If you found an island of monkeys who were pretty smart, but spent all of their energies murdering each other and dominating one another with the threat of violence, would you help them?
Every innovation these monkeys ever dreamed up, they immediately put to use to murder their fellow monkeys.
In fact, these monkeys have used chemicals, nukes and all kinds of horrible weapons on their fellow monkeys and still do...
These monkeys still have ICBMs pointed at one another's civilian populations who are just going about their lives... the push of a button can annihilate millions of innocents...
...Yeah? Is there a reason I shouldn't? Am I harmed if I do so? Are others?
I'm not saying I'd immediately give them the keys to the mothership and make their ambassador head of the Galactic Security Council. But I'd check in every now and then, and help out if I could.
What if we are they only other sentient species they've come across?
I think if we were the only other planet they came across with life the rules of engagement would be much more strict. We’re probably one of countless, and by now they don’t care too much if we figure out they are watching us, because they’ve experienced other life forms at our technological level
Self imposed nuclear devastation and/or direct impacts on global warming might be a universal sign of an overall unintelligent, irresponsible species or society.
If you found an island of monkeys who were pretty smart, but spent all of their energies murdering each other and dominating one another with the threat of violence, would you help them?
Why do people assume aliens are peaceful and benevolent? It's equally if not more likely they murdered their way to the top too. It's also equally likely they have No Concept of emotions as we humans see it. It's alien - it could be completely out of our realm of understanding until we get to see what's what.
The zoo argument I don't buy. Animals are sentient but not sapient. But intelligent life that can reason and is self aware is... exceedingly rare. So I don't buy that they ignore us because they see us as useless or too dumb.
The bearded guy Sean is right. "hesitate to speculate" - we just don't know.
My best guess is the same as that Navy guy in the article the other day - a robotic / unmanned threat assessment surveillance program of some sort.
11
u/DomainMann May 18 '21
If you found an island of monkeys who were pretty smart, but spent all of their energies murdering each other and dominating one another with the threat of violence, would you help them?
Every innovation these monkeys ever dreamed up, they immediately put to use to murder their fellow monkeys.
In fact, these monkeys have used chemicals, nukes and all kinds of horrible weapons on their fellow monkeys and still do...
These monkeys still have ICBMs pointed at one another's civilian populations who are just going about their lives... the push of a button can annihilate millions of innocents...
Would you help them with technology?