Life Looks for Life
2
First things first: This thread will be working under the assumption that there is civilized life on a planet other than earth. We already have substantial evidence that there is life on other planets, so let us assume that somewhere, it has evolved to a point similar to or beyond our own.
Here is the question of this discussion: Would it be a good idea to make contact with this life if we found it?
Think about it for a second. Our species is a real shitstorm. We are a highly xenophobic species, and hate others for something as stupid as their superficial differences from us, we go to war over such ridiculous things as religions, we are terrible, terrible people. [only for the most part, I'm not saying that this applies to everyone]
What if the life on another planet was similar? Could we live in peace? Doubtful. Our planet's history is filled with horrible sections of one people entering a new land and completely ruining the culture and life of the inhabitants simply because one group thought they were superior to the other. And what if our species was the inferior one? Look at the differences in the level of technological development just among the countries of our planet, and what if the life in the other planet had existed for hundreds of years longer? Would they try to "improve" our less developed existence through colonization? Could we stop them?
Or maybe the perspective in this video is right, and that to survive for so long a species must evolve to a point beyond our current idiocy, and by the time we are ready to find and make contact with other life we will be past all of this nonsense.
I have no real answer, there are too many variables to consider to make a defining claim. But I want one thing clear: I do support space expansion. I support it with vigor as a necessity to our survival in the universe in the future, I am simply wondering about the specific problem of contact with another species. SO PLEASE stay on topic.
Any ideas?
Here is the question of this discussion: Would it be a good idea to make contact with this life if we found it?
Think about it for a second. Our species is a real shitstorm. We are a highly xenophobic species, and hate others for something as stupid as their superficial differences from us, we go to war over such ridiculous things as religions, we are terrible, terrible people. [only for the most part, I'm not saying that this applies to everyone]
What if the life on another planet was similar? Could we live in peace? Doubtful. Our planet's history is filled with horrible sections of one people entering a new land and completely ruining the culture and life of the inhabitants simply because one group thought they were superior to the other. And what if our species was the inferior one? Look at the differences in the level of technological development just among the countries of our planet, and what if the life in the other planet had existed for hundreds of years longer? Would they try to "improve" our less developed existence through colonization? Could we stop them?
Or maybe the perspective in this video is right, and that to survive for so long a species must evolve to a point beyond our current idiocy, and by the time we are ready to find and make contact with other life we will be past all of this nonsense.
Spoiler:
I have no real answer, there are too many variables to consider to make a defining claim. But I want one thing clear: I do support space expansion. I support it with vigor as a necessity to our survival in the universe in the future, I am simply wondering about the specific problem of contact with another species. SO PLEASE stay on topic.
Any ideas?
0
This is an interesting question...
I think there will be an inevitable war with another species. Possibly after the honeymoon period, but I feel something will happen.
Edit: If I had a chance to venture out into space and meet another species I'd take it.
I think there will be an inevitable war with another species. Possibly after the honeymoon period, but I feel something will happen.
Edit: If I had a chance to venture out into space and meet another species I'd take it.
0
This topic reminds me of the Age of Discovery, where white men "contacted" native Americans and then later stripped them of their land and resources.
This topic is also extremely complicated...
Assuming we do find other forms of life, it would be almost impossible for us to contact them with the current technology we have now. The fastest form of communication we have would be radio waves or other EM waves. Since 1873, we have been broadcasting radio waves into space which have now traveled as far as the distant pulsars and quasars. If we were to discover another Earth like planet (hypothetically via Hubble space telescope or a similar one), the image we'd receive would be millions of years old. Who knows what has happened since then...
The only way of contacting aliens would be if they found us and then decided to contact us. I don't believe we have any option of choosing to interact with aliens at all from where we are now.
1)If we find aliens, you and I will be long dead before any real contact occurs.
2)If aliens find us, they'll definitely have the superior technology hundreds of times as advanced as ours. They will decide if we live or die.
This topic is also extremely complicated...
Assuming we do find other forms of life, it would be almost impossible for us to contact them with the current technology we have now. The fastest form of communication we have would be radio waves or other EM waves. Since 1873, we have been broadcasting radio waves into space which have now traveled as far as the distant pulsars and quasars. If we were to discover another Earth like planet (hypothetically via Hubble space telescope or a similar one), the image we'd receive would be millions of years old. Who knows what has happened since then...
The only way of contacting aliens would be if they found us and then decided to contact us. I don't believe we have any option of choosing to interact with aliens at all from where we are now.
1)If we find aliens, you and I will be long dead before any real contact occurs.
2)If aliens find us, they'll definitely have the superior technology hundreds of times as advanced as ours. They will decide if we live or die.
0
The world we live in is too fragmented as it is. There would be too many disagreements over what to do with the contact made.
I think the first thing to consider when me make contact with alien lifeforms is whether or not they are intelligent lifeforms in the first place. This does not apply if we are the discovered, and not the one discovering.
I think the first thing to consider when me make contact with alien lifeforms is whether or not they are intelligent lifeforms in the first place. This does not apply if we are the discovered, and not the one discovering.
0
I think it depends heavily on what sort of intelligent species we encounter.
Humanity is nothing if not a highly opportunistic species with a gift for survival, so it will come down to just how much we can take advantage of any life we run across.
If we run across non-sapients within a consumable biosphere, they are probably doomed to life as a luxury good, or perhaps a staple food-source for a solar cluster, or some other domestic use.
If we run across sapients on a tribal level, We'll most likely make contact, and depending on how well news coverage has spread to that cluster, either immediately take advantage of them, either in one-sided trade agreements or just "I have the railgun, I make the fucking rules" servitude, or make a show of peaceful interaction while fleecing them for all its worth the second the cameras are gone. It's the terrible mix that will result of corporate sponsorship and local "Gods in large metal ships omg" opinions.
Any Kingdom-era, say the equivalent of 1000-1600 AD, will have likely evolved a society beyond "Omg spacegods", and will attempt to treat with us for trade and "Don't bomb us from low orbit" agreements. Probably not very effectively, but still. Assuming the planet lacks any sort of plotium-style resource that is absolutely wonderful or vital to some major industry, trade will still be heavily onesided, but not nearly as much as with the tribals.
Any Pre-industrial society, circa 1600-1900AD equivalent, assuming they don't have sharp, spiky tendrils that survive by torturing live food to death or some other notable eldritch aberration-ality, will probably receive a solid kick to the industrial rear and jump up a technological level, since there would be no easy way to exploit them, but plenty of ways to bring them into the fold.
Same for a Post-industrial, Pre-information civilization.
Anything at the Information age will have to be studied closely before contact. I mean, imagine an alien 4chan.
*shudders*
But I doubt any society post-industrial will be exploited too badly. Its most often more trouble then its worth.
Humanity is nothing if not a highly opportunistic species with a gift for survival, so it will come down to just how much we can take advantage of any life we run across.
If we run across non-sapients within a consumable biosphere, they are probably doomed to life as a luxury good, or perhaps a staple food-source for a solar cluster, or some other domestic use.
If we run across sapients on a tribal level, We'll most likely make contact, and depending on how well news coverage has spread to that cluster, either immediately take advantage of them, either in one-sided trade agreements or just "I have the railgun, I make the fucking rules" servitude, or make a show of peaceful interaction while fleecing them for all its worth the second the cameras are gone. It's the terrible mix that will result of corporate sponsorship and local "Gods in large metal ships omg" opinions.
Any Kingdom-era, say the equivalent of 1000-1600 AD, will have likely evolved a society beyond "Omg spacegods", and will attempt to treat with us for trade and "Don't bomb us from low orbit" agreements. Probably not very effectively, but still. Assuming the planet lacks any sort of plotium-style resource that is absolutely wonderful or vital to some major industry, trade will still be heavily onesided, but not nearly as much as with the tribals.
Any Pre-industrial society, circa 1600-1900AD equivalent, assuming they don't have sharp, spiky tendrils that survive by torturing live food to death or some other notable eldritch aberration-ality, will probably receive a solid kick to the industrial rear and jump up a technological level, since there would be no easy way to exploit them, but plenty of ways to bring them into the fold.
Same for a Post-industrial, Pre-information civilization.
Anything at the Information age will have to be studied closely before contact. I mean, imagine an alien 4chan.
*shudders*
But I doubt any society post-industrial will be exploited too badly. Its most often more trouble then its worth.
0
We are a long way from being ready to greet beings from other planets. we can't even get along with each other. it would only be a short time before some group of humans picked a fight with the 'aliens'.
[size=1]Tell Gort "Klaatu barada nikto".[/h]
[size=1]Tell Gort "Klaatu barada nikto".[/h]
0
Cruz
Dope Stone Lion
What if they don't have the same deficiencies are us? Would they perhaps help us get our shit together?
0
Any new alien species we discover will most likely vaporize for no reason as the covenenant did in Halo. Our government will unthinkably do the same, as they do not have the capacity to think for a minute.
-1
GroverCleaveland wrote...
First things first: This thread will be working under the assumption that there is civilized life on a planet other than earth. We already have substantial evidence that there is life on other planets, so let us assume that somewhere, it has evolved to a point similar to or beyond our own.Here is the question of this discussion: Would it be a good idea to make contact with this life if we found it?
Think about it for a second. Our species is a real shitstorm. We are a highly xenophobic species, and hate others for something as stupid as their superficial differences from us, we go to war over such ridiculous things as religions, we are terrible, terrible people. [only for the most part, I'm not saying that this applies to everyone]
What if the life on another planet was similar? Could we live in peace? Doubtful. Our planet's history is filled with horrible sections of one people entering a new land and completely ruining the culture and life of the inhabitants simply because one group thought they were superior to the other. And what if our species was the inferior one? Look at the differences in the level of technological development just among the countries of our planet, and what if the life in the other planet had existed for hundreds of years longer? Would they try to "improve" our less developed existence through colonization? Could we stop them?
Or maybe the perspective in this video is right, and that to survive for so long a species must evolve to a point beyond our current idiocy, and by the time we are ready to find and make contact with other life we will be past all of this nonsense.
Spoiler:
I have no real answer, there are too many variables to consider to make a defining claim. But I want one thing clear: I do support space expansion. I support it with vigor as a necessity to our survival in the universe in the future, I am simply wondering about the specific problem of contact with another species. SO PLEASE stay on topic.
Any ideas?
Will smith has the answer
0
Classy wrote...
When I saw your title I could only think "Love insists the loved loves back"My title was taken from this video:
0
Yeah, but unless it's as crazy as we are, we'd probably end up destroying it with our foods, cultures and ways of life.
0
Its a lot of information but bare with me, I took like ten minutes coming up with the how, why, should we, etc response to this question and thread.
Well first off mankind has gotten nowhere by cowering in fear. We've always feared things that were different than us but our fear was overturned by curiosity causing us to boldly face our problems head-on in order to discover the unknown that intrigued us so vividly.
We all know the human race is flawed in many ways and we have much to learn about ourselves.
However, this requires some very intense thinking before any course of action takes place. We must first determine if they are hostile creatures. Its as simple as do they attack us on sight or not. We also have to think about how we're presenting ourselves. Our demeanor must not be aggressive by any means.
There many reasons for why things happen the way they do. For instance they might be like us. Often we would attack a monstrous creature because of how it looks. We depend on looks when we determine whether or not something would harm us. That is why people fear bugs, the sea, snakes, etc without even having experienced them. They fear the unknown and what it "may" do to us. People who have experienced these fears from actual experience are a different story. These people use this fear as a defense mechanism to protect themselves from future harm.
We also have to remember that fear is a controlling factor and letting it control us will only result in a stagnant human race. For example, our fear of robots turning against us. But just because we face our fears head on doesn't mean we we should be ignorant about it. We think it through logically and determine the best course of action to take. The reason i mention all of this is because if we don't advance we will never be able to face future problems and our race will become extincted.
Well first off mankind has gotten nowhere by cowering in fear. We've always feared things that were different than us but our fear was overturned by curiosity causing us to boldly face our problems head-on in order to discover the unknown that intrigued us so vividly.
We all know the human race is flawed in many ways and we have much to learn about ourselves.
However, this requires some very intense thinking before any course of action takes place. We must first determine if they are hostile creatures. Its as simple as do they attack us on sight or not. We also have to think about how we're presenting ourselves. Our demeanor must not be aggressive by any means.
There many reasons for why things happen the way they do. For instance they might be like us. Often we would attack a monstrous creature because of how it looks. We depend on looks when we determine whether or not something would harm us. That is why people fear bugs, the sea, snakes, etc without even having experienced them. They fear the unknown and what it "may" do to us. People who have experienced these fears from actual experience are a different story. These people use this fear as a defense mechanism to protect themselves from future harm.
We also have to remember that fear is a controlling factor and letting it control us will only result in a stagnant human race. For example, our fear of robots turning against us. But just because we face our fears head on doesn't mean we we should be ignorant about it. We think it through logically and determine the best course of action to take. The reason i mention all of this is because if we don't advance we will never be able to face future problems and our race will become extincted.
0
I'm neutral on the subject on whether we should come into contact with other forms of civilisation outside of Earth. If they were technologically superior, we'd be at a severe disadvantage in a warlike scenario, and if they were weaker, would would subjugate and destroy their way of life. I think before anything were to happen, it would need to be heavily scouted out.
0
SurvivorType wrote...
I'm neutral on the subject on whether we should come into contact with other forms of civilisation outside of Earth. If they were technologically superior, we'd be at a severe disadvantage in a warlike scenario, and if they were weaker, would would subjugate and destroy their way of life. I think before anything were to happen, it would need to be heavily scouted out.I've always wondered how wars would be fought against an alien species wouldn't using biological warfare work the best in this sort scenario?
Like when the settlers first met the Indians in the Americas and gave them smallpox infested blankets. Then again the same tactic could be used against mankind.
0
Until we can live as a single species without killing and hating each other then we should consider talking to aliens (if they exist). Otherwise we'll probably end up in a war and if they are more advanced then us, they will blow us to shit. And the main problem is, we have no idea how they might percieve what we consider normal, they could look at farms and animals being slaughtered for food as mass murder/ genocide. Its risky as hell, i'd be against making contact of any kind unless they initiate it, then it might just make it worse to ignore it.
And to be honest, if they came into being totally independant of humans then we will likely not be able to understand them at all.
And to be honest, if they came into being totally independant of humans then we will likely not be able to understand them at all.
0
spectre257 wrote...
If I had a chance to venture out into space and meet another species I'd take it.^This
There has got to be other life out there and I wish we could interact with it. Hopefully it is a friendly interaction and not a Take over the world death battle.