NationStates Jolt Archive

Everyone always sees ETs helping us with this and that technology. But, what if they were in say their equivalent of our mid- to late-1800s. We would then be helping them and not the usually thought they help us. What do you think? If the issue came up, would you help them?

Everyone always sees ETs helping us with this and that technology. But, what if they were in say their equivalent of our mid- to late-1800s. We would then be helping them and not the usually thought they help us. What do you think? If the issue came up, would you help them?
There was a story called "The Road not Travelled." where an alien force comes to Invade Earth... they unleash their mighty blackpowder rifles and harry the Earth forces with their bi-planes...

so the story is narrated by two aliens sitting in jail, and one proposes that the technology that they (aliens) use were geared more for spacetravel and not warfare while the Humans turned their technology to warfare and not space travel...

and it ends with the captain asking "so what happens now that they have both?"

Wouldn't apply. We do not have the capacity to travel to other worlds, and if they are in their "19th Century", neither do they, and thus the point is rendered moot.

BUT, say if in the future we are able to travel to other worlds, I would support a policy of "non-interference" with primitive species, i.e. The Prime Directive.

Eh, due to my cynical nature, I've a sneaking feeling that we'd exploit them in some way, instead of being benefactors that gradually help them achieve more advanced technology.

Eh, due to my cynical nature, I've a sneaking feeling that we'd exploit them in some way, instead of being benefactors that gradually help them achieve more advanced technology.

Yeah...Humans tend to be a little less..."generous"...than what we see in the movies...

NO NUKES!!! give em the lightbulb, give em latex, give em microwave ovens, whatever, just NO NUKES!!!!

[QUOTE=JuNii]
so the story is narrated by two aliens sitting in jail, and one proposes that the technology that they (aliens) use were geared more for spacetravel and not warfare while the Humans turned their technology to warfare and not space travel...QUOTE]



Most technology created on earth, which is usefull for warfare, were adopted and/or funded by governments, the inventor including. Many technological advancements are only available for governments. Which is a good thing of course...? This is because of the destructive nature of man, in a world where a new technology would be embraced by scientists all over this planet, the technology could be analised from different angles and a usefull goal could be find sooner for the discovered technology, which would be used for an improvement and evolution on a wordly scale...


Think about it, it sounds to good to be true, but anything is possible if you want it...

If I was in charge I would help them by giving all technology we can without us losing our edge and giving them the ability to nuke each other

I would prefer it if we find less advanced aliens as there isn't the risk of us being enslaves/exterminated it would also be a lot less terrifying for humans to encounter them as we wouldn't feel under armed

Onto that star trek law about non involvement that is like not giving a tribe cure for a disease because they can’t make it themselves

NO NUKES!!! give em the lightbulb, give em latex, give em microwave ovens, whatever, just NO NUKES!!!!

VERY good point! No point in giving primitive civilizations our bastard children!

so the story is narrated by two aliens sitting in jail, and one proposes that the technology that they (aliens) use were geared more for spacetravel and not warfare while the Humans turned their technology to warfare and not space travel...

Most technology created on earth, which is usefull for warfare, were adopted and/or funded by governments, the inventor including. Many technological advancements are only available for governments. Which is a good thing of course...? This is because of the destructive nature of man, in a world where a new technology would be embraced by scientists all over this planet, the technology could be analised from different angles and a usefull goal could be find sooner for the discovered technology, which would be used for an improvement and evolution on a wordly scale...

Think about it, it sounds to good to be true, but anything is possible if you want it... Oh I agree.. it's just sad tho that when you mention Nuclear power, the first thing that comes to mind is Nuclear powered weapons, then chernobyl... then almost limitless energy.

What man needs is an incentive to fly to the stars again...
There is a song out there that says the center of the galaxy is filled with clouds of Gin... so the entire human race is determined to be the first to hold the biggest of all beer binges at the center of the universe... :p

If I was in charge I would help them by giving all technology we can without us losing our edge and giving them the ability to nuke each other

I would prefer it if we find less advanced aliens as there isn't the risk of us being enslaves/exterminated it would also be a lot less terrifying for humans to encounter them as we wouldn't feel under armed

Onto that star trek law about non involvement that is like not giving a tribe cure for a disease because they can’t make it themselves

But what if they overdosed on that medicine and they all died? I think the whole "Prime Derective" thing is a good policy if we encounter primitive cultures on other planets. We could study them from a distance, and wait for the right moment to 'introduce' ourselves, without changing their history too drastically (like giving them cold fussion or nuclear energy or something).

Oh I agree.. it's just sad tho that when you mention Nuclear power, the first thing that comes to mind is Nuclear powered weapons, then chernobyl... then almost limitless energy.

What man needs is an incentive to fly to the stars again...
There is a song out there that says the center of the galaxy is filled with clouds of Gin... so the entire human race is determined to be the first to hold the biggest of all beer binges at the center of the universe... :p

It's funny. That could have a completely different interpretation. You see, the word 'gen' means 'illusion' or 'apparition.' In India, a man who uses conjury is called a 'genjutsushi' ['a master of illusion technique']. Everything in this world is but a marionette show. Thus, we use the word 'gen'.

-Hagakure

Everyone always sees ETs helping us with this and that technology. But, what if they were in say their equivalent of our mid- to late-1800s. We would then be helping them and not the usually thought they help us. What do you think? If the issue came up, would you help them?

This is the sort of thing I thought no one else had figured out yet. Good job!

Yes, if we meet aliens it is very likely that we will be the ones to have the more powerful technology. If so, we'd probably secretly watch their civilization for a long time to figure out exactly what sort of interaction would be best.

Looking at human history and behavior on average, I would say that if we were to ever encounter a non-terran sentient species who was less advanced than humanity at that point of time, we would seeing either of the two things happen.

1: Corporatists 'employ' them. Exploiting their labor and resources for their own benefit. Dissidents are silenced and propoganda goes out saying its justified because their 'not human'. Most likely they will find support from fundamentalist groups who cannot fit in the idea of non-terran life into religious texts.

2: Xenophobes and fundies manufacture evidence against the species, advocating all out war on them because of "insert silly reason here".

Either way, I have full faith in the probability that humanity will find some way of visiting tragedy on any species less advanced than it.

From my many Star Wars/Star trek watching, I've deduced that they'll still kick our ass because of one of three reasons:

1) They're more advanced than us.

2) They're less advanced, but have more resilience/natural strength, flying abilities (think the Zerg from StarCraft)

3) They catch us from the worst moment possible.

From my many Star Wars/Star trek watching, I've deduced that they'll still kick our ass because of one of three reasons:

1) They're more advanced than us.

2) They're less advanced, but have more resilience/natural strength, flying abilities (think the Zerg from StarCraft)

3) They catch us from the worst moment possible.
Yeah, but they ain't batshit insane. We'd use nuclear weaponry to take out an invasion force, even if doing so would kill us all.