Extraterrestrials wouldn't be hostile

[HansNZ]

I was watching the movie "Signs" on video the other night. I find it interesting the way that the film industry usually portrays extraterrestrials as hostile creatures out to "get" us.

I find this highly unlikely. I believe any species that has become an advanced space faring organism would have gone through the social change necessary to purge itself of militaristic and aggressive impulses.

In my mind this is only common sense because any species which had not done this would have wiped itself out before it got to such an advanced level. Even at our relatively primitive stage of development it is only a miracle that we didn't exterminate ourselves during the Cold War.

Even if we don't kill ourselves off violently, we seem likely to do it incrementally through the destruction of our environment.

Just my 2c

 

[Lostdog]

Holy shit :havoc: smokey.

 

[Norman Bates]

Currently , some nations have the capability to turn the world into a radioactive desert, yet it hasn´t happened.
There was never more knowledge in the world than today, yet people fight each other for the same reasons as did the Roman Empire.
I don´t think technological progress and social progress go hand in hand.

 

[Warik]

I agree, but not to the point of absolute certainty.

Referring to a little bit of Star Trek sci-fi (or even world history), you can find numerous species that are hostile despite their technological superiority.

The Borg for instance.

Or, more realistically speaking, those nice gentlemen who discovered America and slaughtered the Indians. Advanced sea-faring organisms were probably yesterday's equivalent of today's space-faring organisms, yet the purging of aggressive impulses was certainly not the case.

But I do believe strongly that the intentions of an extraterrestrial visitor will not be to rape and pillage... though I don't see any other point of visiting such a primative society. Surely they'd know that the first thing we'd ask for is their technology and medicine with nothing in exchange. That's certainly been the case on an Earth-level when it comes to a relationship between the U.S. and third world countries.

Let's just hope that the first extraterrestrial greeting is "Live long and prosper" and not "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!"

 

[AAP]

Actually I think their first words will be "you are still using track lighting?" ZAPPP!

 

[WarriorPL]

I would feel that they would be hostile since they are far superior to us, but then again, it can work the other way too.

 

[HansNZ]

I agree, but not to the point of absolute certainty.

Referring to a little bit of Star Trek sci-fi (or even world history), you can find numerous species that are hostile despite their technological superiority.

The Borg for instance.

Remember Sci-fi is just that - sci-fi.

Or, more realistically speaking, those nice gentlemen who discovered America and slaughtered the Indians. Advanced sea-faring organisms were probably yesterday's equivalent of today's space-faring organisms, yet the purging of aggressive impulses was certainly not the case.

This is my point. At this stage we hadn't learned the right lessons, but we've been learning them from the mess that colonisation caused.

Our challenges are different. Back then our technology wasn't at the stage where we could wipe ourselves out, either by nuclear annihilation or industrialisation (within a liberal framework) destroying the environment. Because we face this challenge it is stimulating social change.

But I do believe strongly that the intentions of an extraterrestrial visitor will not be to rape and pillage... though I don't see any other point of visiting such a primative society. Surely they'd know that the first thing we'd ask for is their technology and medicine with nothing in exchange. That's certainly been the case on an Earth-level when it comes to a relationship between the U.S. and third world countries.

Let's just hope that the first extraterrestrial greeting is "Live long and prosper" and not "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!"

Yikes! I'd have to disagree that the relationship between the third world and the USA is one of benefits flowing in the direction you mentioned. But that is a topic for another thread.

 

[rushx79]

silly man-animal.

 

[atlantabiolab]

I was watching the movie "Signs" on video the other night. I find it interesting the way that the film industry usually portrays extraterrestrials as hostile creatures out to "get" us.

I find this highly unlikely. I believe any species that has become an advanced space faring organism would have gone through the social change necessary to purge itself of militaristic and aggressive impulses.

What I have always questioned about sci-fi movies is the motive for why aliens always have some paranormal abilities, such as telepathy, psychokinesis, ability to heal others, etc. What is it that people believe that evolution will grant us powers beyond the natural?

Obviously the concept is a hint at man's desire for powers beyond those he currently has, or at least their possibility of existence. This makes for a better movie than aliens that are essentially like us, only technologically advanced.

In my mind this is only common sense because any species which had not done this would have wiped itself out before it got to such an advanced level. Even at our relatively primitive stage of development it is only a miracle that we didn't exterminate ourselves during the Cold War.

Even if we don't kill ourselves off violently, we seem likely to do it incrementally through the destruction of our environment.

Just my 2c

The last sentence is just as fiction as the concept that any form of life that can leave it's planet, will have somehow changed it's rational desires for personal gain.

 

[Champ]

Aliens giving technology to Earth would be like giving a baby an assault rifle.