tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post4490709256104021729..comments2023-03-19T07:58:10.883-06:00Comments on Alien First Contact: Extraterrestrial Contact: NowEric Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-82644738253332560482014-06-08T18:18:55.301-05:002014-06-08T18:18:55.301-05:00I agree anon and I think that if we encounter extr...I agree anon and I think that if we encounter extraterrestrials in our neck of the woods, that would be a necessary part of the relationship. For them to be here, they would have to have advanced technology. It might be best for them to not tell us everything that they know. But as long as they were open about that...it is a form of honesty. Some humans would have a problem with that...but I think we could get over it.<br />Eric Melcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-78472645757170254582014-06-07T23:13:13.390-05:002014-06-07T23:13:13.390-05:00I think honesty and openness are amazingly valuabl...I think honesty and openness are amazingly valuable traits.<br /><br />But, oddly enough, honesty and openness are not completely necessary. It is somewhat counter-intuitive, but sufficient trust could be built where there is an understanding that someone might not be told complete truth (with both misinformation and withholding of information) AND yet it is still ok. It is an understanding that for the sake of a greater purpose, one is told what one needs to hear rather than complete truth and openness. It sucks, but it could be tolerable as a matter of faith. In the end, each individual can only rightfully be expected to act upon the knowledge/understanding they possess. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-87568128564917630582014-05-05T15:54:46.068-05:002014-05-05T15:54:46.068-05:00I suppose aliens might only want to contact certai...I suppose aliens might only want to contact certain individuals, but I am not sure I can come up with any reasons they would want to do so for altruistic reasons. <br /><br />I understand your point about the problems that would be created if all of humanity knew about First Contact. However, I don't think any of that is changed by contacting only certain people. In the meantime, unless there was some agenda that could be kept hidden for years, people would be extremely distrustful of alien intentions if word of the "special few" ever leaked out.<br /><br />Humans value honesty and openness. If aliens wish to have a relationship with humans they would be best off using honesty and openness as part of their First Contact strategy.Eric Melcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-6524877777174987252014-05-04T15:58:17.331-05:002014-05-04T15:58:17.331-05:00The point of selective individual contact is exact...The point of selective individual contact is exactly so the public will not find out (plus, it is quite a simple technological endeavor to ensure that the public does not find out). Contacting certain individuals versus the entire population might be consistent with the alien ethical/moral principles. I wouldn't describe this using the phrase "alien agenda" as it is altruistic. <br /><br />The non-contacted humans would not feel left out because they would not suspect or expect any sort of contact.<br /><br />Think of this mind experiment. If every civilization in the universe set out to announce itself to low life forms (e.g., humans) throughout the universe, the universe quickly becomes very homogenous. It would be complete anti-diversity.<br /><br />If you suggest contact, what would the limits be? Of course, you could not let anyone die of a simply curable disease, right? Then, you could not let anyone suffer any painful condition whatsoever, right? All pain and suffering would be eliminated. This is not a desirable state to be in. Everything short of the best imaginable will soon become considered intolerable. Eventually, there will be a loss in the perception of time and a corresponding loss of consciousness. <br /><br />The grass is always greener on the other side of first contact!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-82270128378510954902014-04-04T05:05:36.184-06:002014-04-04T05:05:36.184-06:00Anon: While I agree with many of your points on pe...Anon: While I agree with many of your points on perspective change, I can't agree with your final proposal. The problem with individual contact would be paranoia and distrust. If public finds out that aliens have been in contact with some humans and not others, there would be a tremendous trust issue. And I think such feelings would be valid. The only reason aliens would have to contact individuals would be to promote some alien agenda. It could be a very nice agenda, but it would still leave the great majority of humans feeling left out and in a sense violated. This needs to be done at once and for all of humanity for it to progress well.Eric Melcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-78000505724812742132014-03-28T23:53:07.429-06:002014-03-28T23:53:07.429-06:00This seems to be a very insightful post. The chan...This seems to be a very insightful post. The change in perspective is a tremendous value. But, there is an unfortunate and detrimental psychological toll that could arise for some and perhaps even most humans. Loss of motivation / frustration / anger / sense of unfairness.<br /><br />Imagine if there were someone who had it within their power to prevent all illness (indeed even death on any humanly imaginable time scale) and all suffering. The specifically knew of you and had the ability to do this for you with trivial or no substantial burden to themselves. <br /><br />After you learn of them, they at some point in some instance, do not help you. How can you psychologically deal with this? This is not a trivial psychological burden. In the grand scheme of things, the instances of no assistance are actually enormously beneficial, but it is hard for humans to appreciate it.<br /><br />Contact would, therefore, proceed on an individualized basis. Ability to handle such knowledge, including discretion, would be essential prerequisites. Contact quickly becomes the exception, rather than the rule. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-57576908352889034112014-03-13T05:32:28.247-06:002014-03-13T05:32:28.247-06:00Adrien: I agree with you that during certain times...Adrien: I agree with you that during certain times in human history First Contact would not be a good idea. But despite these current situations I think the world is relatively stable.Eric Melcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241965998003676966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5585634015029577378.post-35537140180698436322014-03-12T14:03:06.270-06:002014-03-12T14:03:06.270-06:00That don't seem an appropriate time right now,...That don't seem an appropriate time right now, with tensions with Russia , conflict in Syria, Ukraine. It is not the time to be distractedAdriennoreply@blogger.com