Contacting Aliens 'A Bad Idea', Warns Hawking

Paddy Samurai

Aliens are very likely out there, according to eminent scientist Stephen Hawking - but we should keep quiet and hope they don't notice us.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Strange-News/Stephen-Hawking-Alien-Warning-Dont-Talk-To-Space-Life-Professor-Says-In-Discovery-Documentary/Article/201004415619548?lpos=Strange_News_Third_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15619548_Stephen_Hawking_Alien_Warning%3A_Dont_Talk_To_Space_Life_Professor_Says_In_Discovery_Documentary


Does he have a point....should we keep our heads down.Lets face it if they visit us ,probably means they are more advance than us.

WindSock

lol. Someonez just been watching Alien, Aliens & Alien Resurrection. They are only Films, Steve!

CreepingDeath

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

Does he have a point....should we keep our heads dow.Lets face it if they visit us ,probably means they are more advance than us.

Well the most intelligent species on earth are predators.
Humans, dolphins, octopus. They needed intelligence to hunt and communicate effectively as social groups.

So aliens are likely to at least have started as predators, with aggressive tendancies.

Biggins

Sure the Americans will always save us! :rolleyes:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article7107207.ece

helimachoptor

He's probably right though. These alien races are probably much older than use and have used up resources on their own worlds and may be sending out armies to conquer worlds and send the resources back a la Battlefield Earth.


But I suppose the chances of them being evil or benevolent are 50/50.

Paddy Samurai

WindSock wrote: »

lol. Someonez just been watching Alien, Aliens & Alien Resurrection. They are only Films, Steve!

More like "Chronicles of Riddick".........The necromonger fleet.

Biggins

helimachoptor wrote: »

...But I suppose the chances of them being evil or benevolent are 50/50.

Aaa - but would you bet on it?

Sanjuro

We've gotten too good at wiping ourselves and everything else on this planet out. The last thing we need is an alien species to try to destroy. If they've the technology to get here, they can destroy us. And we'll bring that on ourselves. Leave em alone.

My name is URL

If they look like that blond one from V then we should put everything into contacting them.. she can lay her eggs in my brain all she wants

bonerm

I agree with wheelchair dude. If you take historical exploration here on Earth and just extropolate to a galactic level, rarely have visitors come with noble intentions or with anything that benefitted the locals.

Ironically tho it's probably the only circumstance that would ever lead to a true unity on this planet.

Biggins

bonerm wrote: »

I agree with wheelchair dude. If you take historical exploration here on Earth and just extropolate to a galactic level, rarely have visitors come with noble intentions or with anything that benefitted the locals.

Ironically tho it's probably the only circumstance that would ever lead to a true unity on this planet.

Yep, we have no real idea what's out there.

Hawking believes that contact with such a species could be devastating for humanity.

He suggests that aliens might simply raid Earth for its resources and then move on: “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach.”

He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article7107207.ece

Rothmans

Is any one seeing a 'Dey Toook r jobs ' joke a comin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUTnNKhF-EU

lol, I couldn't find the one where the aliens took der jobs. lol

4zn76tysfajdxp

Rothmans wrote: »

Is any one seeing a 'Dey Toook r jobs ' joke a comin

lol, I couldn't find the one where the aliens took der jobs. lol

They weren't aliens, they were humans from the future.

Noreen1

Do aliens exist? Possibly. Even logic of the unscientific variety suggests that it is unlikely that whole galaxies exist without some form of life.

If they exist - should we contact them? Probably not. However, theories of either warlike or peaceful aliens "taking over the Earth" - are just that.

We have no evidence of their existence, or knowledge of their biological structure. Therefore, we have no evidence to suggest that Earth has any resources that would be useful to an alien.

On the other hand - caution when facing the unknown is never a bad thing.

So, broadly speaking, I suppose I agree that we should keep our heads down.......

Noreen

Wazdakka

Sanjuro wrote: »

If they've the technology to get here, they can destroy us. And we'll bring that on ourselves. Leave em alone.

Why if they have the technology to get here could they destroy us?
If there are aliens out there it's pretty presumptuous and naive to think that they went down the same evolutionary killing fields that we did.

Just because our entire technological advance as a species over the last 100 years has been based on making more efficient ways to kill each other doesn't mean that any other races out there would go down the same road.

They might have realised that if they wanted to actually explore the universe and search for other inhabited planets, having the engines to get there would be slightly more important than having the guns to kill whatever they find.

Rothmans

Madalynn Great Samaritan wrote: »

They weren't aliens, they were humans from the future.

Same difference.
You won't be so smart when you have to learn there language -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g595pz-v7PI

dlofnep

It coming from Hawking is no more credible than anyone else. It doesn't take a genius to examine the consequences of another species coming to Earth. Would they have our best intentions at heart?

If we do not respect life, what's to say that they would?

We kill nearly every species on this planet, without remorse - often even our own kind. It's possible that we wiped out Neanderthal. So it's certainly 50/50.

But IMO - They have already visited.

It's just a shame that we're unable to discuss any topics relating to life from outside our planet in a mature manner. I'm not sure why that is. Many people think that the idea of another species visiting earth is crazy. I don't. I think it's a perfectly sane topic of conversation.

helimachoptor

Biggins wrote: »

Aaa - but would you bet on it?

Well if i did bet on it and they were evil, society wouldnt be around long enough for me to collect!!

bonerm wrote: »

Ironically tho it's probably the only circumstance that would ever lead to a true unity on this planet.

Agreed, in Star Trek, the world is recovering from WW3 when the Vulcans make contact, it's a watershed moment. Each country realises that not only is it a small nation among many, but a small planet among thousands/millions etc.

If they are good guys, we will see immenses strides forward in makind, however if they are bad we will see the boys from Iran/Israel USA etc all team up a la Independence Day for a kick ass show down

squod

10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE ALIENS ARRIVE
*Learn to speak alien
*Build an alien proof bunker in your garden
*Stock up on beer
*Construct a powerful death-ray and keep in pocket (safety on)
*Avoid close friendships with Michael Jackson
*Get friendly with Dr. Who
*Make yourself look less appetising to aliens
*Wear a fashionable anti mind control tinfoil helmet
*Have a cold or flu
*Padlock you anus

dlofnep

squod wrote: »

*Have a cold or flu

Probably the most sensible thing you've said. A common cold or the flu could be disastrous for them, if their immune system is not ready for it. That's the danger of visiting other planets - new ailments that our body just isn't ready to defend against.

Biggins

dlofnep wrote: »

...IMO - They have already visited.

It's just a shame that we're unable to discuss any topics relating to life from outside our planet in a mature manner. I'm not sure why that is. Many people think that the idea of another species visiting earth is crazy. I don't. I think it's a perfectly sane topic of conversation.

A lot of intelligible people agree with you.

Just as man discovered new continents with new ships, a stage further in progression eventually would naturally be to discover new places (planets) with equally new or well used transports too in space.
And why not! And what's to say it hasn't happened already?

We all could be just the result of seeds sown by a passing traveller.
Truly children of the stars.
Its food for thought.

Sanjuro

Wazdakka wrote: »

Why if they have the technology to get here could they destroy us?
If there are aliens out there it's pretty presumptuous and naive to think that they went down the same evolutionary killing fields that we did.

Just because our entire technological advance as a species over the last 100 years has been based on making more efficient ways to kill each other doesn't mean that any other races out there would go down the same road.

They might have realised that if they wanted to actually explore the universe and search for other inhabited planets, having the engines to get there would be slightly more important than having the guns to kill whatever they find.

I said 'can.' That doesn't necessarily mean 'would.' This is all hypothetical. If aliens exist, and they came to visit, by our own nature, we'd be distrustful, racist and probably aggressive towards them. Had they the technology, they probably could destroy us. Or they could leave us alone. Or they could turn us all into bananas. It's pure hypothesis.

Biggins

squod wrote: »

10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE ALIENS ARRIVE

If you really want to converse with them, here is an interesting few ideas:

http://i.imgur.com/9n9L5.gif

or

http://imgbit.com/images/6abf7a629d1241059131.jpg

thirtythirty

Why do they have to visit in ships?

'Back in the day in order to talk to someone in America you had to sail over yourself, or send a letter.

Technology advances and then you could call so you could hear each other's voices and didn't have to pack up and travel.

Technology advances, and now you can see live video feeds as if you were beside them.


Taking ships is a lot of work. I reckon their technology would have advanced so that they could send focused transmissions direct here, maybe live holograms transmitted via light or something!

Further more, even at our level of intelligence and technology, we're smart enough to send probes to the moon/mars etc to test conditions before just arriving in a ship and going "tadaa"! There's no way they'd just turn up at the doorstep uninvited on the offchance that A) we're here and everything's ok for them to arrive!

CreepingDeath

Noreen1 wrote: »

We have no evidence of their existence, or knowledge of their biological structure. Therefore, we have no evidence to suggest that Earth has any resources that would be useful to an alien.

2/3 of the Earth is liquid water, that's extremely useful for life.
We expect most of the life in the universe to have at least evolved in water like us.
There's also a huge supply of deuterium in the water, fuel for nuclear fusion.

But really, if they're not too aggressive, the Aliens could easily go to the likes of Europa (the Jupiter ice moon), and melt the ice there instead.

squod

Tme to drag up some solid evidence of extra terrestrial contact. Here's Clem from multifarnham again.....
http://www.newstalk.ie/programmes/all/tom-dunne/clem-from-multyfarnhan/

Dancor

Larry Flint is right, the alians will kill us all!

Noffles

I've seen enough films to know they'll be here to eat our faces and nothing else... human faces, an obvious delicacy in the darks of space.

PirateShampoo

If you where a less advanced species, would you really want to contact us?

The way I look at it is that I'd rather die in a duel with an alien than have old age take me.. And i'd like to be alive to see the end of the world just to see it happen. If I flicked on the news and aliens had arrived, i'd probably shlt myself with excitement.

MaybeLogic

I'd say if they do come here, I'd say they'll be pissed of with all the transmissions of Friends re-runs that have seeped out into space.
Violence is probable.

Grumpypants

Biggins wrote: »

He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

So we will get casinos ? sweet !!


As long as Will Smith is alive we are safe from Alien invasion.

dlofnep

Deleted User wrote: »

The way I look at it is that I'd rather die in a duel with an alien than have old age take me.. And i'd like to be alive to see the end of the world just to see it happen. If I flicked on the news and aliens had arrived, i'd probably shlt myself with excitement.

Yeah, there is an element of excitement.. But ultimately, you'd wish that you could just go back to having a few pints in the pub and not have to worry about watching millions around you being vaporized.

Richard tea

I hope they come. Ever since I seen Avatar all I want to do is boink one:P

Captain Darling

Mork calling Orson, come in Orson.

Biggins

Captain Darling wrote: »

Mork calling Orson, come in Orson.

Why was Mork calling Orson Wells anyway? That just leads to "War of the Worlds"
O' hang on - whats the thread topic again?
Thats it! I'm heading for my bunker. :eek:

ocokev

I think it would be a great idea.
If they can make it to earth then they are intelligant.
Put them working in the public service and see the savings they will make.

Stercus Accidit

If the aliens have rejected religion, they will see us as dangerous and primitive, and either wipe us out, enslave us or steer clear.

If the aliens have their own religion, they will see us as dangerous infidels, and either wipe us out, or force their religion on us in a conversion.

Lets hope that by the time we meet aliens, we are a logical scientific society that doesn't kill each other over idiotic fiction, and that the aliens who have achieved space travel are too.

kagni

Looks like David Icke has commented on the article...

Most enlightened minds know the human species was sown on Earth by aliens of unimaginable size and intelligence. Unfortunately for the long term, as soon as the population has ripened into approx 10bn obese items, it wil be harvest time and those 10bn souls will become burgers served in an intergalatic fast food joint. To these farmers, our 'intelligence' and all it's restrictive systems of language, mathematics and science appears negligble. There will be no discussions and we will all be treated the same. Our only hope is to keep the population below 10bn so they think this particular crop has failed. Mind you, with the crop rotation methods we're beginning to appreciate these aliens employ, I don't know how long they'll give humanity before scorching the field and re-planting the large lizards that yielded a decent return last time.

toiletduck

He's probably right. Not the first time he's said it though.

jd007

but we should keep quiet and hope they don't notice us.

I reckon they've already noticed us tbh. There's lots of videos on youtube showing ex military officials admitting aliens have already been here.

conorhal

Wazdakka wrote: »

Why if they have the technology to get here could they destroy us?
If there are aliens out there it's pretty presumptuous and naive to think that they went down the same evolutionary killing fields that we did.

I think you lack a basic understanding of evolutionary theory. Evolution itself is a killing field. The evolutionary process, in it's purest form, is the excercise of a competitive advantage, the destruction of the weak and an endless cycle of competition and consumption. From an evolutionary standpoint, inviting a species that's higher up on the 'food chain' (for want of a better phrase) is a bad idea because any species that has evolved operates on the same basic principles that all life does.

Lone Stone

http://www.theopensource.tv/erik-von-daniken/chariots-of-the-gods-video_ebd0f6a64.html

maybe we already have come into contact with a more advanced civilisation and thought they were gods and built our religions around the.

Also i saw a ufo a few weeks ago and the topic i made on it got locked
no one beleave's me

RolandIRL

so, basically the storyline of Halo wil play out, i think. they sent all the details back through time as a game to warn us...:D

NothingMan

This has already happened people. Has nobody else seen that documentary District 9. Fookin ell.

ejmaztec

I've been here for quite a while, studying your strange ways, and when I've sent my final report to the mothership, you're all fuckin screwed.

BluePlanet

conorhal wrote: »

I think you lack a basic understanding of evolutionary theory. Evolution itself is a killing field. The evolutionary process it is in it's purest form the excercise of a competitive advantage, the destruction of the weak and an endless cycle of competition and consumption. From an evolutionary standpoint, inviting a species that's higher up on the 'food chain' (for want of a better phrase) is a bad idea because any species that has evolved operates on the same basic principles that all life does.

Rubbish, Evolution is not about "killing", it's about surviving and developing an advantage to do that.
In your view herbavores don't evolve?

The resources on our planet are not particularly fantastic that they are not abundant in other planetary bodies.
Water included.

We are merely presuming that alien life would also be carbon-based, require H20 and like Pandora (Avatar) evolve on a planet with a hyrdological cycle.
But that's all rather presumptuous.

getz

Lone Stone wrote: »

http://www.theopensource.tv/erik-von-daniken/chariots-of-the-gods-video_ebd0f6a64.html

maybe we already have come into contact with a more advanced civilisation and thought they were gods and built our religions around the.

Also i saw a ufo a few weeks ago and the topic i made on it got locked
no one beleave's me

they have already been on this planet, dont you realize that the banana is a alien species ? it does not have seeds

jd007

Lone Stone wrote: »

Also i saw a ufo a few weeks ago and the topic i made on it got locked
no one beleave's me

What did it look like?

xzanti

I for one welcome... blah blah blah you know the rest..

*rolls out red carpet*

My name is URL

getz wrote: »

they have already been on this planet, dont you realize that the banana is a alien species ? it does not have seeds

Wild bananas have seeds. The culinary type that we see in shops have been genetically modified to the point where the seeds have become vestigial