2 ms·

For those unaware of the Dark Forest Hypothesis (DFH): > “Dark forest theory” holds that civilizations fear one another so much that they don’t dare to reveal

For those unaware of the Dark Forest Hypothesis (DFH): > “Dark forest theory” holds that civilizations fear one another so much that they don’t dare to reveal themselves lest they immediately be considered a potential threat and destroyed. * https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/20/technologys-dark-forest/ https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/20/technologys-dark-forest/ > In The Dark Forest, a 2008 novel which Discover Magazine calls "a dark answer to the Fermi paradox",[138] Chinese writer Liu Cixin envisions aliens as being paranoid and wanting to kill life because it might be future competition. Other aliens dare not reveal themselves because they might be considered a threat, and they stay quiet as if in a dark forest.[139] * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox#Communication_is_dangerous https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox#Communication_is...

authpor 4y ago
sounds like if they know about human governments, they will certainly hide themselves, or come looking for a fight cuz they're likely to get one... then again, given the technology necessary for traveling that far, it wouldn't be a fun fight for them, so no point in coming.
- postalrat 4y ago
  In the books the weapons to destroy entire star systems can be used seemingly without to much cost.
  - Aeolun 4y ago
    I think that’s more because any cost is acceptable if you are talking about the continuance of your civilization. We could spend a million years building a single civilization destroying weapon, and it would still be worth it. Since we’re not likely to encounter another civilization much more often. Of course, humans couldn’t really stay interested in something that long, so the practical range is probably a few decades :P
fartsucker69 4y ago
This is not a particularly accurate representation. It's a game theoretical problem. Because of the huge delay in communication over interstellar distances, you can not adequately communicate with other in diplomatic terms. due to the speed of light limitation, if you contact another civilization to e.g. propose to establish diplomatic relations, you will only find out if they sent a big ass rocket as a reply in about the same time it would take to receive a message as an answer. Making certain assumptions about the technology available, like: No instant communication possible, solar system or at least planet destroying weapons possible, etc., then in purely game theoretical terms if a civilization seeks to minimize the chance of being destroyed, it then becomes a good strategy for a civilization to hide and not reveal themselves, and immediately attack and destroy any civilization that should make the mistake to reveal themselves by e.g. sending out a message. thus giving them no chance to harm you before they are destroyed themselves. it's only a hypothesis, and even at a superficial glance there are alternative strategies that might end up being better on average, much better if each civilization is willing to take some risk, etc.

authpor 4y ago

sounds like if they know about human governments, they will certainly hide themselves, or come looking for a fight cuz they're likely to get one... then again, given the technology necessary for traveling that far, it wouldn't be a fun fight for them, so no point in coming.

postalrat 4y ago
In the books the weapons to destroy entire star systems can be used seemingly without to much cost.
- Aeolun 4y ago
  I think that’s more because any cost is acceptable if you are talking about the continuance of your civilization. We could spend a million years building a single civilization destroying weapon, and it would still be worth it. Since we’re not likely to encounter another civilization much more often. Of course, humans couldn’t really stay interested in something that long, so the practical range is probably a few decades :P

fartsucker69 4y ago

This is not a particularly accurate representation. It's a game theoretical problem. Because of the huge delay in communication over interstellar distances, you can not adequately communicate with other in diplomatic terms. due to the speed of light limitation, if you contact another civilization to e.g. propose to establish diplomatic relations, you will only find out if they sent a big ass rocket as a reply in about the same time it would take to receive a message as an answer. Making certain assumptions about the technology available, like: No instant communication possible, solar system or at least planet destroying weapons possible, etc., then in purely game theoretical terms if a civilization seeks to minimize the chance of being destroyed, it then becomes a good strategy for a civilization to hide and not reveal themselves, and immediately attack and destroy any civilization that should make the mistake to reveal themselves by e.g. sending out a message. thus giving them no chance to harm you before they are destroyed themselves. it's only a hypothesis, and even at a superficial glance there are alternative strategies that might end up being better on average, much better if each civilization is willing to take some risk, etc.