Why are aliens evil?

[RobThePrezodent]

So today I watched monsters vs aliens (which is absolutely brilliant and i can recommend to anyone) and it got me thinking "why is it that all aliens ever want to do is kill all the humans and/or destroy earth?" I mean really, do they have any motive? It seems that pretty much all films/books etc portray aliens in this way. Obviously there are exceptions, like Avatar and such, but the majority of films make aliens out to be evil.
So my question to you is why do you think this is, why aren't any aliens just wanting to come and chill with us for a bit, maybe have a few brews and watch the rugby or break out the N64 for a cheeky game of Goldeneye 007 or something like that?
Also on a (slightly) related matter, how do we know the aliens in Space Invaders are actually invading? Who's to say they're not just diplomats sent to befriend the human race? I bet if you don't start shooting them in that game and just stand there they eventually land on earth, come out of their ships and say "hello, we came to chill and maybe have a few brews and watch the rugby if you're k with that " And why, if you have 4 ships, do you send them out one at a time? Would it not be much more effective if you sent them all out together? I mean, c'mon, who's in charge of this defense?! Anyway that's my Space Invaders rant over

 

[BonsaiK]

So today I watched monsters vs aliens (which is absolutely brilliant and i can recommend to anyone) and it got me thinking "why is it that all aliens ever want to do is kill all the humans and/or destroy earth?" I mean really, do they have any motive? It seems that pretty much all films/books etc portray aliens in this way. Obviously there are exceptions, like Avatar and such, but the majority of films make aliens out to be evil.
So my question to you is why do you think this is, why aren't any aliens just wanting to come and chill with us for a bit, maybe have a few brews and watch the rugby or break out the N64 for a cheeky game of Goldeneye 007 or something like that?
Also on a (slightly) related matter, how do we know the aliens in Space Invaders are actually invading? Who's to say they're not just diplomats sent to befriend the human race? I bet if you don't start shooting them in that game and just stand there they eventually land on earth, come out of their ships and say "hello, we came to chill and maybe have a few brews and watch the rugby if you're k with that " And why, if you have 4 ships, do you send them out one at a time? Would it not be much more effective if you sent them all out together? I mean, c'mon, who's in charge of this defense?! Anyway that's my Space Invaders rant over

WARNING: actual answer to the question follows.

It's to do with however the people in the country making the film subconsciously perceive the stability of their culture.

In the very xenophobic, insular 1950s, aliens destroying Earth was a metaphor for communism infiltrating society etc... the idea of a powerful outside force "taking over", one that required military might to stop. So films at that time had aliens almost always as a hostile force. Since then we've seen more and more peace-loving aliens as people have finally realised that communism was always a paper tiger.

However, now that the middle east is seen as a big new threat, immigration is rising, and people are becoming more ignorant and xenophobic again as they are confronted by new cultures and ways of living (and associated misinformation courtesy of the media), hostile aliens are making a bit of a comeback. It's a metaphor for fear of cultural change. Hell, the USA even cuts right to the chase and calls immigrants without visas "illegal aliens" - think about that for a while, really sit down and think about it. There's your answer, right there.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Because the unknown scares us.

 

[hittite]

I'd recommend a book to you, Only You Can Save Mankind. Written by none other than Terry Pratchett, it manages to be silly and occasionally nonsensical while still having a deep and meaningful message. I can guarantee that you'll never look at aliens in video games the same way.

 

[Quaxar]

Also on a (slightly) related matter, how do we know the aliens in Space Invaders are actually invading? Who's to say they're not just diplomats sent to befriend the human race? I bet if you don't start shooting them in that game and just stand there they eventually land on earth, come out of their ships and say "hello, we came to chill and maybe have a few brews and watch the rugby if you're k with that " And why, if you have 4 ships, do you send them out one at a time? Would it not be much more effective if you sent them all out together? I mean, c'mon, who's in charge of this defense?! Anyway that's my Space Invaders rant over

That has to be the greatest review of Space Invaders I've ever read. You won a bonus game!

 

[blindthrall]

They're evil because they're different.

But think about it this way. If you spent all the resources it would take for interstellar travel, you're going to want a return on that investment. There needs to be a good, concrete reason they came here. Chilling and cultural exchange is very well and good, but it doesn't exactly get them back to Rigel 7, does it now? Spain never would have bothered with the new world if not for all the rumors of golden cities. And really, any aliens that are interested in only peaceful coexistence wouldn't stop on this psychotic mudball in the first place.

tldr: As the merman said to Lois "Maybe I feel like you owe me."

 

[Joe Deadman]

Because they scout the planet and see stuff like this:

Spoiler

But more seriously probably because of our fear of the unknown and what is more unknown than things from far off planets (besides things that hide in dark spaces)?

 

[ma55ter_fett]

Cause they have faces that are so damn shootable.

 

[=HCFS=Discoman]

because they are a convenient plot device for films.
most people have an issue if a human is made the enemy, so make something non-human the enemy.

 

[Kragg]

So today I watched monsters vs aliens (which is absolutely brilliant and i can recommend to anyone) and it got me thinking "why is it that all aliens ever want to do is kill all the humans and/or destroy earth?" I mean really, do they have any motive? It seems that pretty much all films/books etc portray aliens in this way. Obviously there are exceptions, like Avatar and such, but the majority of films make aliens out to be evil.
So my question to you is why do you think this is, why aren't any aliens just wanting to come and chill with us for a bit, maybe have a few brews and watch the rugby or break out the N64 for a cheeky game of Goldeneye 007 or something like that?
Also on a (slightly) related matter, how do we know the aliens in Space Invaders are actually invading? Who's to say they're not just diplomats sent to befriend the human race? I bet if you don't start shooting them in that game and just stand there they eventually land on earth, come out of their ships and say "hello, we came to chill and maybe have a few brews and watch the rugby if you're k with that " And why, if you have 4 ships, do you send them out one at a time? Would it not be much more effective if you sent them all out together? I mean, c'mon, who's in charge of this defense?! Anyway that's my Space Invaders rant over

WARNING: actual answer to the question follows.

It's to do with however the people in the country making the film subconsciously perceive the stability of their culture.

In the very xenophobic, insular 1950s, aliens destroying Earth was a metaphor for communism infiltrating society etc... the idea of a powerful outside force "taking over", one that required military might to stop. So films at that time had aliens almost always as a hostile force. Since then we've seen more and more peace-loving aliens as people have finally realised that communism was always a paper tiger.

However, now that the middle east is seen as a big new threat, immigration is rising, and people are becoming more ignorant and xenophobic again as they are confronted by new cultures and ways of living (and associated misinformation courtesy of the media), hostile aliens are making a bit of a comeback. It's a metaphor for fear of cultural change. Hell, the USA even cuts right to the chase and calls immigrants without visas "illegal aliens" - think about that for a while, really sit down and think about it. There's your answer, right there.

damn you for saying everything i wanted to say :'(

i even have an alien avatar !!

 

[GameSlave15]

alliens aren't always bad men in black had good and bad aliens just like there are good and bad people. but realistcly the arguments are that if they have the technologies for intersteller travel they would have surpassed brutality and be intelligent enought to know that diplomacy is best. While on the other hand they could be wondering planet destroyers looking for resources to sustain their population.

 

[BesiegedTyrant]

You should watch 'District 9' and 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' if you haven't already. However, to answer your question. Aliens do not have any reason to land in your backyard. Earth is a mess due to humanities doings. One example is that we do not know how to take care ourselves and everyone tries to be better than the next guy, whatever it takes.

What business would an advanced civilization from another world would have with us when we kill each other over beliefs, opinions and color of skin? Aliens wouldn't make a dramatic entry or reveal themselves to us because we, the populace of earth, are stupid. Their appearance would cause chaos on our planet due to not knowing their intentions. We are already insecure with ourselves. People are scared of the unknown, so who is to say that someone wouldn't press the red button to blow up the fleet? Knowing our government, they would most likely do it on purpose to steal the technology off the ships whether the aliens are here to help humanity or not.

If aliens are able to travel through space, then I believe they are smart enough not to land here unless they want to harvest our planet or take over. They are most likely sitting up there in the sky right now, in their invisible spacecrafts waiting for us to kill ourselves off or to wise up and unite as a whole so they can finally make contact.

 

[XJ-0461]

Because the unknown scares us.

This is exactly what I was going to say.

 

[uncle-ellis]

Because there not good, Jesus-worshipping Americans.

God-Bless democracy.

 

[Mr. Grey]

Because they take our jobs! That's why!

Freaking aliens, always stepping in and taking shit... should've stayed on Xenaria instead of crossing into our solar system. Need more patrol satellites to stop them, that's what we need...

[Mumbles on to himself...]

 

[Skuffyshootster]

Because they get in your head, man!

They shoot their laser beam things at your cows, man, and...and...

...I'm so high right now, man...

 

[DividedUnity]

Because aliens coming to earth and making peace doesnt leave master chief with a lot to do

 

[WINDOWCLEAN2]

Because no-one would ever want to watch a film where a friendly alien befriends a small child an then helps him at some holiday by letting him so some impossible feat such as a huge jump on a bike but then they get stolen by the CIA for testing but its all Ok because they survive.

But a game of that sotry may work.



Heeheeheeheehee.