POLL - Is Earth Ready to Meet an Alien Civilization?

[doublehelix]

The new film The Fourth Kind hints at the uglier side of alien encounters, but is Earth even ready to accept extraterrestrials today, if definitive proof descended from the skies?

Seth Shostak, senior astronomer with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, has heard some weird ways to seek out evidence of aliens. He details his work in his recent book Confessions of an Alien Hunter and has taken a look at how humanity may respond if confronted with irrefutable proof that life does exist beyond Earth:

What Finding Alien Life Could Mean for Earth

Video - "The Fourth Kind" Film Trailer

Previous polls on this topic:

The Fourth Kind, Alien Encounters

The Fourth Kind, Alien Abductions

[Dryden88]

Hello,

A believe a majority of humanity is absolutley ready. We have hollywood and consipracy/alien theorists to thank for that. We have seen all sorts of aliens thanks to hollywood and the discussion has now been around since the 20's or 30's. The only thing I disagree with is that most of the times we put our way of thinking and morals on these aliens. Aliens are called aliens for a reason. Now the obduction thing is probably 99% falls. But for a moment lets say it is not. People always say why do they only take the stupid redneck people, and why would they anally probe them? Well I always say they are alines? There is no way of knowing why they would do anything because we know absolutley nothing about them. There is no way of predicting what a being that evolved differently fromus would be like. There has been no representation of this from hollywood. That to me would be the biggest shock to the system of the people of earth not how the aliens look.

[T_D]

If human scientists can't or won't find at least microbial life on Mars, I'd say that they think society is not mature enough to do anything but watch TV. Pathetic. The risk you place on all humanity by your ego-inflated pseudo-intellectual "we know best" attitude seems extremely hard to justify. Individuals were given an internal moral compass for a reason....so let me ask this - does what you're doing feel right? It's really time to find at least microbial life on Mars.

[Karl296]

Ready or not, they need to come. If they don't, we'll all just wallow in our filth and decline into extinction.

[elroy_jetson]

Earth may be ready to meet aliens, but humanity isn't. Our civilization is devolviong at an alarming rate, civility has gone by the wayside, while honesty and integrity in business, and government, have become increasingly rare. Humanity was ready to meet the aliens several decades ago - when one great nation stood steadfastly by its Constitution, a Constitution brilliantly forged by that nation's Founding Fathers two centuries earlier. That once great nation is but a shell of its former self, greed and corruption have been allowed to eat away at the rights guaranteed by the rigid language of that Constitution. Laws and "justice" now have little to do with morality. This is happened because political and business leaders lack foresight, and are unwilling to put great and noble goals ahead of their individual power lust.

I firmly believe that colonizing our solar system is a great and noble goal. Once achieved, it will be possible to look to the stars. Humanity is now at a very important precipice - we can continue to look inside, allowing corruption to grow and destroying our space faring potential by ignoring the future; or we can work diligently to put humans in space - developing infrastructure and capabilities as we prepare to expand beyond the crowded nest we call Earth.

Returning to Luna and permanently staffing bases there is the most important thing our society can do at this point in time. The nations that lead the way will set the tone for colonizing Sol system. Perhaps the peaceful expansion of humanity beyond our Homeworld will be the signal for aliens to reveal themselves. But we're definitely not ready now.

[Jawamaster]

I do not think humanity is ready to encounter intelligent alien life. We are not in any way united as a species, which I think would be important in dealing with such alien visitors. Who speaks for Earth? On the other hand, such an event could possibly unite humanity at a basic level. Perhaps our lack of unity would prevent aliens from contacting us (if, as I doubt, they have the ability to travel such immense distances). Also, our fear and hatred of that which is different makes us unsuitable for contact -- at least at this point in our evolution. This is regrettable, since I would love for us to be contacted. However, it is probably for the best right now that we have not been.

I do agree, however, that exploring and colonizing our solar system is of great importance at this point in our life as a species. Yet, even this seems at times to be getting further from our reach. This activity in itself would have a further unifying effect, and would certainly prepare us better for eventual contact with an alien civilization. In fact, it may even encourage contact (that is, if we are being "watched" -- which I doubt).

One might also wonder how much our exploration and colonization of space would be spurred if we discovered evidence of extra-terrestrial civilizations. Surely this would catch the attention of our politicians! Look at what the possibility of a Martian microbe did in the late 1990s! Should we ever be contacted, certainly the budget for exploration and colonization would be increased!

[Antwerpo]

Don't believe the world is ready for an alien encounter. One of the first questions that will be asked is if they believe in god. When they say no, there is a huge problem. All the religious fanatics will say they are demons from hell and will try to convert them to religion.

If I was an alien I wouldn't wanna visit earth!

[CuriousEnough]

I am convinced that Earth/Humanity is far from ready to even accept the tiniest extra-terrestial life-form. Why? Most earthlings are attached to the Power House of religion. Imagine the consequences of meeting an Alien that bluntly says:

"A God? No way! Our Class III civilization has seen the outskirts of the space containing your universe and we know where and when it originated and how. Certainly your God is a fairy-tale...".

There would be a total economic break down, mass depression, mass denial, mass suicide and so many that would declare this alien an infidel and they (the State) would eliminate that creature - just to keep the masses quite.

But consider it the other way around too. What if this Alien would confirm the 1 God theory. What a mess it would give.

In the first case we'd ask: Can we set aside religion? Unite as 1 species? Live in harmony, and let life in Harmony? Then explore the boundries of Galaxies. We might not have another choice. It is either that or become extinct before we reach a Class I status.

In the latter case - would we all become obedient religious and no longer strife for achievements? Technical, Medical etc. Would we all commit suicide to enter the exhalted stage of life?

I think we're not ready at all. NASA shoud hide ALL info on Extra Terrestials!

[Schlurry]

I think that any alien visitation would be initially devastating, but in safe stances it could be globaly addictive even to the point of a new true God.

[Amadamerican]

yes, if we can reach their solar system, but they most not have the capability to come to us. There are too many pervert out there. Earth is too young to lose its virginity yet. For that matter, I think Earth should wait until she turn @lees 15. For now lets just worry about terraforming Mars .

[ZenDraken]

This question ignores the fact that, in all likelihood, an alien civilization will be billion years or more advanced than our own civilization. The Universe is incredibly old, and our young civilization has been around less than an instant in comparison.

The Universe is about 13.5 billion years old. An alien civilization that arose 500 million years ago, which is only in the last 3.7% of the entire age of the Universe, would be about as far ahead of us as we are advanced over early arthropods.

Similarly, we are as far in advance of ants as a 500 million year old alien civilization would be ahead of us.

So ask yourself this: Is the ant colony in your backyard is ready to meet *you*? In what possible productive way could you interact with the ant colony? What would be your motivation to do so? You could share your knowledge with the ants, but it would be meaningless to them. If ants could hope, they would mostly hope you leave them alone.

Many posters think that because we have a history that includes violent and irrational behavior, that we would be some kind of threat to an alien species. That's a fantastic delusion. In all likelihood, an alien civilization would be able to squash us without even trying. Not that they would do that, but the point is we cannot possibly represent any realistic threat to an alien civilization, any more than that ant colony is a threat to you.

Of course,when the ants invade your picnic, there is always the option of using insecticide...

I maintain that we are not ready to meet aliens, and to be on the safe side, I hope they don't take too close of an interest in us.

[a_lost_packet_]

I didn't vote in the poll because I wasn't ready to put my chop on the choice descriptions.

I believe that Earth is ready to discover alien intelligence if such an event should occur. However, I do not believe we should seek them out. I am not of the opinion that every alien intelligence must be some morally advanced, benevolent, super race that has cast off the chains of simple self-interest in favor of lovingly embracing other intelligent species.

We should remain quiet, build upon our own discoveries, spread ourselves throughout the solar system and beyond. Then, maybe one day we'll be able to meet another intelligence as equals with the ability to survive such a meeting. Earth is all we have. It would be foolish to blindly open the door without looking through the peep-hole first.

[JimGee]

I believe the world is ready for an alien encounter, as long as we can run faster than the aliens or they don't find us very tasty!

[doom_shepherd]

In a nutshell...

I believe I, personally, am ready. I really don't have that many paradigms to shift, with or without a clutch.

I don't believe that most of the rest of humanity is ready.

I REALLY don't believe that a lot of the people who say they're ready, actually are. Especially the conspiracy nuts.

[escee]

LCROSS is the main event that makes this all relevant. why no discussion on it? why no discussion on the official nasa photos that show highly sophisticated geometric artifacts that withstood the impact of the centaur? there will be soon, that was the whole point of the LCROSS mission! we already knew that there was water on the moon, so did India. and in fact india knew about the intelligent artifacts of an ET civilization as well: read this article...
http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/20879.asp

and here' the official nasa photos of impact:
http://www.nasa.gov/394555main_Visible- ... e-zoom.png
notice the geometric patterning over the depressions in the landscape, notice how whatever that is almost completely absorbed the impact of the centaur that was 'supposed to make a 6 mile high ejecta plume that everyone could see on live TV or with a telescope'.

All of those multiple choice answers are loaded. "we need to reach out to them?" that would imply that any other civilization near us is within about the same 100 year technological developmentary window as us. probability of that is close to zero. they are either millions of years ahead of us or millions of years behind us. we're not gonna reach out to any dinosaurs on other planets cuz they wouldnt understand until they're ready. the question then becomes: have we been reached out to in recent history because we are almost ready?

i would say yes, evidenced by the fact that out civilization still runs on 100year-old technology.

how to i reach that conclusion from such a premise?

the fact that our civilization runs on outdated technology proves that there is massively funded and orchestrated corruption and secrecy, including the covering up of repeated attempts from concerned civilizations millions of years ahead of us to help put us on a more sustainable path.

i posit that the benevolent beings were turned down because what they offered us would free our civilization over a planned duration of time, most likely a generation or two. notice how the top 1% still feeds off the bottom 99%, and 50% of our planet dies of starvation or diaharrea at a very young age.

we think we are so advanced? we are a joke. and while its not us who perpetrate this illusion, it is us that allow it. i imagine benevolent aliens from a million years ahead of us have morals, and do believe in a concept of god, that being simply the source of all that is, the great mystery of which's proximity is pursued eternally(or quantumly - cuz time is an illusion) by consciousness.

they have morals, which means they will offer a helping hand, but only if we meet them halfway. they tried with our governments after the nukes started going off, cuz they knew our days were numbered. they were turned down, because those in control like their control, and want more, not less. that is why our civilizaton still runs on petroleum. it keeps us in line.

now, its interesting that this question was at least brought up this week, as i would contend we are less than a month away from potentially having a metaphorical alarm clock go off to wake us all up, not just those in govt. if those in govt would have went along with the plan designed by beings A MILLION YEARS MORE INTELLIGENT THAN US, we would have had a peaceful & blissful transistion into a golden age by now. instead, we are on a completely unsustainable path of poverty, global warming and war.

why do i contend that such an event is imminent? it's their last ditch effort to 'wake up' the 'dumbed down' masses in order to change things before its to late. that 'too late date' is sometime very soon.

we still have a shot a a civilization with no war and no poor. imagine how our civilization would bloom if everyone had a full mind and a full stomach...?

are we ready? good question. for the most part, probably not, but we are out of time, and some of us want to be a part of a better future, and we dont deserve to be denied that by senile old rich men who think they still run the show.

namaste & peace.

[General_Kenobi]

I voted 'Yes.' I realize some individuals may not be ready to confront alien intelligence, but I am ready & eager to do so (too bad my only 3 chances of this meeting are fat, slim, & none). Besides, I'm sure we all know of several human beings who are not really equipped to face the people of our own planet on a daily basis, but somehow they still get by. I think of a possible alien encounter as a learning opportunity. That's the only reason I visit this site on a regular basis...for the learning opportunities. I'm not sure who posted it, but one of you mentioned any alien civilization that would visit us would more than likely be signifcantly older than ours is. That's a great point, but unlike the ants in said example, humans actually have the ability to reason & to put 2 & 2 together on a very high level (presumably not at the same level as our visitors, however). That is, after all, why we rule this rock. We could communicate with them. I just think there would be plenty to be learned from an advanced civilization. A sit down with these guys could advance our own civilization by thousands, maybe millions of years; not to mention fill us in on life's mysteries. Such as, what the universe was like before the Big Bang. Maybe they could even provide us with the Theory of Everything.
Also, if there are alien beings reading & comprehending this, please know that you are always welcome in my home. I only have 2 rules: see a spider, kill a spider & BYOB.

[MeteorWayne]

This poll is Off Topic for this forum, and belongs in Free Space, IMHOWIOCR.

[Shippley]

I voted maybe.

I am personally more than ready to have contact with an alien civilization. Sometimes I stand outside at night and look at the stars and call to the aliens with my mind. Those that would call me crazy for that, are probably not ready..

As far as a more advanced civilization being more moral, caring, and loving.. I'm not so sure about that.. It sounds like a noble conclusion, but realistically doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Here on Earth we have different groups, ethnicities, nations.. it only makes sense to me that the universe is populated by several different types of alien species. Some of these aliens are probably very nice and loving, and others are probably more aggressive. Just as there are many different types of human personalities, why would there not be several different types of alien personalities? If they are out there, and if they know about us, then I would think that some want to help us, and some others would want to harm us.

On a parallel line of thought.. If a an alien civilization has the ability to travel to Earth from light years of distance, then they probably have the ability to outlive their star system, and they have developed the means to sustain their selves without any additional resources. If they are self sustaining on their space ship, then we can rest assured that they aren't coming to earth for our resources. Why then would they come to Earth, being that we are a small planet in the suburbs of a typical galaxy. Would they come to visit us out of compassion? What interest do they have in seeing our civilization succeed, or fail for that matter? Is our success tied to their success?? I doubt it. Are they coming to Earth simply to show us how to live a peaceful, sustainable existence? It would be noble, but again.. why would they care about us?

If any aliens are able to comprehend what I have communicated here, please come beam me up (permanently if necessary)!

[KeplersThirdLaw]

Opinion... Everyone has one and they stink! Including mine.
A person is ready for much but people can't handle much beyond their own world. I would say that the scholars of our society would be mature enough to accept contact with an alien society. Scholars, not politicians. An educated mind has reason to learn more for the betterment of the whole than just the individual. We have some people like this in our world but we need more. Maturity doesn't come with the age of a civilization, it comes with understanding. Say, if greater than 75% of our civilization had an intimate understanding of math and the sciences, then I could say that we'd be better candidates for outside contact. That level of understanding would promote a greater yearning for knowledge and would make us near perfect students for the benefits of contact.

But, as it is, we are plagued by our own vices and selfish desires. Case and point is as simple as do you stop to help someone with a flat or do you say they got it and keep on driving? When you watch TV, do you think about ways to stop injustice or intervening in a travesty? These thoughts aren't those of a hero, just someone who is tired of the selfishness of our society.

Those of us who are ready can proceed. The rest need to stay in the sand box and learn to play nice.

[bushwhacker]

i firmly belive we have been visited and the government knows it.. i guess that makes me a conspiricy theorist. but i dont care i just want to meet them someday before i die