tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post2485594376564040801..comments2023-03-19T07:58:10.883-06:00Comments on Alien First Contact: Extraterrestrial Contact: The ChecklistEric Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-52265144709311544342012-04-25T06:35:12.447-05:002012-04-25T06:35:12.447-05:00I agree our own fears are usually at the heart of ...I agree our own fears are usually at the heart of the problem. We have no idea what aliens might be like and so we put our own anthropocentric spin on it. Thanks for reading purplearcanist!Eric Melcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-91093288159827250962012-04-24T12:27:55.336-05:002012-04-24T12:27:55.336-05:00Could it be that many of the fears that people hav...Could it be that many of the fears that people have about what ET might hate are things that people hate in themselves?<br /><br />"Hopefully we still have time to improve prior to first contract, regarless of the situation."<br /><br />There is always the issue of uncertainty. People can only speculate on how the hypothetical first contact will go. Ultimately, people must improve for their own benefit.<br /><br />"<br /><br />I agree with you that there is a danger that they might see us as a threat to the universe. There are too many easy ways to end humanity to dwell on it. If they want us gone I would imagine it would be an easy process for a technologically advanced civilization. Just introduce a super-virus and we'd be gone in a few years."<br /><br />Of course even if ET sees people as a threat, they might realize that only some of us are a threat, and have a moral aversion against obliterating everyone. Alternatively, they might seek to forcibly remold the society.purplearcanisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17046172423447638694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-48231503401387166212012-04-12T14:42:57.863-05:002012-04-12T14:42:57.863-05:00Carl: we do treat other animals on this planet lik...Carl: we do treat other animals on this planet like crap. A mechanical ET would cause many problems in understanding and empathy on both sides. I think if the ET in question was artificially supported intelligence they could at least look to their past and find a connection with us. As ugly as we are sometimes it all comes back to survival instincts and I think most biological creatures would be likely to have some sort of violence in their past. If they are true artificially created intelligence then the past wouldn't matter, you could only hope that they have the wisdom to understand our development as biological creatures and give us a pass.<br /><br />I agree with you that there is a danger that they might see us as a threat to the universe. There are too many easy ways to end humanity to dwell on it. If they want us gone I would imagine it would be an easy process for a technologically advanced civilization. Just introduce a super-virus and we'd be gone in a few years.Eric Melcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-45717328090962991432012-04-12T03:06:50.494-05:002012-04-12T03:06:50.494-05:00Thanks for another interesting and well thought ou...Thanks for another interesting and well thought out blog. Yet again you have made some great points.<br /><br />One thing that worries me when thinking about ET being mechanical and purely logical would be how the human race would be perceived by them. Looking at our history and current situation I don’t think we paint a good picture of mankind. We have a history of violence, war with the more powerful countries taking what they want without considering the needs of others. <br /><br />Mankind also consider other species on this planet to be of secondary importance, purely as a result of our superior intelligence. We destroy their habitat, kill them for food/sport and have made numerous species extinct or on the verge of being extinct. <br /><br />Therefore I worry that ET would see us as a problem. Based on how they have evolved they may either leave us be, remove the problem, or try to educate us. The first option would only last so long and as our technology develops they would have to take either step two or three. <br /><br />Hopefully we still have time to improve prior to first contract, regarless of the situation.Carl (from UK)noreply@blogger.com