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General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Topic started by: rangerrebew on May 11, 2017, 11:21:35 am

Title: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: rangerrebew on May 11, 2017, 11:21:35 am
What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
By Corey S. Powell | May 10, 2017 11:47 am
 

Readers of this blog know that I’m a big fan of Quora, because it lets non-experts raise the kinds of speculative questions that don’t normally come up in formal scientific discussions. One frequent theme that comes up is the issue of what we would do if we found intelligent life on a planet around another star. A recent posting in particular caught my eye: “What would we do if we found an Earthlike planet with intelligent life that is 500 years behind us in technology and advancements?”

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/outthere/2017/05/10/alien_civilization/#.WRRJRsa1t0i
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Oceander on May 11, 2017, 11:27:47 am
Planet 51!
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 11, 2017, 11:32:05 am
We would be doing them a favor by bringing them up to our level.

I don't believe in a "prime directive" and see nothing noble in it.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 11, 2017, 11:40:48 am
We would be doing them a favor by bringing them up to our level.

I don't believe in a "prime directive" and see nothing noble in it.
I do. Stay out of the way. Give them a chance to develop an intelligent culture.
Technology alone does not make for being 'advanced', either, so a lot would depend on how you defined 'advanced'.
Considering that pretty basic terms like "wall", "healthcare", etc. seem to be so hard to agree upon, "Advanced" should be a fun discussion.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Gefn on May 11, 2017, 11:47:31 am
It depends on the situation and the people.

Yes to indoor plumbing, electric lights, printing presses, medicine, things to make their lives easier.

But no to splitting atoms. I would not want to be responsible for that.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 11, 2017, 12:04:56 pm
People 500 years ago were perfectly modern humans completely capable of comprehending our modern technology. In fact Cro Magnon man were modern men in all but technological advances.

Obviously you would want to take care in how you introduce the technology. Maybe plow fields for them and start introducing modern farming methods to them. Start teaching them to teach each other.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 11, 2017, 12:08:22 pm
Harry Turtledove's "The Road not taken" really broke my brain on this sort of thing.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 11, 2017, 12:13:12 pm
It depends on the situation and the people.

Yes to indoor plumbing, electric lights, printing presses, medicine, things to make their lives easier.

But no to splitting atoms. I would not want to be responsible for that.
If you are going to give them electricity, skip the printing press. They'll just print money, anyway.
Go directly to internet, conserve resources.

Learn from their medicine, first. It may appear (and may be) "primitive" but it has evolved over their cultural existence and to some extent that means the things that work best are in use. They may have subtle methods and indigenous remedies and cures we know nothing about, and could learn from. A tremendous amount of indigenous herbal lore was lost by assuming tribal medicine men and women were just 'witch doctors' . Instead of feathers, masks, and paint, ours dress in scrubs and white lab coats and invoke the standard chants to the antitobacco god. (plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose).
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Wingnut on May 11, 2017, 12:18:23 pm
Nuke em from space and steal all the planets resources.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 11, 2017, 12:32:01 pm
Nuke em from space and steal all the planets resources.
It might be a kinder fate than well-intentioned meddling, and safer than letting them prowl the galaxy on a Saturday night all hopped up on Kerbango or something.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Wingnut on May 11, 2017, 12:35:23 pm
It might be a kinder fate than well-intentioned meddling, and safer than letting them prowl the galaxy on a Saturday night all hopped up on Kerbango or something.

Nothing in the universe can be made worse until you inject a human into it.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 11, 2017, 12:42:31 pm
It is kind of interesting that there have been hints of resentment that have been pointed in the direction of the Vulcans on the various Star Trek series over the years.

They were far more than 500 years advanced of humans but were draw to a warp signature which signaled mankind about ready to leave the solar system. They controlled and restricted humanity for many years. It showed up most in the Star Trek Enterprise series where Captain Archer accused the Vulcans of keeping us on a leash.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 11, 2017, 12:53:48 pm
Well, I heard the whole "advanced culture" thing put this way.

When the white man got to the New World, he encountered cultures where the women skinned game, prepared the food, tanned and rendered supple the hides, and made clothing from them, tended gardens and small children. 

The men went hunting and fishing, and occasionally went to neighboring tribes to raid or trade, and no one complained when they got a new bow, knife, or lance.

Think about all that improvement, guys.

Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Polly Ticks on May 11, 2017, 12:56:04 pm
Nuke em from space and steal all the planets resources.

 :silly:

(http://orig04.deviantart.net/7778/f/2010/166/7/f/unobtanium_by_questionthemajority.png)


Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Wingnut on May 11, 2017, 01:01:24 pm
Well, I heard the whole "advanced culture" thing put this way.

When the white man got to the New World, he encountered cultures where the women skinned game, prepared the food, tanned and rendered supple the hides, and made clothing from them, tended gardens and small children. 

The men went hunting and fishing, and occasionally went to neighboring tribes to raid or trade, and no one complained when they got a new bow, knife, or lance.

Think about all that improvement, guys.

Man I miss the good old days!
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: montanajoe on May 11, 2017, 01:11:45 pm
Well I'd say some would be polishing up their beads and trinkets, some would be trying to register them to vote, and others would be sending missionaries... :whistle:
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 11, 2017, 01:23:15 pm
Well I'd say some would be polishing up their beads and trinkets, some would be trying to register them to vote, and others would be sending missionaries... :whistle:
Don't forget the government agents, vying for treaties for 95% of the planet's surface and minerals....and taxmen. :nometalk:
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Wingnut on May 11, 2017, 01:44:02 pm
Don't forget the government agents, vying for treaties for 95% of the planet's surface and minerals....and taxmen. :nometalk:

And Land Grab...don't forget Haley Vs United States...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQZarDGRH1Q&ab_channel=TheOrb



Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 11, 2017, 01:58:04 pm
And Land Grab...don't forget Haley Vs United States...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQZarDGRH1Q&ab_channel=TheOrb
Can't forget that. There are 1280 acres out of 10 million the government so graciously allowed my wife's people to keep (any else in tribal trust or private hands they had to buy back from the people who got it for 'back' taxes).
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: bolobaby on May 11, 2017, 03:12:22 pm
We would be doing them a favor by bringing them up to our level.

I don't believe in a "prime directive" and see nothing noble in it.

@Cripplecreek

Soooo....

I was at an amusement park with the kids recently, walking through the midway. Do you know what the prizes were for the games? I'm not kidding, here...

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61CZpA8e1KL._SY355_.jpg)

Yes. Stuffed poop. And stuffed poop hats. Some of the poop was in rainbow colors.

So next time you fantasize about bringing an "underdeveloped" alien culture up to "our level," grab your nuts - or whatever parts afforded you by one of 67 genders - buck up, and just walk that fantasy riiiiiight back.

We truly have become Idiocracy.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: the_doc on May 11, 2017, 03:32:28 pm
:silly:

(http://orig04.deviantart.net/7778/f/2010/166/7/f/unobtanium_by_questionthemajority.png)
@Polly Ticks
@Wingnut

Nuke em from space and steal all the planets resources?  No, no, NO!

(They might be tasty.  The Reptilians might taste like alligator tail.)
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: rangerrebew on May 11, 2017, 09:47:10 pm
What about the if?  We've already discovered a "civilization" less advanced than our own.  Its called Black Lives Matter. :whistle:
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Sanguine on May 11, 2017, 09:53:48 pm
This happened all throughout our history.  More advanced cultures "discover" less advanced cultures, and, generally, the less advanced disappear, adapt and/or assilmilate.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 11, 2017, 10:03:23 pm
This happened all throughout our history.  More advanced cultures "discover" less advanced cultures, and, generally, the less advanced disappear, adapt and/or assilmilate.

Assimilation and adaption are preferable. Again, I just don't see anything noble in keeping primitive people primitive so we can study them and feel superior. I would encourage them to hold on to their history and useful parts of their traditional culture.

500 years ago people were fully modern humans who only lacked technologies and knowledge.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Wingnut on May 11, 2017, 10:04:13 pm
This happened all throughout our history.  More advanced cultures "discover" less advanced cultures, and, generally, the less advanced disappear, adapt and/or assimilate.

Except for Muslims. They have yet to disappear adapt or assimilate.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: EC on May 11, 2017, 10:08:30 pm
Leave the sods alone until they are in the position to discover us.

If history has taught ONE thing, it's that a more advanced civilization discovering a less advanced one destroys the less advanced. Imagine how much worse it'd be if said more advanced civiliaztion literally descended from the sky.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Gefn on May 11, 2017, 10:37:43 pm
@Cripplecreek

Soooo....

I was at an amusement park with the kids recently, walking through the midway. Do you know what the prizes were for the games? I'm not kidding, here...

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61CZpA8e1KL._SY355_.jpg)

Yes. Stuffed poop. And stuffed poop hats. Some of the poop was in rainbow colors.

So next time you fantasize about bringing an "underdeveloped" alien culture up to "our level," grab your nuts - or whatever parts afforded you by one of 67 genders - buck up, and just walk that fantasy riiiiiight back.

We truly have become Idiocracy.

Or Mr. Hankey is famous!
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Ghost Bear on May 11, 2017, 10:44:35 pm
@Cripplecreek

Soooo....

I was at an amusement park with the kids recently, walking through the midway. Do you know what the prizes were for the games? I'm not kidding, here...

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61CZpA8e1KL._SY355_.jpg)

Yes. Stuffed poop. And stuffed poop hats. Some of the poop was in rainbow colors.

So next time you fantasize about bringing an "underdeveloped" alien culture up to "our level," grab your nuts - or whatever parts afforded you by one of 67 genders - buck up, and just walk that fantasy riiiiiight back.

We truly have become Idiocracy.

(http://thumbs.newschoolers.com/index.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fchzmemebase.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fmemes-do-want.jpg&size=400x1000)
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: ABX on May 11, 2017, 10:49:21 pm
We would be doing them a favor by bringing them up to our level.

I don't believe in a "prime directive" and see nothing noble in it.

So much of how we advanced as a civilization and species isn't the end result of our technology (or at least current state), it is the journey to get there.  Often, what the journey taught us was far more important than what we created in the end.

If said civilization was very similar to our own in terms of thinking, values, etc, we wouldn't be doing them a favor by just dropping advancement on them.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: 240B on May 11, 2017, 10:49:36 pm
We already have. There is a mysterious bacteria growing on interplanetary devices that no one can explain. They grow in space. As weird as this may seem, space seems to be full of life.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Ghost Bear on May 11, 2017, 10:55:08 pm
I'm surprised no one has yet suggested the obvious things we should do:

Fly our spacecraft over their major cities until they scramble the alien equivalent of fighter jets, and then zip out of sight;

Visit some rural farm, butcher some of the meat animals horribly, and leave the carcasses in a field for the alien farmer to find;

Visit another farm and cut strange symbols all through the crops;

Find some alien wandering along some back road, grab it, and subject it to "scientific experiments" of an extremely personal nature, then release it (physically) unharmed;

And of course, while doing all of these things, film them all so that they can be broadcast on the future version of "Punk'd" and/or "Candid Camera".   :tongue2:
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: ABX on May 11, 2017, 10:57:38 pm
I'm surprised no one has yet suggested the obvious things we should do:

Fly our spacecraft over their major cities until they scramble the alien equivalent of fighter jets, and then zip out of sight;

Visit some rural farm, butcher some of the meat animals horribly, and leave the carcasses in a field for the alien farmer to find;

Visit another farm and cut strange symbols all through the crops;

Find some alien wandering along some back road, grab it, and subject it to "scientific experiments" of an extremely personal nature, then release it (physically) unharmed;

And of course, while doing all of these things, film them all so that they can be broadcast on the future version of "Punk'd" and/or "Candid Camera".   :tongue2:

Also, make sure that all of our spacecraft have flashing lights on them, but use some method to always make them appear like a fuzzy dot.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Ghost Bear on May 11, 2017, 11:06:25 pm
Also, make sure that all of our spacecraft have flashing lights on them, but use some method to always make them appear like a fuzzy dot.

Yes! Imperfect cloaking... not quite enough to make our ships invisible, just enough to make it difficult for recording devices to get a clear picture.

And we should send scouts down among the aliens, always in pairs, disguised as aliens but not quite well enough to really pass without notice, and dressed all in black.  :pondering:
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on May 11, 2017, 11:56:30 pm
What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Impossible if we let them first view Mexico.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Oceander on May 12, 2017, 12:01:18 am
Give them the most wicked set of conflicting religious traditions we can come up with, complete with animal-headed gods and goddesses and flaming bushes.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 12, 2017, 02:56:32 am
Assimilation and adaption are preferable. Again, I just don't see anything noble in keeping primitive people primitive so we can study them and feel superior. I would encourage them to hold on to their history and useful parts of their traditional culture.

500 years ago people were fully modern humans who only lacked technologies and knowledge.
So, invent a time machine and give Genghis Khan AK-47s Or the Saracens 155s or the Crusaders Air to Ground capability...okay, that's 700 years ago, but you might get my point. 500 would only take them from the age of sail and draft animals to ICEs and Spacefaring with energy weapons instead of muzzle loaders.

I see great potential for disaster in delivering technologies into the hands of those who are still developing philosophically as well, not to mention the bias of individuals or their naivete seriously affecting the outcome, the future of the planet, the race/species, and the potential for that to have deleterious effects on the whole galaxy. In just the last 100 years (half that, actually) we have gone from being highly tolerant of massive collateral damage to attempt to achieve a military objective to filling JDAMs with concrete instead of explosive and using them as a kinetic weapon to eliminate a targeted building in a dense neighborhood.
Before, we'd have just wiped out the town (shells or bombs), even before air power.
Our philosophies have changed with out technologies, as we became more capable, as we became more capable of destruction. Not to say there have not been beneficial effects, but the same technologies used for peace can be adapted for conflict, and where not, they teach principles which can.

Not to mention the possibilities for proxy wars, planet by planet, system by system, etc.

 Behind it all, we still haven't decided the criteria for "advanced".

Who are we to mess with a planet which has existed without conflict, in harmony with its own ecosystem, in a stable society, with primitive technology?

In many ways they are far more advanced than we are, they just don't have fancy gadgets--which might end up destabilizing and destroying a culture which in other ways was far superior.

Let them chart their own course, unless they are a threat to others. Spare them being told how to run their planet by their "betters".  We get the same sh*t all the time in the hinterlands...
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: montanajoe on May 12, 2017, 04:54:37 am
So, invent a time machine and give Genghis Khan AK-47s Or the Saracens 155s or the Crusaders Air to Ground capability...okay, that's 700 years ago, but you might get my point. 500 would only take them from the age of sail and draft animals to ICEs and Spacefaring with energy weapons instead of muzzle loaders.

I see great potential for disaster in delivering technologies into the hands of those who are still developing philosophically as well, not to mention the bias of individuals or their naivete seriously affecting the outcome, the future of the planet, the race/species, and the potential for that to have deleterious effects on the whole galaxy. In just the last 100 years (half that, actually) we have gone from being highly tolerant of massive collateral damage to attempt to achieve a military objective to filling JDAMs with concrete instead of explosive and using them as a kinetic weapon to eliminate a targeted building in a dense neighborhood.
Before, we'd have just wiped out the town (shells or bombs), even before air power.
Our philosophies have changed with out technologies, as we became more capable, as we became more capable of destruction. Not to say there have not been beneficial effects, but the same technologies used for peace can be adapted for conflict, and where not, they teach principles which can.

Not to mention the possibilities for proxy wars, planet by planet, system by system, etc.

 Behind it all, we still haven't decided the criteria for "advanced".

Who are we to mess with a planet which has existed without conflict, in harmony with its own ecosystem, in a stable society, with primitive technology?

In many ways they are far more advanced than we are, they just don't have fancy gadgets--which might end up destabilizing and destroying a culture which in other ways was far superior.

Let them chart their own course, unless they are a threat to others. Spare them being told how to run their planet by their "betters".  We get the same sh*t all the time in the hinterlands...

 888high58888 Dont have time to be on the board tonight but well put agree completely
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Frank Cannon on May 12, 2017, 05:08:49 am
Leave the sods alone until they are in the position to discover us.

If history has taught ONE thing, it's that a more advanced civilization discovering a less advanced one destroys the less advanced. Imagine how much worse it'd be if said more advanced civiliaztion literally descended from the sky.

I don't know. There are plenty of jungle tribes and the such that have never experience civilization before we discovered them. We check them out, study them and then we go on our way and they continue on theirs.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: EC on May 12, 2017, 05:44:05 am
To be completely fair, I should have said "the less advanced destroys itself." since our worldview doesn't get changed by these meetings and we do have no intention of destroying them. But no - the jungle tribes we meet and study are changed significantly by the meeting - followups decades later show that.

OF course, another factor to think of when and if we meet a less advanced species is - they are a different species. We're going to be wildly different from them. 500 years ago, if a strange, inhuman being descended from the sky, they'd have been either worshipped or killed as a demon, if they could speak. Just killed as "different" if they couldn't.

It's why I say leave them alone until they discover US. Put the ball in their court, so they find us when they are ready. Sure, watch them, remotely study them, hell, stick them on TV to pay for the costs of monitoring, but no contact.

Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: geronl on May 12, 2017, 06:29:45 am
We will convert them to Christianity of course
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: geronl on May 12, 2017, 06:31:34 am
We will steal all of their best TV programs without paying royalties, because we are evil.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Wingnut on May 12, 2017, 01:16:39 pm
I think Serling had the right idea.....
(https://33.media.tumblr.com/777aa2189776719dfbb9bd344ae7671c/tumblr_mpg62shQWG1qfhtxxo1_500.gif)
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Gefn on May 12, 2017, 02:27:19 pm
I think Serling had the right idea.....
(https://33.media.tumblr.com/777aa2189776719dfbb9bd344ae7671c/tumblr_mpg62shQWG1qfhtxxo1_500.gif)


That was  good episode. Serling died too young. He had so much great stories in him we missed.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Taxcontrol on May 13, 2017, 03:31:53 am
If past human behavior is any indication, there will be a brief period of cohabitation, then passive domination via no violent means, then violence that results in subjugation and enslavement.  The path out of enslavement will only happen after the collective culture no longer sees the enslaved as a threat.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Gefn on May 13, 2017, 11:47:35 am
@Wingnut

I just had a horrible thought!


What if an alien civilization came here, were nice to us, gave us technology and in the end alll they had was a cookbook?

Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Sanguine on May 13, 2017, 01:44:49 pm
@Wingnut

I just had a horrible thought!


What if an alien civilization came here, were nice to us, gave us technology and in the end alll they had was a cookbook?

Our goose would be cooked?
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Wingnut on May 13, 2017, 07:53:29 pm
@Wingnut

I just had a horrible thought!


What if an alien civilization came here, were nice to us, gave us technology and in the end alll they had was a cookbook?
Our goose would be cooked?

Yep we would be Pattie Far Gwar for sure!
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Frank Cannon on May 13, 2017, 07:59:56 pm
What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?

I think we already found one...

(https://www.raileurope.com/cms-images/61/854/france-rail-overview-1.jpg)
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: geronl on May 13, 2017, 08:25:19 pm

Who are we to mess with a planet which has existed without conflict, in harmony with its own ecosystem, in a stable society, with primitive technology?

What planet is that? I doubt such a one exists in any galaxy.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 13, 2017, 09:04:04 pm
What planet is that? I doubt such a one exists in any galaxy.

Actually its kind of funny. Conservatives overwhelmingly cried foul over the poor portrayal of humanity in the Avatar flick. Yet here in this thread its a near unanimous consensus that we would be exactly like humans in  Avatar.

While it stands in direct conflict with my reasons for not wanting an alien race to discover us, I still have no problem with us interfering with a minimally less advanced race. Sure it would change them but that doesn't mean it would be a great harm. More likely than not we would be the greatest thing ever to happen to them.

Look at the animals we consider to be very intelligent like dogs, horses, great apes, dolphins and whales. Most of us treat them with great compassion when despite their intelligence, they're millions of years behind us. If those same animals could sing an opera, write novels, or discuss quantum physics they would deserve and win the same rights as humans.

There's no reason to believe we wouldn't treat a slightly lass advanced race than ours with respect.

Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: goodwithagun on May 13, 2017, 09:12:07 pm
We already have. There is a mysterious bacteria growing on interplanetary devices that no one can explain. They grow in space. As weird as this may seem, space seems to be full of life.

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: truth_seeker on May 13, 2017, 09:40:23 pm
Re: "What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own? "

Some would try to come up with the most clever names to call them, their leaders, their supporters.

 
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 14, 2017, 02:29:06 am
Actually its kind of funny. Conservatives overwhelmingly cried foul over the poor portrayal of humanity in the Avatar flick. Yet here in this thread its a near unanimous consensus that we would be exactly like humans in  Avatar.

While it stands in direct conflict with my reasons for not wanting an alien race to discover us, I still have no problem with us interfering with a minimally less advanced race. Sure it would change them but that doesn't mean it would be a great harm. More likely than not we would be the greatest thing ever to happen to them.

Look at the animals we consider to be very intelligent like dogs, horses, great apes, dolphins and whales. Most of us treat them with great compassion when despite their intelligence, they're millions of years behind us. If those same animals could sing an opera, write novels, or discuss quantum physics they would deserve and win the same rights as humans.

There's no reason to believe we wouldn't treat a slightly lass advanced race than ours with respect.
Montezuma's treasure, Trail of Tears, "Until the Sun no longer rises in the East..."

 Yeah. Bullshit. Just one thing which was perceived as "needed", one profitable or 'critical' resource and their asses would be crushed.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 14, 2017, 02:36:12 am
Montezuma's treasure, Trail of Tears, "Until the Sun no longer rises in the East..."

 Yeah. Bullshit. Just one thing which was perceived as "needed", one profitable or 'critical' resource and their asses would be crushed.

And other groups of natives thrived and grew by learning and accepting white man's ways.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 14, 2017, 02:41:51 am
And other groups of natives thrived and grew by learning and accepting white man's ways.
Who? If there was anything to loot, it was done. Children were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools and not even allowed to speak their native tongue. Land was taken, wholesale. Anything of value was stripped from them. So who thrived?
The Europeans were a bit smarter, they asserted colonial dominion, exploited mineral and other resources, but left the locals where they were. The British did teach India a common language.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: truth_seeker on May 14, 2017, 03:15:28 am
America's treatment of natives is nothing to be proud about. Canada did better.

I had a grandfather killed in 1706 in New Hampshire, and another in 1812 in Indiana.

No idea who was "right" and "wrong." I know the natives were here, first.

https://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/The_brothers_who_emigrated_to_the_USA_and_were_killed_by_Indians

https://www.geni.com/people/Atha-Meeks-Sr/6000000001671545413
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 14, 2017, 03:39:23 am
Who?

The numbers of Navajo grew exponentially when they adopted ranching and farming. A lot of the eastern tribes weren't wiped out by any kind of violence. Most who died were infected by European diseases that they had no immunity to. Interbreeding with whites took a major toll. Many tribes simply disintegrated due to internal disputes over how to deal with the white men. I have a distant ancestor who was kidnapped by indians in the northeast and caused a split when one faction decided to try living in cabins, learning to read and write, and farm. Seems that the idea that children born during the winter actually having a chance to survive till spring was attractive.

The indians weren't exactly treating each other like loving brothers either. One of the theories about the origins of the name "Saginaw" is the Ojibwe translation of "Where the Sauk were" before the Ojibwe drove them out. The simple fact is that most of the indians who had been here were long gone before any white man ever set foot on this continent.

I don't know where people get this fantasy that people were so spectacularly primitive 500 years ago. Christopher Columbus could have learned to pilot a supertanker if they had existed and he could have done it without radar. Ben Franklin could have easily learned to use a computer or a cell phone. The fact is that Cro Magnon man was no less intelligent than us. The only real distinction between them and us a lack of technology but they were technology creators and still are.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 14, 2017, 04:32:02 am
The numbers of Navajo grew exponentially when they adopted ranching and farming. A lot of the eastern tribes weren't wiped out by any kind of violence. Most who died were infected by European diseases that they had no immunity to. Interbreeding with whites took a major toll. Many tribes simply disintegrated due to internal disputes over how to deal with the white men. I have a distant ancestor who was kidnapped by indians in the northeast and caused a split when one faction decided to try living in cabins, learning to read and write, and farm. Seems that the idea that children born during the winter actually having a chance to survive till spring was attractive.

The indians weren't exactly treating each other like loving brothers either. One of the theories about the origins of the name "Saginaw" is the Ojibwe translation of "Where the Sauk were" before the Ojibwe drove them out. The simple fact is that most of the indians who had been here were long gone before any white man ever set foot on this continent.

I don't know where people get this fantasy that people were so spectacularly primitive 500 years ago. Christopher Columbus could have learned to pilot a supertanker if they had existed and he could have done it without radar. Ben Franklin could have easily learned to use a computer or a cell phone. The fact is that Cro Magnon man was no less intelligent than us. The only real distinction between them and us a lack of technology but they were technology creators and still are.
Yet the only advantage you cite for the navajo is technology. Despite assimilation, eradication by disease, etc, and a bit of tourist trade in jewelry, rugs, and pottery, I'm not seeing the 'benefit' that did not overwhelmingly benefit the people who had the edge in technology. Much of the intermarriage was not with whites, but blacks who were often treated as a servant class or menial labor. This was not, for the most part, wildly beneficial, unless you consider the taking of millions of acres and inestimable timber and mineral wealth beneficial. Pretty one-sided, if you ask me.

Advantage went to those with the tech, and they mercilessly exploited, occasionally massacred (intentionally, not just through epidemics), and even enslaved indigenous people wherever they went. It doesn't matter how large a ship the Spanish could have piloted, they would have loaded it with loot and taken it 'home'.

I think if we are going to do anything but unabashedly loot other less developed species, we should leave them alone. Let's at least be honest about it.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on May 14, 2017, 12:32:57 pm
America's treatment of natives is nothing to be proud about. Canada did better.

I had a grandfather killed in 1706 in New Hampshire, and another in 1812 in Indiana.

No idea who was "right" and "wrong." I know the natives were here, first.

https://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/The_brothers_who_emigrated_to_the_USA_and_were_killed_by_Indians

https://www.geni.com/people/Atha-Meeks-Sr/6000000001671545413
By 'America' who are you talking about?  Spanish? British?  French? And what is meant by 'Canada did it better'? 

And what do you mean by 'No idea who was "right" and "wrong."'?

And you must be pretty old to have had a grandfather who was alive in 1706.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 14, 2017, 12:52:35 pm
By 'America' who are you talking about?  Spanish? British?  French? And what is meant by 'Canada did it better'? 

And what do you mean by 'No idea who was "right" and "wrong."'?

And you must be pretty old to have had a grandfather who was alive in 1706.

The "natives" were just a remnant of an earlier immigration wave. Their society rose to a fairly high level and collapsed before Columbus ever arrived here.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Sanguine on May 14, 2017, 01:59:51 pm
The "natives" were just a remnant of an earlier immigration wave. Their society rose to a fairly high level and collapsed before Columbus ever arrived here.

And, replaced the population that was here before them.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Cripplecreek on May 14, 2017, 02:03:51 pm
And, replaced the population that was here before them.

And it was still going on when we arrived as noted by the place "Where the Sauk were"
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: truth_seeker on May 14, 2017, 06:54:18 pm
The "natives" were just a remnant of an earlier immigration wave. Their society rose to a fairly high level and collapsed before Columbus ever arrived here.

Hint: There wasn't a single "society." There were hundreds of separate tribes with unique languages and cultures, dating back 10,000 yrs. or more, stretching from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego.

Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: truth_seeker on May 14, 2017, 07:01:24 pm
And, replaced the population that was here before them.

Native American populations descend from three key migrations
12 July 2012

Scientists have found that Native American populations — from Canada to the southern tip of Chile — arose from at least three migrations, with the majority descended entirely from a single group of First American migrants that crossed over through Beringia, a land bridge between Asia and America that existed during the ice ages, more than 15,000 years ago.

By studying variations in Native American DNA sequences, the international team found that while most of the Native American populations arose from the first migration, two subsequent migrations also made important genetic contributions. The paper is published in the journal Nature today.

“For years it has been contentious whether the settlement of the Americas occurred by means of a single or multiple ....

snip

...plus there is an amusement park, in Kentucky, called Ark Encounter (I report, you decide)

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1207/12072012-native-american-migration
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: truth_seeker on May 14, 2017, 07:08:06 pm
And you must be pretty old to have had a grandfather who was alive in 1706.

Sorry. I should have counted the g's for you. like gggggggg grandfather,etc.  but I assume most people would understand.

The men that were killed were my direct male ancestors, by the way.  As you can see from the cited stories, they are well documented.

Invest years in genealogy research, and find lots of interesting stuff. Over the last month, my sister and I helped a 73 year old woman (cousin) who was adopted, find her family ?? She is thrilled and grateful, btw.

Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on May 14, 2017, 09:07:53 pm
Invest years in genealogy research, and find lots of interesting stuff. Over the last month, my sister and I helped a 73 year old woman (cousin) who was adopted, find her family ?? She is thrilled and grateful, btw.
That is neat and a great side-product of what I know is hours and hours of research.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: truth_seeker on May 14, 2017, 11:54:38 pm
That is neat and a great side-product of what I know is hours and hours of research.
My mother and my sister did Ancestry DNA tests. I have my hard copy of my material from 15+ tears ago. And now the LDS site and Ancestry have computerized material, that wasn't there over 15 years back.

So the gal contacts my sister, and we start in from our side. We narrow it down, send her what we had. Her daughter picks it up.

Mother lives in White Horse, Yukon Terr. Daughter lives in Grand Prairie Alberta. Mom was adopted, said to be born in Winnipeg, records sealed until this year. Thinks name was Linn or Linnell.

My records cover my Swedish immigrant ancestors that first settled in Minnesota in the 1850s. I send them my stuff, tell them about other sources, etc.

After a few days the daughter sends some photos from her handwritten family tree on paper n her dining room table. She confirmed they did indeed connect with the Swedes in Minnesota, and a chap that went to Winnipeg.

But that still left out a few generations. In the meantime the provincial records previously sealed, were available if she knew who and where to ask about.

And she filled in one side, and awaits the other in a few weeks.

We got a warm thank you. We are pleased to help, and happy to add nice people to the family.

Early in my research years ago, I surmised that many families would up split between Canada and the US, and that turned out to be true.

In our case, on both mother's side and father's side.

Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on May 15, 2017, 01:10:02 pm
We are pleased to help, and happy to add nice people to the family.

You may also turn up some not-so-nice ones too.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: Smokin Joe on May 15, 2017, 01:39:24 pm
You may also turn up some not-so-nice ones too.
Just win the lottery. They'll show up in droves. Fourteenth cousins, even.
Title: Re: What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Post by: minnesota_bound on May 15, 2017, 08:58:50 pm
What if We Discovered an Alien Civilization Less Advanced Than Our Own?
Enslave them until their big brother "The Organians" shows up.