3 ms·
Danger doesn't require an active desire to exploit resources. I mean, let's be honest, if a species possesses the resources to cross interstellar space, we are
by peckrob 5y ago
Danger doesn't require an active desire to exploit resources. I mean, let's be honest, if a species possesses the resources to cross interstellar space, we are not going to pose a threat to them.
To me the bigger concern with regard to intelligent extraterrestrial life would be that it could be unintentionally dangerous even if their intentions were entirely benign. For instance, a species that exhaled a poisonous gas like cyanide or carbon monoxide would be very dangerous to individual people.
We tend to anthropomorphize alien life, believing that it would be somewhat like us. A head, a torso, limbs, breathes oxygen, same mental functioning, etc. The final reality could be far different depending on the environment it evolved in.
- sliken 5y agoWell assuming no FTL, if they cross 50k years of space to get to us to check us out, they might be in for a big surprise next time they check in. Thus the dark forest theory.
- tzs 5y ago> I mean, let's be honest, if a species possesses the resources to cross interstellar space, we are not going to pose a threat to them. There's a short story, "The Road Not Taken", by Harry Turtledove from 1985 that turns that around. It turns out that gravity manipulation is absurdly easy. Most civilizations discover it before they have developed any sophisticated technology, and then most of their creativity goes toward further developing their gravity manipulation technology. Earth is the odd one out, somehow failing to discover gravity manipulation. So all our creativity went into other technologies. So when the aliens invade Earth, their ships are way more maneuverable than our planes and it looks like we have no chance. But when it comes to actual fighting their matchlock rifles and gunpowder bombs are no match for our machine guns and missiles. We easily defeat them.