WI Crippler

With all the talk of Mars, and the growing evidence that it at least may have once been suitable for life as we know it, I got to thinking wayyyyy down the road, beyond my lifetime for sure.

If we were to discover life elsewhere, I doubt many people would object to the collection of simple life forms(bacteria, etc...) to be returned to earth, or to be removed from their planet in some manner(to a space station prehaps) for further scientific study.

But what if we discover intelligent life? Is there a moral/ethical dilema regarding the contact we make with that species? If it is of a simple intelligence, like say an animal of some sort, should we attempt to collect and study any of that species? If it is an intelligent creature, but yet not technologically capable(think humans, even a mere 200 years ago), do we make contact with that creature or should we simply observe as best we can without interference?

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"Fatigue makes cowards of us all" - Vincent T. Lombardi.

Panache

We should totally make contact with them, exchange our technologies for their resources, etc... The prime directive was an arrogant vanity and an all around bad idea.

WI Crippler

The what?

I figured I wasn't nearly the first person to think of this scenario(just getting a feel for how DPs space junkies feel), but I didn't realize there was already a precedent in place....

Panache

A while ago there was this TV show, you may have heard of it... it was called Star Trek. It enjoyed some mild popularity.

Anyways, the Prime Directive was a policy of non-interference with sentient creatures who had not yet developed warp technology.

DivineComedy

Ooops, sorry, I thought this topic was about my head.

Uh, most likely they (not the magical "they" of Saddam fame but the aliens) will see PETA literature and our intelligence on a chart comparing everything from a cow to them, and decide to teach us a lesson. Or the little fellows will be a savior like kudzu, which when put in a vat might be able to make oil, so we can burn garbage instead of cornbread. Just be sure to wash your hands if you get any little buggers on you, if it eats wood chips and makes oil it might do a number on your house.

Yeah, I think laws are good things...thinking about space....

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“[59.14] They will not fight against you in a body save in fortified towns or from behind walls; their fighting between them is severe, you may think them as one body, and their hearts are disunited; that is because they are a people who have no sense.”

Yeah, a wall and a border patrol will protect us. {sound of laughter}

mikhail

Its very simple if we can make friends we will if we cant we will do everything we can to destroy them.One of the biggest problems in the west is we look at things through are point of view and we have lost the instinct to destroy what we dont want.

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The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.

WI Crippler

I see. I haven't watched Star Trek in many many years. I've always thought it was a vehicle that could do well, with the right direction and production, nowdays. But I guess everybody is into this BattleStar Galactica or whatever its called now.

conquer

I think that we are for those alliens -the ones in the flying saucers- what the mice and rabbit are for us...experimental specimens...

We won't make them speak English but they will have great pets with us...

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Knowledge is more important than imagination.
Conquer.

GarzaUK

All these Star Trek and Star Wars things like different species hanging around together having beers or having them as pets will probably not happen. It is biologically irresponsible. An alien species could have bacteria that is harmless to them (even benficial), but to us, well it could wipe us out completely.

If a species is intelligent and is able in logical and creative thought, we shouldn't enslave them or capture them against their will. Even if we were far more advanced technically than them, we would learn so much from them, it makes me giddy just to think about it.

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MY HOMEPAGE

rathi

Cynically, the smartest thing to do would be make contact and try and build a tolerable relationship. The problem with with non-interference is that some obnoxious tool will eventually break the rule and attempt to enslave/exploit/rule them. With previous diplomatic history, things might not go completely to hell. However, if the first contact the aliens have with us is the conquistadors, its going to get ugly.

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He'd be right at home on some ancient battlefield, swinging an axe into somebody's face.