Poll: "The METI Controversy": Should Detection by an Exo Civilization Be Viewed as a Threat?

[Shock and Awe]

I thought this was a very interesting story,

If we should pick up signals from alien civilizations, Stephen Hawking, our century's Einstein, warns: "we should have be wary of answering back, until we have evolved" a bit further. Meeting a more advanced civilization, at our present stage,' Hawking says "might be a bit like the original inhabitants of America meeting Columbus. I don't think they were better off for it."

Full Story [http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/07/the-meti-controversy-revisited-is-detection-by-an-exo-civilization-a-threat-a-galaxy-insight.html]

So, Should We Respond If We are somehow contacted by ETs?

 

[Shock and Awe]

Well i would be inclined to go with what Stephen Hawking suggested. Either way its something that should be considered thoroughly before a response comes about from us.

Just had a thought, could aliens even survive here? I know this sounds lame, but wouldent our sicknesses kill them all off?

 

[hypothetical fact]

The native Americans weren't on the brink of dooming themselves so bring on the alien intervention.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Well i would be inclined to go with what Stephen Hawking suggested. Either way its something that should be considered thoroughly before a response comes about from us.

Just had a thought, could aliens even survive here? I know this sounds lame, but wouldent our sicknesses kill them all off?

Depends i suppose, were you thinking of the ending from War of the Worlds? They may not even be able to survive in such an oxygen rich enviroment. All that is besides the point since all they would need to do is park a safe distance away and bombard the planet. Of course this is all such an implausible probability.

Well, Hawking also said that it is highly unlikely that there are any ETs at or above our level within around 100 light years because we havnt intercepted any radio waves.

 

[The Shade]

I saw 'Mars Attacks'. I know that aliens are bad news. I say we just ignore them until they come and go all Mothership Zeta on us. Then we shoot them with their own ray guns, thus making their brains fly all over the room, covering everything.

Ahhh...what a St. Patrick's Day that was!

 

[delet]

I can't wait for them. Maybe they can get rid of a good amount of idiots surrounding me...

 

[hypothetical fact]

Can't they detect all the EM signals we've been throwing out for 100 years? If its going to happen it will happen.

There is always the possibility that they can detect signals but are too far to do anything about it.

 

[The_Chief]

I saw 'Mars Attacks'. I know that aliens are bad news. I say we just ignore them until they come and go all Mothership Zeta on us. Then we shoot them with their own ray guns, thus making their brains fly all over the room, covering everything.

Ahhh...what a St. Patrick's Day that was!

fuck that. kill them with MORE YODELING!

 

[The Shade]

I saw 'Mars Attacks'. I know that aliens are bad news. I say we just ignore them until they come and go all Mothership Zeta on us. Then we shoot them with their own ray guns, thus making their brains fly all over the room, covering everything.

Ahhh...what a St. Patrick's Day that was!

fuck that. kill them with MORE YODELING!

Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!!! Die, alien scum!

OT: In all seriousness, I'm obliged to take Stephen Hawking's word for it on this one. He's probably thought it through more than all of us put together, and he's a very clever person.

 

[A random person]

I'll be different and say that unless they were some Lovecraftian species that would break the minds of men or simply hostile, we should respond. It might be weird at first, but it wouldn't be greatly damaging.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Yeah, no problem at all, Mr. Hawking. When the aliens show up, I'll stall and you all start evolving. I'll try to buy you some time. Is 100 million years enough?

What makes him assume our evolutions would have to do with our intelligence? Maybe we'd just grow wings. Is this guy really our century's Einstein? Sorry, Mr. Hawking, but if you think evolution works like that... You're doing it wrong.

 

[Zacharine]

Information is power. If we in fact do pick up signs of ET civilizations, we should wait and gather as much information as we can before desiding of contacting them. Isolationism doesn't work, but planning and carefulness are the cornerstones of any 'never-done-before' endeavour and only fools rush forwards.

 

[SilentHunter7]

Well i would be inclined to go with what Stephen Hawking suggested. Either way its something that should be considered thoroughly before a response comes about from us.

Just had a thought, could aliens even survive here? I know this sounds lame, but wouldent our sicknesses kill them all off?

Viruses probably wouldn't be able to infect an alien life form. Viruses are hard coded to attack a certain type of DNA. Hence the reason the vast majority of viruses don't cross species lines.

Parasitic Bacteria and fungi on the other hand only need biomass and a nice warm, damp spot to multiply. If the aliens are warm-blooded carbon-based life forms, then there is a good chance for bacterial, and fungal infection.

But then, that can only happen if their suits are breached, or they're dumb enough to expose themselves to our atmosphere.

Information is power. If we in fact do pick up signs of ET civilizations, we should wait and gather as much information as we can before desiding of contacting them. Isolationism doesn't work, but planning and carefulness are the cornerstones of any 'never-done-before' endeavour and only fools rush forwards.

I agree. Sun Tzu, the greatest tactician that ever lived, once said that if you "know yourself, and know your enemy, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."

Yeah, no problem at all, Mr. Hawking. When the aliens show up, I'll stall and you all start evolving. I'll try to buy you some time. Is 100 million years enough?

What makes him assume our evolutions would have to do with our intelligence? Maybe we'd just grow wings. Is this guy really our century's Einstein? Sorry, Mr. Hawking, but if you think evolution works like that... You're doing it wrong.

I'm sure by evolving, he means technologically. Genetic evolution isn't the only evolution.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Can't they detect all the EM signals we've been throwing out for 100 years? If its going to happen it will happen.

There is always the possibility that they can detect signals but are too far to do anything about it.

In which case they're likely as evolved as us asd far as travel goes so whats the harm in communication?

Even better would be if they did take over and forced the smartest of us to breed constantly...

Gah...Constantly? That's a lot of stress on those individuals. In the words of the most idiotic captain who hasn't yet tried to destroy the universe, Zapp Brannigan, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is spongy, and bruised."

 

[Shock and Awe]

Yeah, no problem at all, Mr. Hawking. When the aliens show up, I'll stall and you all start evolving. I'll try to buy you some time. Is 100 million years enough?

What makes him assume our evolutions would have to do with our intelligence? Maybe we'd just grow wings. Is this guy really our century's Einstein? Sorry, Mr. Hawking, but if you think evolution works like that... You're doing it wrong.

Do not question the Hawking.

He will HUNT YOU DOWN In his Hawking Suit

But Seriously, Bang [http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/07/stephen-hawking-the-planet-has-entered-a-new-phase-of-evolution.html]