How do you think society would respond to first contact with extraterrestrials?

[Brawndo]

I'm not talking about an invasion with physical aliens here on Earth. I'm more curious about how a message or discovery that confirmed other intelligent life would affect human society. Would there be mass chaos, religious pandemonium, and a rash of suicides? Or would there be renewed hope, a rekindled public interest in science and astronomy, and a decrease in inter-human violence?

 

[Gaiseric]

Probably a mixture of the things you mentioned if the message was released to the public. I do imagine that there would be a spike in both space exploration funding and military spending.

 

[Atticus89]

All of the above.

Some would be happy at the thought while others would find their entire world view annihilated.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

We would put aside our differences and pool our collective resources to solve the problems of deep-space flight, quickly developing and building the infrastructure and materiel needed to send a ship to contact this new and unknown form of life, so that we could blow them up and take their stuff.

 

[Shockolate]

It'll be covered up.

Like it already was.

/TinFoilHat

 

[CloudFir3]

I've thought of it in sociological perspective..

there will be an end, or the very least, a massive decline in racism. when people feel connected to one another and see each other as the same, rather than different, it will be a very beautiful thing.

 

[Nouw]

It'll be covered up.

Like it already was.

/TinFoilHat

*Flash.

"We were never here." *Closes thread.

 

[Lucane]

Spoiler: We didn't handle it very well.

Nah I'm kidding of course. (or am ... no I'm kidding.) Unless they show up in a big flashy way or speak one or several languages we do I don't think any type of aliens showing up will go very well unless they are purely peaceful with no need from us or the planet what so ever (outside of entertainment means DVDs Games and etc. Non human pet/slaves).

I'm not talking about an invasion with physical aliens here on Earth. I'm more curious about how a message or discovery that confirmed other intelligent life would affect human society. Would there be mass chaos, religious pandemonium, and a rash of suicides? Or would there be renewed hope, a rekindled public interest in science and astronomy, and a decrease in inter-human violence?

OT Edit: I'm a go with Disbelief. For most people till they find something visually or audio wise unrepeatable by human means like an Anti-gravity device or beam that makes creatures fly like Superman(Not using known means of lift and physical energy.) Otherwise it'll always be a question of if it's staged, a hoax, or other means of misdirection.

Edit(again): I don't think there'd be a large amount of suicides for a space note from an E.T. (for above reasons) well nothing beyond any one cult suicide at least.

 

[Lord Legion]

What was the message?
If it was, "Hello, were nice guys. We'll come and share our tech with you."
Then everything just might be ok...at least until some fool takes a pot shot at E.T. and starts and intergalactic war.

If instead it was a message of hostility, say the aliens declared they are either going to convert us religiously or just plain old eradicate us...humanity may just unite long enough to repel or be annihilated as one.
Kind of an outside choice for the alien religios forced assimilation though, as that would be an individual's choice there, and thus dependant on your definition of a 'surviving humanity.'

Honestly, if there is a cover-up of alien life...I kind of agree with it. As my reason is stated at the beginning. Humanity is a loosely held together tribe of murderers, in a good way. (sort of) Maybe we could sell ourselves off as a race of mercenaries...

 

[Nexoram]

Sadly, the world is probably going to go bat-shit crazy about the aliens and have a boom in science and astronomy for the purpose of "Defense" (and by defense we mean an invasion, by Earth). However, this might cause people to feel closer to the people of other nations because of the relative difference to the aliens. At least we can be called Terran then. =D

 

[teqrevisited]

We'd probably take the first opportunity to find anything useful that they have that we can burn for energy. Then steal it.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

Probably this.

 

[Galduke]

WTF?! THINGS THAT AREN'T FROM AMERICA? KILL, DESTROY, BOMB!

yeah, that, that's what america would do, just like we do with everything that doesn't flat out help us on ridiculous terms.

Stop talking.

Anyways, as already stated more centralized religions will have no difficulty adapting to the situation though smaller/decentralized ones may see major upheavals and new pro-alien cults as competition. I think after the overall shock and fanfare, assuming we only found proof and NOT sustained contact, everything will cool down eventually and life/people will return to normal, racism and all.

As for sustained contact, it's all up to chance. Will they be a hedonistic society? Perhaps a war-like one centered on having us join their side, or even simply to spread the word their own religious beliefs! What if their belief system is strikingly similar to one on earth, like an alien Jesus or Buddha? We really don't know how things will go down on that route.

 

[Brawndo]

WTF?! THINGS THAT AREN'T FROM AMERICA? KILL, DESTROY, BOMB!

yeah, that, that's what america would do, just like we do with everything that doesn't flat out help us on ridiculous terms.

Stop talking.

Anyways, as already stated more centralized religions will have no difficulty adapting to the situation though smaller/decentralized ones may see major upheavals and new pro-alien cults as competition. I think after the overall shock and fanfare, assuming we only found proof and NOT sustained contact, everything will cool down eventually and life/people will return to normal, racism and all.

As for sustained contact, it's all up to chance. Will they be a hedonistic society? Perhaps a war-like one centered on having us join their side, or even simply to spread the word their own religious beliefs! What if their belief system is strikingly similar to one on earth, like an alien Jesus or Buddha? We really don't know how things will go down on that route.

I really don't see Evangelical Christians approaching this concept with open arms.

 

[Antari]

I'm not talking about an invasion with physical aliens here on Earth. I'm more curious about how a message or discovery that confirmed other intelligent life would affect human society. Would there be mass chaos, religious pandemonium, and a rash of suicides? Or would there be renewed hope, a rekindled public interest in science and astronomy, and a decrease in inter-human violence?

I would think with nearly 7 billion of us, it'd be a bit of everything. Personally I'd like to see an invasion scenario. Watch us scatter like ants.

 

[Tsaba]

suicides, lots and lots of suicides....