If They're Out There, Why Haven't They Visited or Gotten in Touch?
Posted by Mystic Al Your ... at 16:53, 05 Mar 2010This was inspired by Michael Hanlon's blog The Mystery of the Silent Aliens on New Scientist's CultureLab.
I wonder when members of stone age level tribes living deep in the Amazon rain forest report seeing mysterious aerial craft - planes? - or beings somehow LIKE tribesmen yet also NOT like tribesmen - helicopter crews? - passing overhead through holes in the jungle canopy, do the other tribal members laugh at them and say, "If there really were such things then why haven't those who use them visited our tribal wise men or at least acknowledged our tribe's existence?"
If they do, then I wonder what answer we'd give them if we were to one day suddenly pop up in their midst:
Because we didn’t want to culture shock you?
Because until now you had nothing we wanted?
Because we didn’t want to get dragged into your endless tribal wars over issues and beliefs which to us’re so piddlin' you seem practically insane?
Because we didn’t want to be bothered by tribal potentates endlessly jockeying for position and seeking preference with OUR kind through offers of unlimited prestige, status and influence among YOUR kind?
Because we didn’t want to be bothered by wizards offering us the opportunity to magically transform mountains of our supposedly precious materials and indispensable goods into even greater mountains of your supposedly precious materials and indispensable goods?
Because we didn’t want to be offered our pick of tribal members for the purpose of initiating any sexual activity we liked, in return for allowing every sordid detail of the whole thing to be luridly embellished before being repeated up and down the jungle ad nauseam by the drums of the jungle telegraph?
Because we didn’t want various tribes and tribal federations imagining they had a privileged relationship with us, only to become mortally offended, paranoid and finally downright hostile if we happened to open lines of communications with other tribes and tribal federations without their express permission or supervision?
Because we didn't want many of those who'd inevitably take an initial shine to us turning us into idols they could make offerings to or threaten in return for favours we couldn't in all conscience grant?
Because we didn't want many of those who'd inevitably be initially suspicious of our intentions gradually becoming more and more confirmed in their prejudices until, thanks to our complete failure to make any kind of ingratiating overtures, they finally denounced us as demons?
Then again, maybe we'd just keep on doing what we do now, coming and going as we please and just generally ignoring the locals until chance forces us into what's for them strange and confusing encounters, but for us opportunities to screen for suitably discrete individuals capable of acting as our eyes and ears in return for thrilling secrets and the odd exhilarating joyride.
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Comments
22 November 2004
2 weeks 16 hours
Because they don't want to listen to humans whine and complain about what is wrong with humans?
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We are the cat.
21 February 2009
1 day 7 hours
We are great at conjouring up reasons, both material and metaphysical, of why we are the most advanced species on the planet. It is 'our' planet etc. Perhaps they are coming, but not visiting us. Or perhaps they care more about the planet itself as a precious resource in the galaxy and see us as a danger to it, and hence to galactic culture.
22 November 2004
2 weeks 16 hours
Also we are great at conjuring up reasons why we suck.
These are old traditions, putting humans at the top of creation, and seeing humans as the ultimate sinners and losers.
Both views are very human centric, and aliens that are substantially different from us won't care about our moral view of ourselves.
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We are the cat.
4 June 2008
1 year 48 weeks
Humans joining the galactic community is a frighting thought. As a species, we can barely tolerate someone who may have a different viewpoint than us, in fact, how many have died because they had a different opinion. The one true proof of alien intelligence is that they have NOT contacted us.
23 October 2006
7 weeks 5 days
Humans joining the galactic community is a frighting thought. As a species, we can barely tolerate someone who may have a different viewpoint than us, in fact, how many have died because they had a different opinion. The one true proof of alien intelligence is that they have NOT contacted us.
My guess is that they are waiting for mankind to pass the intelligence test:
1)not blowing itself up
2)not allowing an impactor to blow us up
Co-incidentally, the same kind of in space radar antenna used for impactor detection should allow the reception of SETI signals.
In the meantime, perhaps they just watch us for entertainment. A good laugh.
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
1 May 2004
2 days 8 hours
....reality show. Mind you, if we were seeded by them then they would have a vested interest in our survival.
At the moment we have a few problems to overcome as in Over population, religious differences, political defferences and generally no concern of the inviroment. We kill each other over all the above and not only that, we kill ourselves with how we manufacture our food. We also kill ourselves with medication.
A pretty sorry lot aren't we. Makes for good entertainment.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
5 March 2010
1 year 37 weeks
My SETI antennas picked this up last week, I could never put it into perspective until I read your post.
Interesting. Apparently, we're pretty famous, but not receiving any profits from anyone.
1 May 2004
2 days 8 hours
that was possibly funny. But I'm not interested in your embedded video. A link I may follow. So honestly, I don't know how to take your comment.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
5 March 2010
1 year 37 weeks
It's South Park if you didn't catch it... I watched that episode right before I got on here and thought it too funny of a coincidence. As for the link, I copied the link but it turned into an actual video when I posted it. Finally as for your comment, I don't give two fucks about being technically correct, and neither should you. Take my comment however you would like.
ETs haven't made themselves known for many reasons... possibly one that we can't even comprehend. My guess is that because we're torn between MANY nations and cultures, and we output more waste than productivity, they're waiting around until we destroy ourselves so only the earth is remaining. If we continue down a path of destroying the earth and its resources with us, then they'll have to consider whether it's worth it to intervene or to leave us as a dead planet.
Smirfs are overused, so they're no longer comical... a little demeaning, though.
1 May 2004
2 days 8 hours
because I didn't watch it. But after your comment I did. Yes it is south park. As for your expletive referring technically correct, I don't believe I asked you to be.
And for your opinion on whether ET's have'nt made themselves known, well I don't think anyone on this planet knows why.
But your's is as good as anyone elses.
I am pleased though that you are demeaned buy poppa smirf.....I think that is comical!
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
16 August 2007
1 year 10 weeks
Now would you walk into a cute and cuddly chimpanzee habitat filled with adult chimps performing monkee antics acting like they are totally fun, lovable and cheerily open to out side visitations.
I didn't think so.
Aliens are smart and they know to get close to a human is to become a victim of fatality by the careless act of trusting a human mono to mono. Humans can't be trusted just like we can't trust a cute little clown like adult chimp.
Earth, the insane asylum of the universe. Step right up folks, see the cute little humans in their made for lunatic habitat. Keep your hands in the carrier ship so the funny little human doesn't shoot it off or blow it up with devices of cruelty.
Now you know why the alien stops by for only a look see and refuses to land on the whitehouse lawn. The secret service would have a hail of bullets waiting for the intruders.
One last thing, did you ever notice we humans are always shown we are under some kind of alien attack and always retaliate with winning strategy. Just watching our tv broadcast tells an alien to stay away.
22 November 2004
2 weeks 16 hours
After a couple of days, none of the comments here are about aliens, not in the slightest.
They are not about how aliens would see us, and why they would remain quiet.
All of them are about how the individuals responders don't like humans.
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We are the cat.
1 May 2004
2 days 8 hours
that we think ourselves civilised but we are'nt. If aliens have learn't to traverse great distances in space and time, I doubt very much they would wish to interfear with a race as backward as us.
Only when we become a threat to them or other extraterrestrial species, would they take action.
We still need to overcome all our prejudice and work as one people first.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
22 November 2004
2 weeks 16 hours
My point is that these lists of what is wrong with us, and why aliens would not like us, are 100% introspective.
We have no idea whatsoever how aliens would judge us.
These lists here assume that aliens are like us, only better. They are supposed to be an idealized version of ourselves.
That's that same kind of thinking as with the classical gods. They were like people, only more so.
There can be many other reasons why they haven't shown up in public here.
For example, they don't know we are here, because they haven't looked. Perhaps our planet and solar system are boring, and they don't listen to radio waves.
Or they are far away, and it's simply too expensive to come here.
Or they know we are here, but we are really boring - not worth the trip.
But there is no particular reason to project our moral ideals on beings that we know nothing about.
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We are the cat.
1 May 2004
2 days 8 hours
also no reason not to.
For a civilistaion to advance to space flight it would have some form of moral and or ethical nature. Or it would not have survived. Without this fundermental nature they would have destroyed themselves long before any real advancement.
I can only form opinions based on a human view point. Anything else would be purely "alien" to me.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
22 November 2004
2 weeks 16 hours
Let me add to the introspective list about why they dont' talk to us.
We have no imagination :)
Our problem with wars and destruction and such things could be that we are blind to the ways out of this behaviour. Even pacifists are blind to this - they preach a mode of behaviour that is not attainable. A way out that we can't go is not a way out.
Perhaps some aliens (must be more than one kind) have advanced past emotions. A purely rational mind might be very cruel, but not self destructive. No moral values, just reasonable goals, it could work.
When you say
I can only form opinions based on a human view point. Anything else would be purely "alien" to me.
of course you're right. We are all limited that way. But a lot of people don't realize that, and argue from an alien point of view that they don't have.
For practical purposes, I recommend we study octopus intelligence more. It is the most alien intelligence we have available. Much better than dolphins if we want alien-ness.
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We are the cat.
1 May 2004
2 days 8 hours
with the octopus intelligence part. But the funny thing is this, when an octopus is put into a situation for survival,as in food or whatever, they display uncanny learning abilities. I'm sure there are many other creatures out there that have uncanny intelligents. The only "alien" thing about this is that we never thought these creatures had this ability until we put them into a situation to prove it.
Mind you, the octopus has a distinct advantage then most species, it's 8 arms.
This is where "natual selection" falls on it's face. A crocadile has been around for a very long time. Is it perfect? For what is does it is but it can't write or read or make a machine to aid in capturing food. So why did it stop evolving at a certain level?
But I digress, you are write in all counts of your argument, we do make excuses for and why but never really understand the reason for it. We can not understand an alien perspective of why they don't make contact public. They may not exist at all, but there is plenty of evidence to say they do. Maybe we just ignor all the contacts of proof until it happens to us personally.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
24 July 2006
1 year 48 weeks
summed up rather well.