NationStates Jolt Archive

On the TV programme "Star Trek", set in a time when humans have invented interstellar space travel, humans avoid interfering with primitive extraterrestrial civilisations because of their "prime directive", which is based on ideas like "cultural contamination", if I recall correctly.

While "cultural contamination" is a bit dodgy as a justification, there are real advantages to non-interference - if, like humanity is now, an alien species was constantly warring among themselves, giving them extra technology would allow them to build more effective weapons. On the other hand, giving them technology that provides them the resources they were previous warring over might make them more peaceful.

One other thing is that if we gave a primitive civilisation technology too advanced for them to even understand, they would become dependent on it (and possibly us) and their own technological progress would stagnate.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?

The answer to this question depends entirely on whether they are tasty or not.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?
drop clues.

Kill the lot of them and rape their planet.

I think we should just talk for awhile share ideas and such then after that we give them things they might need technology wise then maybe support a government on the world for our own interest

All in all I’d prefer it if we get to know each other first after all that’s how dating works why should this be any different (note the teaching reference:D )

Kill the lot of them and rape their planet.

You're getting my vote for UN-Space Commissioner

To borrow from Ann Coulter "I say we take their land, kill their leaders, and force-convert them to Christology!"

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

But in reality I say we make them dependant upon us so that they never get any ideas like trying to wipe out the human race (and if we happen to find Lord Xenu out there who knows?)

I think it would depend on what they are like. If they are intrinsicly violent (like us) then I think we should destroy them before they become a threat, but if they are naturally peaceful then leave them alone for the indeterminate future, for possible future relations.

You're getting my vote for UN-Space Commissioner

But I wanted that job. :(

But I wanted that job. :(

You need to be a insomnia stricken, twisted screw head who's willing to invade any aliens we encounter in order to get my vote.

Screw the Prime Directive!

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/f/fic-terr.gif

Actually, I believe there is a good reason to updhold the PD, but then again, there were so many breaches of it without any real problems for the captain(s) doing it, I'm not really sure how much impact is considered too much...

...this is a big reason why I prefer the Doctor Who Universe. The Doctor can't help but get involved. It's what he's all about, getting involved.

Kill the lot of them and rape their planet.

Yeah, intergalatic survival of the fittist.:p

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?

What a golden opportunity that would be!

We should make full and complete use of the inhuman savages in every way which we can to improve ourselves. To preserve this windfall for ourselves and our posterity we will need to make certain that any and all attempts by them to become our equals or to overtake our superior position are quashed without delay and all who are responsible for it are punished in ways which assure them we take such things very seriously.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?

exactly as star trek says.

exactly as star trek says.

Follow the prime directive in all cases excepting those where it is inconvenient to follow or saves the Enterprise to run afoul of the PD?

I would mate with their women, assuming that they reproduce like we do.

Follow the prime directive in all cases excepting those where it is inconvenient to follow or saves the Enterprise to run afoul of the PD?

exactly ;)
and never follow it whenever a better plotline can be derived from making a pig's ear of the rule *nods*

Mutilate their livestock and make holes in their fields, what goes around comes around;)

On the TV programme "Star Trek", set in a time when humans have invented interstellar space travel, humans avoid interfering with primitive extraterrestrial civilisations because of their "prime directive", which is based on ideas like "cultural contamination", if I recall correctly.

Not humans, actually. The Federation. It's speciocentrics like you that led to the Great Tribble Purge, you know.

While "cultural contamination" is a bit dodgy as a justification,

Not really. Do you think our culture would have developed differently if aliens had given Rome the A-bomb in the middle of the fall of Rome?

there are real advantages to non-interference - if, like humanity is now, an alien species was constantly warring among themselves, giving them extra technology would allow them to build more effective weapons. On the other hand, giving them technology that provides them the resources they were previous warring over might make them more peaceful.

Or, if we're assuming they're like humans, the oil/food/whatever isn't the point any more. It's down to the fact that both sides seriously dislike each other.

One other thing is that if we gave a primitive civilisation technology too advanced for them to even understand, they would become dependent on it (and possibly us) and their own technological progress would stagnate.[QUOTE]

Bingo! Like feeding bears. Hopefully minus the hand getting bitten off bit.

[QUOTE]What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?

Exploit them as a souce of cheap labor.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?

Get a few volunteers to deliver "prophecies" in different countries. Have them teach adherence to the same god, but insert in vague differences in doctrine, just enough to make the sects look like different religions. Give them a few hundred years to create their own theology, adding in militant members as needed to create sectarian extremists. Then just sit back and watch the alien holy wars.:D

Not really. Do you think our culture would have developed differently if aliens had given Rome the A-bomb in the middle of the fall of Rome?
I'm not saying it wouldn't happen, I'm just saying that "contaminating culture" isn't something that people would easily agree on as the worst possible evil. I'm not talking about handing out weapons.

I would mate with their women, assuming that they reproduce like we do.

Winner.

On the TV programme "Star Trek", set in a time when humans have invented interstellar space travel, humans avoid interfering with primitive extraterrestrial civilisations because of their "prime directive", which is based on ideas like "cultural contamination", if I recall correctly.

While "cultural contamination" is a bit dodgy as a justification, there are real advantages to non-interference - if, like humanity is now, an alien species was constantly warring among themselves, giving them extra technology would allow them to build more effective weapons. On the other hand, giving them technology that provides them the resources they were previous warring over might make them more peaceful.

One other thing is that if we gave a primitive civilisation technology too advanced for them to even understand, they would become dependent on it (and possibly us) and their own technological progress would stagnate.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?

I agree that we should allow alien species to grow on their own. It seems much more, natural that way. Of course, you have to admit it's fun to see what happens if you drain a planet of all it's oceans if the planet is 80% water... Experimentation is great fun... But really, we should not screw with other, undeveloped civilizations if it is possible. That's why we have virtual reality like Spore to experiment with.

This story here has... something... to do with this here thread:
William Gibson's Hinterlands (http://www.lib.ru/GIBSON/r_hinter.txt)

And it's damn good, imho...

Kill the lot of them and rape their planet.
Nah. Some of them would probably make good slaves.

Kill the lot of them and rape their planet.

Actually, yes. If we ever reach the point where we can build relativistic rockets, we must use such weapons to destroy any civilisation that we meet which reaches the point of limited spaceflight (such as ourselves today). Conversely, we really ought to stop sending those damned SETI signals, since eventually someone'll come across them, and boom.

For reasoning, read this (http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/rocket3aa.html#killingstar). I'm too drunk/tired to write it out.

On the TV programme "Star Trek", set in a time when humans have invented interstellar space travel, humans avoid interfering with primitive extraterrestrial civilisations because of their "prime directive", which is based on ideas like "cultural contamination", if I recall correctly.

While "cultural contamination" is a bit dodgy as a justification, there are real advantages to non-interference - if, like humanity is now, an alien species was constantly warring among themselves, giving them extra technology would allow them to build more effective weapons. On the other hand, giving them technology that provides them the resources they were previous warring over might make them more peaceful.

One other thing is that if we gave a primitive civilisation technology too advanced for them to even understand, they would become dependent on it (and possibly us) and their own technological progress would stagnate.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?
Pray to all the gods that ever existed/will exist that they are a race of catgirls.

...well...catpeople, anyway...

The answer to this question depends entirely on whether they are tasty or not.

Meh. They'll all just taste like chicken anyway.

I would mate with their women, assuming that they reproduce like we do.

Who cares how they reproduce? If they're hotties, just go get some!:D

Who cares how they reproduce? If they're hotties, just go get some!:D

But what if you want kids? Like, say, if they were catgirls, you could have a little catgirl daughter! Think about how awesomely cute that would be. In any parent vs parent pitting their kids against each other for cuteness, you'd win everytime.

(Yes, I'm drunk. Shut up.)

But what if you want kids? Like, say, if they were catgirls, you could have a little catgirl daughter! Think about how awesomely cute that would be. In any parent vs parent pitting their kids against each other for cuteness, you'd win everytime.

(Yes, I'm drunk. Shut up.)

I wasn't thinking catgirls. More like green Orion Love-slaves.:p

Oh, and my kids are going to win anyway.

I wasn't thinking catgirls. More like green Orion Love-slaves.:p

Oh, and my kids are going to win anyway.

Nuh-uh. I'm telling you, my catgirl daughter could beat your green-skinned daughter any day.

Nuh-uh. I'm telling you, my catgirl daughter could beat your green-skinned daughter any day.

My second choice would be a klingon love slave. My ofspring wouldn't be cute, but they damn sure would kick ass.

*cough*weregeeksyouknow*cough*

My second choice would be a klingon love slave. My ofspring wouldn't be cute, but they damn sure would kick ass.

*cough*weregeeksyouknow*cough*

Like I said, I'm drunk. Furthermore, geeks are cool.

And kitties have claws. CLAAAAWS. Rawr.

Like I said, I'm drunk. Furthermore, geeks are cool.

And kitties have claws. CLAAAAWS. Rawr.

Geeks are cool. Kitties do have claws. Unfortunately only one of us is drunk.

Geeks are cool. Kitties do have claws. Unfortunately only one of us is drunk.

Well, in my own defense, I rarely drink. I was celebrating someone else's promotion, though, so I imbibed a wee bit. I'll pay for it when I go to work tomorrow.

Speaking of work, I should get to sleep.

exactly ;)
and never follow it whenever a better plotline can be derived from making a pig's ear of the rule *nods*
Good call. The only thing I'd ask is to please not forget a copy of "Mein Kampf" on any foreign planets... (/Patterns of Force)

I think we should play nasty jokes on them. Like telling them that the "Grand Master Planet Eaters" are coming to get them, and impersonating their Gods by doing funky stuff like hovering over water. And introducing weird genetically modified organisms into their environment, something like the platypus.

It'll be awesome fun. They'll see the humour in a few millennia. :)

If we convinced them that we are their gods, we could enslave them for generations to come. Hell, we could do whatever we wanted with them, and they would praise us for it.

Seriously though, it would be a good idea to leave them alone and observe them. Even if they were less developed than us, we could learn from their science things that we would never have thought by ourselves.

Of course, if they're bloodthirsty by nature like us, they should be wiped out the minute they start experimenting with space flight. If, on the other hand, they're peaceful, they'll probably never develop far enough to be a nuisance to us, and even if they somehow did, they could be beaten back to the stone age with a butterknife.

What do you think should be done with third world countries? should we give them technology so they can join in on the rest of the world? what if we give them technology but they use the technology as weapons or a way to interfere with other nations?

its basicly the same concept. only difference is countries not planets and all the people are humans

Prime directive, exterminate the whole human race....

-The Misfits.

What do you think should be done with third world countries? should we give them technology so they can join in on the rest of the world? what if we give them technology but they use the technology as weapons or a way to interfere with other nations?

its basicly the same concept. only difference is countries not planets and all the people are humans

I'd say the reason why they're so messed up now is that we meddled with their natural development to begin with. Look where it got them. And it's not like they don't have free access to technology just like any other country; they just don't have the capital nor education they need to use the technology.

So basically what you're asking is whether we should give them the money they need to put the technology into good use. I'd say no, because the problem is more deeply rooted in the society. No matter how much money you pour down to the 3rd world, it won't do any good as long as it goes straight into the pockets of corrupt government officials, and as long as people continue to try to cure AIDS by having sex with virgins.

Their road to civilization will be long and difficult, but there's not much we can do about it. Now that you pointed it out, the 3rd world is a pretty good argument for the Prime Directive.

We should send them millions of copies of Star Trek and sign them all 'The Borg'. With any luck they'd preempitvely surrender. Then we can assimilate them, mwahahaha.

We should send them millions of copies of Star Trek and sign them all 'The Borg'. With any luck they'd preempitvely surrender. Then we can assimilate them, mwahahaha.

Now thats just plain Evil.:D

Considering that we're not going to get starfaring technology before blowing ourselves up unless some alien race with starfaring technology is stupid enough to invade, I can't really answer it. If we ever get starfaring technology, we will inevitably slaughter everyone we come across, take anything that they made that is useful, strip mine their planet, and leave.

Now thats just plain Evil.:D

Resistence is futile, but we'd prefer you didn't try anyway.

Anyways, I'm serious about humanity only getting interstellar technology if someone with it invades. See, they'd have to live long enough to get that technology, and in order to live that long, weapons technology would have to fall behind. Compare that to us, who have developed practically every form of weaponry physically possible except antimatter and plasma weaponry, and that's only because the latter two are unfeasible. (The former economically, the latter because we can't get a battery strong enough at a feasible size.)

On the TV programme "Star Trek", set in a time when humans have invented interstellar space travel, humans avoid interfering with primitive extraterrestrial civilisations because of their "prime directive", which is based on ideas like "cultural contamination", if I recall correctly.

While "cultural contamination" is a bit dodgy as a justification, there are real advantages to non-interference - if, like humanity is now, an alien species was constantly warring among themselves, giving them extra technology would allow them to build more effective weapons. On the other hand, giving them technology that provides them the resources they were previous warring over might make them more peaceful.

One other thing is that if we gave a primitive civilisation technology too advanced for them to even understand, they would become dependent on it (and possibly us) and their own technological progress would stagnate.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?


I dont know tbh. It would be just so cool if aliens landed on the planet and gave us ftl capability. Theres no garauntee anyway that by the time we discover a way to get around the lightspeed barrier,we'll have advanced culturally enough to handle the technology in a responsible manner (remember the cold war?) Bleh, you see theres always some cabal of people ready to mess things up using anything they can get their hands on for destruction. Yep the world is divided between such people who want to exploit and cant see beyond their own contexts and those who actually want to be nice to each other. Wait isnt that being like the former group I mentioned, not really, I can judge because they judge themselves by their actions which have objective effects such as causing misery or hardship to others for their own gain.

But yeah I wouldnt interfere if a less advanced culture was warlike or inclined that way. To introduce new tech would have to be done in a very delicate manner, you dont want blood on your hands. One thing I never got about star trek, why was warp capability the sole determinant for welcoming a culture into the interstellar community? Was there some correlation between being more evolved and having warp engines, if thats so werent the ferangis, romulans et al a bit less evolved, they werent as enlightened as Picard now were they, in fact why invite a psychotic dictatorship culture into the community if they had warp, wouldnt that just be cultural relativism?

Resistence is futile, but we'd prefer you didn't try anyway.

I didn't know the borg even HAD slackers.:D

I would mate with their women, assuming that they reproduce like we do.

do you realize that most mamals reproduce like we do?

I refute the idea that aliens would be malevolent. As there is no socio-evolutionary benefit to being evil, as the people who get downtrodden will eventually rise up and crush their oppressor.

I believe that there are a few social rules that control what kind of societies are viable. For example, an Evil society will inevitably fall and be replaced by a Good society, a society that does not respect individuality and freedom will be taken over by one that will. These evolutionary laws are just as stringent as their biological counterparts, and thus we will find certain similarities between ourselves and our extraterrestrial brethren.

Back on topic: although evil empireship is tempting, and, hell, it might even be fun, it probably wouldn't do anyone any good in the long run. The best cause of action would be to act in a vein of friendship and tie them in to relations that eventually tie them in to our interests.

do you realize that most mamals reproduce like we do?

Do you realise that aliens aren't mammals?

Do you realise that aliens aren't mammals?

They might be if they have at least some body hair, and usually give live birth.

I refute the idea that aliens would be malevolent. As there is no socio-evolutionary benefit to being evil, as the people who get downtrodden will eventually rise up and crush their oppressor.

I believe that there are a few social rules that control what kind of societies are viable. For example, an Evil society will inevitably fall and be replaced by a Good society, a society that does not respect individuality and freedom will be taken over by one that will. These evolutionary laws are just as stringent as their biological counterparts, and thus we will find certain similarities between ourselves and our extraterrestrial brethren.

the problem with that thoery is that you are inpossing a human psycology onto an Alien mind, one which may for all we know have no sence of free will or even know what freedom means. We can't just asume that Aliens are going to be like us just in a different shape.

They might be if they have at least some body hair, and usually give live birth.

No. Mammal has an extremely specific definition, and something that isn't even a Biotan will definitely not cut it.

They might be if they have at least some body hair, and usually give live birth.

No they won't. There's more to being a mammal than that. Being a mammal means having to comply to thousands of conditions that have specifically evolved in the environment of Earth. It is statistically impossible for life of alien planets to have evolved into the same categories as on Earth.

the problem with that thoery is that you are inpossing a human psycology onto an Alien mind, one which may for all we know have no sence of free will or even know what freedom means. We can't just asume that Aliens are going to be like us just in a different shape.

Well, of course there is also psychological evolution in action. And this can be observed on Earth. Millions of years ago there were several dozen species of hominids, they were nearly identical in physique, some were stronger, some were faster, etc. But the important difference was in psychology. Homo sapiens sapiens was unique in that had the ideal mixture of individualistic and collectivist spirit, the ideal mixture of empathy and self-determination. And, it is not difficult to imagine that if this balance was struck in any which way in any direction human societies would not have developed in such a spectacular way.

We should send them millions of copies of Star Trek and sign them all 'The Borg'. With any luck they'd preempitvely surrender. Then we can assimilate them, mwahahaha.
Just make sure to leave out those episodes in which the Borg don't shine. Otherwise you might give them some frisky ideas.

Otherwise, the collective is all for it! :D

Well, of course there is also psychological evolution in action. And this can be observed on Earth. Millions of years ago there were several dozen species of hominids, they were nearly identical in physique, some were stronger, some were faster, etc. But the important difference was in psychology. Homo sapiens sapiens was unique in that had the ideal mixture of individualistic and collectivist spirit, the ideal mixture of empathy and self-determination. And, it is not difficult to imagine that if this balance was struck in any which way in any direction human societies would not have developed in such a spectacular way.

but then there is every chance that they wound have what some insects have, a hive mind e.g bees, wasps and ants. The problem is that we just don't know and we will never know until we do finally find and Alien race, and until then its all just speculation.

but then there is every chance that they wound have what some insects have, a hive mind e.g bees, wasps and ants. The problem is that we just don't know and we will never know until we do finally find and Alien race, and until then its all just speculation.

Its hard to imagine why a hive mind would ever consider space travel. If you consider our Space Race happened due a concise mix of Cold War competition and Patriotic co-operation. A hive mind would face no competition and would thus concentrate purely on survival and maintaining the status quo.

But of course, it is speculation, I'm just saying that these laws would suggest that life in space may not be as shockingly different as we fear.

Kill the lot of them and rape their planet.

In other words ... business as usual.

Its hard to imagine why a hive mind would ever consider space travel. If you consider our Space Race happened due a concise mix of Cold War competition and Patriotic co-operation. A hive mind would face no competition and would thus concentrate purely on survival and maintaining the status quo.

But of course, it is speculation, I'm just saying that these laws would suggest that life in space may not be as shockingly different as we fear.

couldn't there be several hiveminds competing?

couldn't there be several hiveminds competing?

It depends whether the hiveminds, taken in isolation, are indeterminable from a Human individual mind.

Its hard to imagine why a hive mind would ever consider space travel. If you consider our Space Race happened due a concise mix of Cold War competition and Patriotic co-operation. A hive mind would face no competition and would thus concentrate purely on survival and maintaining the status quo.

But of course, it is speculation, I'm just saying that these laws would suggest that life in space may not be as shockingly different as we fear.

So Starship Troops isn't realistc, damn!:D

On the TV programme "Star Trek", set in a time when humans have invented interstellar space travel, humans avoid interfering with primitive extraterrestrial civilisations because of their "prime directive", which is based on ideas like "cultural contamination", if I recall correctly.

While "cultural contamination" is a bit dodgy as a justification, there are real advantages to non-interference - if, like humanity is now, an alien species was constantly warring among themselves, giving them extra technology would allow them to build more effective weapons. On the other hand, giving them technology that provides them the resources they were previous warring over might make them more peaceful.

One other thing is that if we gave a primitive civilisation technology too advanced for them to even understand, they would become dependent on it (and possibly us) and their own technological progress would stagnate.

What do you think should be done if we encounter primitive alien species in centuries to come?
Star trek sucks. Instead of adopting their prime directive, if we meet space aliens we should adopt the philosophy of the reavers from Firefly/Serenity. Rape them to death, eat their flesh, sew their skin into our clothing. That should make a pretty strong impression.

Star trek sucks. Instead of adopting their prime directive, if we meet space aliens we should adopt the philosophy of the reavers from Firefly/Serenity. Rape them to death, eat their flesh, sew their skin into our clothing. That should make a pretty strong impression.

I didn't think there was any Aloens in Firefly/Serenity, but then I havn't watched the all the firefly series.

I didn't think there was any Aloens in Firefly/Serenity, but then I havn't watched the all the firefly series.

They're not aliens, just humans who've gone insane and given up every shred of human sanity and empathy. I won't spoil Serenity for you by telling you why they went nuts.

They're not aliens, just humans who've gone insane and given up every shred of human sanity and empathy. I won't spoil Serenity for you by telling you why they went nuts.

oh I've seen Serenity, just not Firefly so I wasn't sure if some of the episodes included Aliens.