Alien asks you to prove humanity is worth saving

[II2]

If I were put in that position, I think I'd try and open a more tactical dialogue than a chance to spout off my own preferences:

Alien: "What proof can you offer that your species should be spared [the plan]?"

Me: "There is many things on Earth. What do you and your kind value?"

Alien: "[Answer]"

Me: "[Does my best to showcase relevant examples in a positive light]"

...

Maybe I'm taking this question to literally if it's more a metaphor to frame "what's good in humans?", but facing the situation as described, I would (were I able to keep my head) approach it as a diplomat and prospector.

 

[Kohake]

Okay. Let's see. I think it would sound something like this:

"Hello. I'm alien and I would like for you to prove that humanity is worth saving."

"How do you expect me to do that? I'm not aware of any way of scientifically prove the value of a life form or society. I think it all comes down to how you determine the actions worth. Are you thinking morally or economically? Humanity is a very mixed lot, and if what you want me to defend is the core human nature then it's really hard because we ourselves do not fully understand it. One thing I will say though is that humanity is very capable of self awareness compared to any other earthly specie. There is a lot of ignorant people, but it's in the very nature of humans to ask questions and seek out answers. Thus we learn and evolve. I'm probably not familiar with a fraction of the worlds species, but I have been told that humans ability to think that they think is something we haven't found in any other race. We don't just think something, we ask ourselves why we think that, and we have a drive to be 'correct'. Above all, we learn. Because you're here communicating with me I'm certain that you too have the drive to learn. And because you ask me why humanity would be worth saving, and I'm beginning to suspect that we have a lot in common. What I believe in and hope for is that humanity will keep learning about itself and improve. Not just scientifically. I think we will become even more self-aware and build a better future where we work together for the common good. If nothing else, we share a dream of a world where everyone can be happy, and we're not quitters. If you want something in return for saving us, what I can offer is analytic mind of humans. I'm sure there are great thinkers among you, but being of an entirely different species I'm also sure that we could provide a new way of thinking. Asking is the first step towards learning, and we ask a lot of questions."

I think I could make quite a compelling case.

Might make them look at this while I'm at it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g&feature=channel_video_title
It was pretty convincing imo.

 

[Hagi]

First contact with an alien species and they ask why they shouldn't wipe us out?

Wow! That Alien is clearly bat-shit crazy. He thinks it's a good idea to wipe an entire species out to the last child but he's not entirely sure so he's just double-checking with you to see if he's missed any reasons?

Depending on how heavily armed he is I'd either run & hide or I'd knock him out so the authorities could detain him.

After that go on a quest to find the real life Commander Shepard to lead us in the fight against the bat-shit crazy aliens? Secretly hoping it's a femShep so we can get our sexy times on the night before facing the leader of the bat-shit crazy aliens?

 

[A random person]

I'd say that, for all our flaws, it's still better that we can enjoy life than be killed. Also, we may not be as advanced as said aliens, but our technological development has been speeding up within the past century or so (think about the things you use, then think about when they were invented), not to mention economic opportunities of trading with us and sharing our art.

Of course, if the aliens had suggestions for improving ourselves (without fundamentally misunderstanding our desires), I'd listen to their advice.

 

[SD-Fiend]

2 things
1:tell them that they have no right to judge annd killing us would make them worse than the most evil person on the planet

2: show them a montage of all of earths awesomeness with this as the background music.



and if that doesn't work bribe them with bacon and women.

 

[Reptiloid]

Hmm... well, there's... oh, nevermind. I got nothing, start charging those death lasers.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Oh look; it's a "Faith in humanity thread" but in disguise.

Anyway; I present them the Queen's Greatest Hits album. If Freddy Mercury can't win them over, then we're fucked anyway.

 

[Kyle Meadows]

We give a link to this website, and let them marvel at our majesty.

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

I'd tell the alien to go fuck itself. What gives it the right to arbitarily decide our fate, and why should we have to prove ourselves to it?

 

[ImprovizoR]

Show them a PC that can run Crysis maxed out with MSAA and 16xAF running in constant 60 fps!

We're so screwed.


Or we could play them some Pink Floyd.

 

[SD-Fiend]

"Sorry. I don't negotiate with terrorists."

too bad we don't have super mutant hedgehogs on our side

 

[Biodeamon]

because humanity is not all bad. the rest make great slaves.

and then i kiss up to then until i get a cushy spot as slave over-seer.

and if not, just kill the alien. he's standing right in front of me isn't he?

 

[Vonnis]

I would simply ask them how their civilisation got to where it is now, and how that holier-than-thou attitude is working out for them. I wouldn't try to prove anything though; I'm fairly neutral on the matter of mankind's survival.

 

[Charisma]

Kind of a crappy rhetorical question because it doesn't seem to know what it's asking.

On whose scale of worth do we measure? If it's the aliens' scale then it's a question about general sociophilosophy that can be much better phrased. If it's our own scale projected onto some kind of hypothetical alien race then it's very self-indulgent, much like how humans create deities that are basically just other humans - but with infinite powers.

 

[TonyVonTonyus]

Scratch my head, ponder, come up with nothing and then convince them to kill off a large amount of people that deserve it.

 

[finecrazydud]

its not your wasting your time on

 

[Seabear]

Change "The Jeremy Kyle Show" so that the sides of the stage have gas chambers.


In reality- There are all kinds of different scales for this. Art? Stories of individual bravery?

People standing up to evil people? Does that balance out good/bad in terms of humanity?

 

[forsinain42]

Portal.

Firefly.

Boobs.

We're done here.

 

[Genericjim101]

I'd ask, "Who the fuck are you to judge?"

An excellent response. If some species thinks they're in a position to judge though well we're in trouble. They already consider themselves our superiors. What can you say to sway someone who thinks himself to be better than you are? Not a lot.

Depends on the alien psychology.

(1) We're not worth the ammunition.
(2) All species in the universe like humans as sex partners, right? Hey, we're open, we even like tentacles!
(3) We can dance! Dance, monkeys, dance! See how laughable we are?
(4) Saving us is spitting in the face of Death, which is the nature and glory of Life.
(5) We'd make great additions to your zoos, where your children can throw peanuts at us.

Honestly, no alien species considering destroying us would be swayed by Shakespeare or Beethoven or Confucius, or anything else "great" we've done or produced - let alone "Humans have the capacity to luuurve!". Best to try to appeal to their base natures, whatever those might be.

Trying to find out what they respect or want and offering that seems to be the best idea. In the very least we can make servants and foot soldiers for their glorious campaigns.

Saren also thought we could be useful to our overlords ....

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Prove to me your race was never human like at any point in its history.