DON’T TALK TO ALIENS

[defrog]

ITEM: Stephen Hawking says in a new documentary series that there’s certainly other life forms in the universe – and that we should avoid trying to contact them at all costs because, frankly, they might be like us.

“We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach.”

He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

Which is more or less the backdrop for John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War trilogy, incidentally.

Personally, I partially disagree with this line of thinking. I do agree that it’s a mistake to assume that any intelligent life is friendly by default (see: Mars Attacks!), but I think it’s a mistake to base any policy on fear of the worst-case scenario (see: the George W Bush era). Granted, caution and prudence are part of any informed decision, but I don’t think shutting down SETI is a solution.

That said, considering the SMSs we’ve been spamming out into space, an argument could be made that we’re asking for it.

Company’s coming,

This is is dF

Comments

[gvdub.livejournal.com]

It's a cookbook!

Sorry, but it had to be said.

[def-fr0g-42.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warning. :)

[nebris.livejournal.com]

There are a hell of lot more usable resources off world than on, so the whole premise kinda craps out.

~M~

[dferguson.livejournal.com]

I've never been able to understand the thinking that any space faring aliens who contact us would be these benevolent, wonderfully friendly "We Are The World" types.

[puffdoggydaddy.livejournal.com]

Run to the hills.

They're coming!!!