Alien Visitors

[Moontanman]

Now that yet another alien invasion movie is opening and the idea is yet again being milked can we reasonably speculate what would really happen if aliens arrived? I'm not sure if the aggressive stance of this movie is the most likely but what would you do? What do you think your government would do? What do you think religious leaders would do?

 

If the aliens were not aggressive would the long term results still be destructive?

[Daecon]

If they can't be exploited for profit, they'll be treated like black gay mexicans.

[Moontanman]

If they can't be exploited for profit, they'll be treated like black gay mexicans.

 

 

I think you make a valid point, at least the part of our civilization that is capitalism unchained, exploitation of aliens would be expected and pursued.

[MigL]

That's been done too ...

District 9

[Moontanman]

That's been done too ...

District 9

 

 

I had forgotten that very forgettable movie... Unless the aliens were aggressive I can't see how a visit would change anything...

Edited June 27, 2016 by Moontanman

[Daedalus]

If they can't be exploited for profit, they'll be treated like black gay mexicans.

I think it's highly unlikely for a "District 9" situation to occur. Yes there is a chance of that happening, but any species that is capable of traveling intergalactic distances will have the technology to sustain such a journey. Therefore, it is most likely that if aliens did come to Earth, they would most definitely have the ability to wipe us from the planet. If they came here in peace, after seeing how we behave, I'm sure they would limit the contact their people have with ours.

 

... can we reasonably speculate what would really happen if aliens arrived?

I'm pretty sure we can make some reasonable speculations. Given our own technological achievements, it's safe to say that any species that has achieved the ability to travel intergalactic distances (from one star system to another) would have computational and robotic technologies to mine and harness resources from any planetary sized or smaller celestial body. With these technologies, it would be easier to obtain needed resources from places where humans don't exist than it would be to come to Earth and try to barter for them or take them from us by force and, because they would be able to get any resource Earth provides from any other body orbiting the sun, we can safely say that the likelihood that they have come to Earth to harvest our resources is unlikely. That is, of course, assuming that aliens haven't come to Earth for a place to live.

 

Of course, aliens might have discovered that we exist and want to make peaceful contact, but for that to be the case they either had to be close enough to us for enough time to have passed for our radio broadcasts to have reached them, they reached a point in space to where they could detect us, or they have telescopes powerful enough to determine that we exist without needing to detect our radio signals. Although all of these cases are possible, it's most likely aliens would come here looking for a new home. It makes perfect sense. Since we can determine the chemical composition of an exoplanet's atmosphere, we can conclude that aliens would have better technologies to do the same thing. If Earth meets all the requirements for life on their world, then surely they'd want to spread their species throughout the galaxy. It's evolutionary suicide to only stay on one planet when you can travel intergalactic distances. Furthermore, because of resource demands, we would never launch a mission to just any solar system without having a good reason to go there. Aliens would also have the same requirements. So, we can safely speculate that if aliens did come to Earth, they intended to come here regardless if they knew we were here before they left or not. The only other thing to consider in this view is if they need the Earth and / or if they are willing to fight us for it if we did not want them to live here.

Edited June 27, 2016 by Daedalus

[Moontanman]

I think it's highly unlikely for a "District 9" situation to occur. Yes there is a chance of that happening, but any species that is capable of traveling intergalactic distances will have the technology to sustain such a journey. Therefore, it is most likely that if aliens did come to Earth, they would most definitely have the ability to wipe us from the planet. If they came here in peace, after seeing how we behave, I'm sure they would limit the contact their people have with ours.

 

I'm pretty sure we can make some reasonable speculations. Given our own technological achievements, it's safe to say that any species that has achieved the ability to travel intergalactic distances (from one star system to another) would have computational and robotic technologies to mine and harness resources from any planetary sized or smaller celestial body. With these technologies, it would be easier to obtain needed resources from places where humans don't exist than it would be to come to Earth and try to barter for them or take them from us by force and, because they would be able to get any resource Earth provides from any other body orbiting the sun, we can safely say that the likelihood that they have come to Earth to harvest our resources is unlikely. That is, of course, assuming that aliens haven't come to Earth for a place to live.

 

Of course, aliens might have discovered that we exist and want to make peaceful contact, but for that to be the case they either had to be close enough to us for enough time to have passed for our radio broadcasts to have reached them, they reached a point in space to where they could detect us, or they have telescopes powerful enough to determine that we exist without needing to detect our radio signals. Although all of these cases are possible, it's most likely aliens would come here looking for a new home. It makes perfect sense. Since we can determine the chemical composition of an exoplanet's atmosphere, we can conclude that aliens would have better technologies to do the same thing. If Earth meets all the requirements for life on their world, then surely they'd want to spread their species throughout the galaxy. It's evolutionary suicide to only stay on one planet when you can travel intergalactic distances. Furthermore, because of resource demands, we would never launch a mission to just any solar system without having a good reason to go there. Aliens would also have the same requirements. So, we can safely speculate that if aliens did come to Earth, they intended to come here regardless if they knew we were here before they left or not. The only other thing to consider in this view is if they need the Earth and / or if they are willing to fight us for it if we did not want them to live here.

 

 

Maybe we taste like chicken to them...

 

I have my doubts that any advanced civilization would have need for planets. At best they might have a specialist who studies ancient cultures or something like that.

 

It's quite possible they might already be in our solar system but simply have no reason to contact us beyond the curiosity of an emerging culture.

 

Do you think that things like viruses might deter any contact between ecosystems?

 

Even small changes in the abundance of rare elements like mercury could render a planet uninhabitable by us. Makes sense the same could be said for aliens.

Edited June 27, 2016 by Moontanman

[Daedalus]

Maybe we taste like chicken to them...

Yeah there is the tasty human consideration, but I think that would be unlikely as they would most definitely have an established food chain and meals that don't involve human burgers with a side of fries.

 

I have my doubts that any advanced civilization would have need for planets.

Don't forget that they evolved on a planet and, just like us, would most likely enjoy having a home with a view where radiation and decompression wasn't a concern.

 

It's quite possible they might already be in our solar system but simply have no reason to contact us beyond the curiosity of an emerging culture.

Sure, but that's covered by my first post because such contact is peaceful.

 

Do you think that things like viruses might deter any contact between ecosystems? Even small changes in the abundance of rare elements like mercury could render a planet uninhabitable by us. Makes sense the same could be said for aliens.

Given our medical technologies and advances in nanotechnologies, it's most likely that aliens have solved the biological and medical problems associated with coming into contact with life that has evolved independent from their own. They would most likely have nano tech that allows them to exist in most toxic environment and combat bacteria and viruses. I'm sure we wouldn't set foot on a planet without the tech to keep us alive and healthy, and the same things apply to them.

Edited June 27, 2016 by Daedalus

[Moontanman]

Yeah there is the tasty human consideration, but I think that would be unlikely as they would most definitely have an established food chain and meals that don't involve human burgers with a side of fries.

 

Don't forget that they evolved on a planet and, just like us, would most likely enjoy having a home with a view where radiation and decompression wasn't a concern.

 

Sure, but that's covered by my first post because such contact is peaceful.

 

Given our medical technologies and advances in nanotechnologies, it's most likely that aliens have solved the biological and medical problems associated with coming into contact with life that has evolved independent from their own. They would most likely have nano tech that allows them to exist in most toxic environment and combat bacteria and viruses. I'm sure we wouldn't set foot on a planet without the tech to keep us alive and healthy, and the same things apply to them.

 

 

That could be the reason we don't get visitors, maybe the abundance of some element here on earth is high enough to deter them. I'm not sure we can make assumptions about how they could or could not protect themselves from toxins elemental or biological.

 

Here on Earth we have some pretty toxic biologicals, poison ivy is hell on earth to us if we get into it. I think allergens could be a big problem, what we see as just hay fever could be a deadly plague to them. In fact we have some resistance to biologicals they might not have any resistance at all to things that don't affect us in the slightest.

 

Contact between ecosystems could be a bigger barrier that we think.

 

I have a particular fetish for stanford torus type habitats, another planet enough like Earth to support us seems unlikely. In the range of planets we have discovered so far none are really identical to the Earth. It raises the question of just how much like Earth would a planet have to be or maybe more importantly how different could it be and still support us?

[Danijel Gorupec]

A destructive invasion would be dull. There would be no fight-back; no time to make heroes. The invasion could last from several minutes to several hours, it all depends if they will choose to hit us on a single spot (for simplicity) or simultaneously on multiple spots. Hauling a 1000 ton projectile at 0.7c should be no problem for a civilization that is traveling between stars.

 

Peaceful contact is much more interesting. I am not sure what do you mean by 'arrive' - physical presence or just radio/light contact? In both case I would be completely fascinated - I would try to get all information available. That is what I would do.... It is government and leaders that concern me - I am afraid that they have this unhealthy urge to always be in charge which might lead them to do crazy things. If aliens arrive physically, then it is important that we accept that we are underdogs here... I actually wonder if majority of population can accept this. Probably not (the only hope is that aliens would expect this and would have effective methods to decrease our fears).

 

Established religious leaders, I suspect, would probably keep their cool. But there will be abundance of new 'prophets' that will seduce some portion of population.

 

In a way you might say that even a peaceful contact with a technically advanced civilization is going to be destructive. I believe that many Australian Aborigines would claim that western civilization was destructive for their culture. This just happens and is not all bad.

[CharonY]

Nah, I am pretty sure after arrival they look at the interesting life forms on the planet. Some of which are able to utilize primitive tools like nuclear missiles. While curious, this is about the intelligence level of the average pet. Hence, after taking some samples, the search for intelligent life forms continues.

[Moontanman]

Nah, I am pretty sure after arrival they look at the interesting life forms on the planet. Some of which are able to utilize primitive tools like nuclear missiles. While curious, this is about the intelligence level of the average pet. Hence, after taking some samples, the search for intelligent life forms continues.

 

 

Maybe that is why they anal probe the people they abduct, could it be a form of communication?

[marieltrokan]

I think it's reasonable to expect that the aliens would reflect themselves onto the planet; this is to say that they'd be fully aware of the importance of reflection, and therefore would inform Earth that their identity was the identity of those visiting the planet.

If I was a space traveller, visiting another planet, I know I'd certainly make sure to reflect myself onto it: the things I'd reflect would range from anything from newspapers, to wanting to remain at a forest, to enjoying one movie better than another of the same genre.

 

What would you reflect?

[Moontanman]

I think it's reasonable to expect that the aliens would reflect themselves onto the planet; this is to say that they'd be fully aware of the importance of reflection, and therefore would inform Earth that their identity was the identity of those visiting the planet.

If I was a space traveller, visiting another planet, I know I'd certainly make sure to reflect myself onto it: the things I'd reflect would range from anything from newspapers, to wanting to remain at a forest, to enjoying one movie better than another of the same genre.

 

What would you reflect?

 

 

I am not sure what you mean by reflect in this context...

[marieltrokan]

I just mean person Y (the alien) telling person X (Earth) that whatever person Y is person X is: if I were the alien, knowing that reality on Earth is more than likely to be replicated many times throughout the Universe, I'd be prepared to tell the inhabitants of the planet I was visiting that they're as much why reality exists as any other life form in the Universe.

Specifically, assuming the inhabitants were humanoids, I'd reflect things like movies and art, nations and news media, perceptions of nature, hobbies, the reality of migration, internet sites, simply anything I could think was the existence of Earth.

[Moontanman]

I just mean person Y (the alien) telling person X (Earth) that whatever person Y is person X is: if I were the alien, knowing that reality on Earth is more than likely to be replicated many times throughout the Universe, I'd be prepared to tell the inhabitants of the planet I was visiting that they're as much why reality exists as any other life form in the Universe.

Specifically, assuming the inhabitants were humanoids, I'd reflect things like movies and art, nations and news media, perceptions of nature, hobbies, the reality of migration, internet sites, simply anything I could think was the existence of Earth.

 

 

I am not sure the assumption that aliens are likely humanoid is reasonable...

[Ultimate Infinity]

I think that looking at how different other planets are from earth just in our solar system we can safely assume that at least some aliens would be very different at least in biology than us I think humans as a whole feel as though we wouldn't invade another planet because that would be bad right but why can't other species be the same j think it's more probable that they would want to learn about like we would want to learn about them

[Delta1212]

 

 

Maybe that is why they anal probe the people they abduct, could it be a form of communication?

The ship's veterinarian is just taking our temperature.