to believe that life has a purpose and that purpose is us. He may be right scientifically: microorganisms are the most numerous of species, but humanistically I think he is wrong. Because we (homo sapiens) are the measure of all things, we get to say what's right and wrong and what's important. Consciousness is important because I say so.

Surely, you only "think" you say so.