Aliens without a nefarious plot...

[Simon_Jester]

But the hardcore mainline religious groups, would view them as abominations, especially if they look nothing like us. It would go against most religious beliefs.

I see no particular evidence that, at least in the developed world, this would be a problem. While I'm sure you could dig up Bible quotes saying "aliens are devils," it's not a subject on which religious authorities find much occasion to talk about it. As a consequence, it's not a subject where people are used to listening to, or worrying about, their religious authority.

In the end it would all break down, we are as a species, too inquisitive, to suspicious and too paranoid, also depending on when these friendly folk show up, it could go poorly also. If they showed up, say tomorrow, with every thing that has been going on lately, do you really honestly think it would end well? We constantly look gift horses in the mouth, we know we shouldn't but we do.

Could you discuss concrete examples of this? "Humans are stupid" can be an argument supported with evidence, but it can also be an attempt to substitute cynicism for wisdom. Might want to think this one over a bit.

America alone would screw up royally, our government would constantly attempt to infiltrate and learn about the aliens, we would deploy forces "just in case", and our politicians would panic.

Honestly, the current US government probably would handle aliens badly... but that's because of the precedent that they handle everything else badly, due to the massive constant internal squabbling. There are a lot of governments out there which are at least capable of intelligently pursuing an agenda without falling into partisan warfare.

Not to mention all the movies and media, that have ingrained in us a distrust of aliens, especially ones that show up and just set up shop. We are really really bad, as a species, at giving anyone the benefit of the doubt, especially in large groups.

Although the movies and media have also given us ample examples of friendly or supportive aliens. It's not as simple as you make it out to be.

[LastShadow]

I see no particular evidence that, at least in the developed world, this would be a problem. While I'm sure you could dig up Bible quotes saying "aliens are devils," it's not a subject on which religious authorities find much occasion to talk about it. As a consequence, it's not a subject where people are used to listening to, or worrying about, their religious authority.

I am talking the hardline extreme groups. Not your average mainstream chruch (or other denominational place of worship), goers of constant regularity, who attempt to uphold the best parts of the religion, im talking the Westboro baptist churches, the radical groups of other denominations.

Though the main faiths would have a tough go round at first too, though in a less extreme manner i think.

Could you discuss concrete examples of this? "Humans are stupid" can be an argument supported with evidence, but it can also be an attempt to substitute cynicism for wisdom. Might want to think this one over a bit.

Sure throughout our history we ahve shown to be inquisitive, thats why we have things like hadron colliders and a little space station. We do things because we can, because they are there. We are always exploring and getting to know ourselves and our surroundings better, the inquisitiveness has always been obvious without need of explanation.

However the Paranoia and suspicion not as prominent, but historically, if we are unsure of a race, or something different than us we have often viewed it in unkind light. Japan once attacked the US, and we rounded up japanese-americans and threw them in camps because they were suddenly viewed with a different light.

We enslaved people of all manner of races throughout quite a bit of our history, at the very least all the way back to roman days, most likely before also.

We arent bad people dont get me wrong, but we have a tendency to do the wrong thing, sometimes for the sake of progress, some times for the sake of security, sometimes for our own greed and comfort.

Honestly, the current US government probably would handle aliens badly... but that's because of the precedent that they handle everything else badly, due to the massive constant internal squabbling. There are a lot of governments out there which are at least capable of intelligently pursuing an agenda without falling into partisan warfare.

True enough, but i think putin might be a bit rough, and god forbid north korea gets invited. but as long as we agree on the USA part, we are pretty much good here.

Although the movies and media have also given us ample examples of friendly or supportive aliens. It's not as simple as you make it out to be.

No it really isnt as simple as i made it out to be, but for the most part, movies and tv with large groups of aliens have had alterior motives, so at least part of the point stands, and if you really want to get in depth on the massive amounts of movie and media we have to go on, we can, we really can, but it all comes down to what sticks in your head more, the single good wholesome alien, or the group with a nefarious plot. I persoanlly remember the latter more often.

[Simon_Jester]

\I see no particular evidence that, at least in the developed world, this would be a problem. While I'm sure you could dig up Bible quotes saying "aliens are devils," it's not a subject on which religious authorities find much occasion to talk about it. As a consequence, it's not a subject where people are used to listening to, or worrying about, their religious authority.

I am talking the hardline extreme groups. Not your average mainstream chruch (or other denominational place of worship), goers of constant regularity, who attempt to uphold the best parts of the religion, im talking the Westboro baptist churches, the radical groups of other denominations.

Such radicals are groups small enough to be politically irrelevant outside the Muslim world.

Though the main faiths would have a tough go round at first too, though in a less extreme manner i think.

Yes, but relatively sober organizations like the Catholic Church are likely to stake out moderate positions, so they don't present a serious problem.

Could you discuss concrete examples of this? "Humans are stupid" can be an argument supported with evidence, but it can also be an attempt to substitute cynicism for wisdom. Might want to think this one over a bit.

Sure throughout our history we ahve shown to be inquisitive, thats why we have things like hadron colliders and a little space station. We do things because we can, because they are there. We are always exploring and getting to know ourselves and our surroundings better, the inquisitiveness has always been obvious without need of explanation.

However the Paranoia and suspicion not as prominent, but historically, if we are unsure of a race, or something different than us we have often viewed it in unkind light. Japan once attacked the US, and we rounded up japanese-americans and threw them in camps because they were suddenly viewed with a different light.

We enslaved people of all manner of races throughout quite a bit of our history, at the very least all the way back to roman days, most likely before also.

We arent bad people dont get me wrong, but we have a tendency to do the wrong thing, sometimes for the sake of progress, some times for the sake of security, sometimes for our own greed and comfort.

Thing is, that's not a specific example of the claim you're making, which is that humans dealing with technologically advanced but non-aggressive aliens would act so aggressively toward the aliens that it would provoke the aliens to the brink of violence (or actual violence).

It's like, I get that humans often treat people badly, but that doesn't equate to saying humans are too foolish to comprehend 'don't poke the advanced aliens too hard.'

Honestly, the current US government probably would handle aliens badly... but that's because of the precedent that they handle everything else badly, due to the massive constant internal squabbling. There are a lot of governments out there which are at least capable of intelligently pursuing an agenda without falling into partisan warfare.

True enough, but i think putin might be a bit rough, and god forbid north korea gets invited. but as long as we agree on the USA part, we are pretty much good here.

As long as the aliens aren't Americans, the North Koreans might actually deal more sanely with them than with any human polity... unless it suits their propaganda purposes to portray the aliens as EVIL ENEMY.

Putin is likely to try and do business with the aliens, logically concluding that he lacks the strength to strong-arm them.