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Extra-terrestrial intelligent life

sbrettt

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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.
 
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It would turn the world on its heels, as it would upset the religious and governmental power structure. Regardless of their peacefulness, many people would feel threatened and uneasy. I'd personally love to see it. I would not change my outlook on life, as my personal philosophy is pretty secure, and I'm already open-minded about the endless possibilities of what could be.
 
I, for one, welcome our new overlords.
 
I'd join the Starfleet academy and learn to speak Romulan.
 
I think it would be interesting to see how this worlds superpowers react to real superpowers.
 
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.

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.
 
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.

That they possess technology we do not would not mean they are superior. Maybe they stole the technology; maybe they focused on that alone and have no idea how to do things we take for granted or never figured out how to do things we have. Could go either way. We are basically a product of our collective needs as a society. Their needs may just have been different.
 
They'd probably just take all of our natural resources and beer and blow up our planet upon leaving.

Or who knows, they could be nice. :confused:
 
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:
 
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I'd be in awe, because the power of a species that has mastered intergalactic space travel would be so far beyond our own that if they were not peaceful, we could not possibly defend ourselves.

However, if they did come as peaceful galactic mentors I would be thrilled, excited for the potential learning experience, and hoping they could give us the secret to a decade or so more life so I could watch the momentous changes that would most certain occur.
 
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. We have no way of knowing what these aliens might want from us on a long term basis, or what kind of negative impacts their arrival might have on social, international, or economic affairs here on earth.

The technology they 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.



I dunno. 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 would be any kind of angelic presence either.

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:
One thing I wonder is how our ethics would change from new technology. I think it's possible a type 2 civilization could make stars, like our sun, immortal by supplying it with a steady supply of Hydrogen. Also, why does a race have to be aggressive to have a united society? I think they would explore the stars for a better understanding of the universe, and for sight-seeing. Although, I do agree it's very possible they could explore for their own opportunistic motivations. Not trying to argue, just to see your point of view.
 
I would seek to acquire their technology and use it to develop new forms of sex toys and internet porn.
 
More than likely traveling at the speed of light would be child's play for any extraterrestrial life form capable of coming here. In order to come to our humble little planet from places in or out of our galaxy, I would think it would have to be much, much older than us. They would have to travel not just hundreds of times the speed of light, but probably thousands times faster.

Even if we could travel say 100 times faster than the speed of light (186,000 miles "per second")...it would take us 250 earth years to get to the center of our own galaxy.

Just a thought...
 
One thing I wonder is how our ethics would change from new technology. I think it's possible a type 2 civilization could make stars, like our sun, immortal by supplying it with a steady supply of Hydrogen. Also, why does a race have to be aggressive to have a united society? I think they would explore the stars for a better understanding of the universe, and for sight-seeing. Although, I do agree it's very possible they could explore for their own opportunistic motivations. Not trying to argue, just to see your point of view.

I agree with you on the bolded point. I tend to believe that for a race/civilization to survive its negative tendencies, it must evolve emotionally and psychologically, or otherwise, it would crumble eventually. I would expect them to be less emotionally-dominated, and wiser, with an intellect which was not so egotistical in nature as many in the intellectual crowd on this planet seem to exhibit.
 
One thing I wonder is how our ethics would change from new technology. I think it's possible a type 2 civilization could make stars, like our sun, immortal by supplying it with a steady supply of Hydrogen.

I don't know if that would change much of anything ethics wise. Most people do not really take the time to think about such things (if they are even aware of them at all).

Besides, it is kind of a long shot that we would even still be around when that kind of thing started to become an issue anyway.

If the aliens were to bring the secret to biological immortality on the other hand, that might shake things up a bit. :lol:

Also, why does a race have to be aggressive to have a united society? I think they would explore the stars for a better understanding of the universe, and for sight-seeing. Although, I do agree it's very possible they could explore for their own opportunistic motivations. Not trying to argue, just to see your point of view.

Generally speaking, someone does not become the "dominant species" on their given planet by being a push over. Before any serious attempt at society or advanced technology can be made, an intelligent species would first have to master and learn to efficiently exploit its natural environment in such a way for those kinds of pursuits to be made feasible.

This implies a certain degree of latent aggression.

One cannot devote much time to philosophy or mathematics, after all, if they're constantly trying to evade being eaten by predators. Progress requires a certain degree of "breathing room" which a given species must be bloody minded enough to carve out for itself.
 
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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.

We'd probably capture them and perform horrible experiments on them. :lol: And if you think racism is bad now . . . :shock:
 
E.T.'s would have their own problems if they had free will like us.
 
I don't know if that would change much of anything ethics wise. Most people do not really take the time to think about such things (if they are even aware of them at all).

Besides, it is kind of a long shot that we would even still be around when that kind of thing started to become an issue anyway.

If the aliens were to bring the secret to biological immortality on the other hand, that might shake things up quite a bit. :lol:



Generally speaking, someone does not become the "dominant species" on their given planet by being a push over. Before any serious attempt at society or advanced technology can be made, an intelligent species would first have to master and learn to efficiently exploit its natural environment in such a way for those kinds of pursuits to be made feasible.

This implies a certain degree of latent aggression.

One cannot devote much time to philosophy or mathematics, after all, if they're constantly trying to evade being eaten by predators. Progress requires a certain degree of "breathing room" which a given species must be bloody minded enough to carve out for itself.

I think it depends. Are those predators also intelligent, or are they like our natural predators? If they are intelligent I imagine they would get to the point where they set aside their differences and unite for a common good.
 
LOL I think it would be the other way around.

But you said they were friendly. We might not necessarily be considered "friendly" on the other hand. I hope they don't land in the Middle East. That could be trouble. Hope their women are wearing burkas. Yikes! :mrgreen:
 
Even if we could travel say 100 times faster than the speed of light (186,000 miles "per second")...it would take us 250 earth years to get to the center of our own galaxy.

Just a thought...

Since you seem so good at that math thing, answer this:

186,000*100*365*24*60*60 = how many bottles of beer on the wall?
 
I agree with you on the bolded point. I tend to believe that for a race/civilization to survive its negative tendencies, it must evolve emotionally and psychologically, or otherwise, it would crumble eventually. I would expect them to be less emotionally-dominated, and wiser, with an intellect which was not so egotistical in nature as many in the intellectual crowd on this planet seem to exhibit.

Well so far the only "aliens" we have found are bacteria. :lol: Not very evolved.
 
What the if we encountered intelligent life that was technology inferior to us to the point that we could dominate them? Would it be like the discovery of the "new world" all over again, or have we grown up as a species?
 
I think it depends. Are those predators also intelligent, or are they like our natural predators? If they are intelligent I imagine they would get to the point where they set aside their differences and unite for a common good.

It didn't quite work out that way between our own ancestors and the Neanderthals. Just sayin... ;)

At best, we drove them into hiding while stealing all of their hunting grounds, leading to their eventual extinction. At worst, we hunted and ate them while occasionally pausing to rape their women.

Keep in mind, this is a species that wasn't all that different from ourselves we're talking about here as well.

I can't even imagine what kind of shenanigans might go down if we were talking about a race of intelligent lions encountering a race of intelligent sheep.
 
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