What would it mean for humanity if an intelligent PEACEFUL alien race showed up here? What would they be like considering the know how it would take to efficiently travel across galaxies? Would it change your outlook on life? Would you be happy or terrified? It's possible they could be radically different from any life on Earth. Perhaps with an entirely different structure than life on Earth. Maybe instead of DNA, they would have something else. I think it's possible life forms advanced enough to travel around the universe could articulate thoughts, basic for them, but unimaginable and impossible to comprehend for us. How would this impact man kind as a whole? I know this is stretch, but I think it's fun to speculate about this.
It wouldn't change my worldview in the slightest. I've never seriously believed that we could be completely alone in the universe, and my personal understanding of religion does not preclude the existence of intelligent life outside of the human race.
That being said, however; such an event would make me rather uneasy as to our species' future prospects. We simply have no way of knowing what these aliens might want from us on a long term basis, or what kind of impacts their arrival might have on the extant social, international, or economic situation here on earth.
The technology these visitors brought with them might very well send humanity into a new golden age of prosperity, but the utter chaos it would be sure to leave in its wake as the existing societal order was tossed aside and rebuilt would likely be positively cataclysmic.
Well, I think I've been very much influenced by Starfleet's Prime Directive.
Even if these beings discovered our planet, I doubt they would make contact. We're not ready. We are scoundrels and thieves, beggars and liars, and whatever other adjectives you can think of that would negatively describe us. If there are beings that have conquered the speed of light, they are far, far superior to mere mortals here in earth. The biggest mistake they could make would be to make meaningful contact with us.
Observe from a distance, perhaps. But we most assuredly would have nothing to offer them of any consequence.
I dunno. Call be cynical, but I kind of doubt that any race aggressive and deadly enough to conquer it's own planet, develop advanced technology, and explore the stars just for kicks could ever be completely benign in nature or temperament.
Our two species would probably share far more similarities than differences in that particular regard, which is frankly kind of an overtly frightening thought in and of itself. :lol:
