How do you think First Contact will play out?

[loc978]

How about this depressing scenario:

We never develop technology capable of accelerating massive ships past lightspeed, even in vacuum. Furthermore, we never figure out how to make viable energy weapons or energy shielding. Eventually we figure out how to make self-sustaining colony vessels that can travel to worlds we think are capable of sustaining life.

One of our vessels finds a world inhabited by a sapient reptilian species who have completely overcome their warlike past, have a truly utopian society set up, and are just on the cusp of developing extragalactic travel... so they're maybe a few centuries of development behind the ship that reaches them.

Unfortunately, the ship is full of human colonists armed to the teeth and expecting their own world. Worse than that, they're the 30th generation to live aboard that vessel. They don't know anything they weren't taught by the ship's computers... and there's no contingency plan for contact with a sapient species (typical government contractor company).

Contact is made, understanding is nowhere to be found, and our people wind up opening fire because the natives are big, ugly, scary lizard-people making threatening gestures. A war ensues, and because of our superior weapons technology, our colonists win, driving them off of one continent. What was once a utopian society devolves into a species of xenophobic revolutionaries. About the time our colonists' first transmissions from the planet reach Earth, the lizard people have already taken back their continent, and not one human remains alive on the planet.

 

[nothinghere]

The aliens come and investigate our culture, including science fiction. Then, they go "What is WRONG with you people?".

What if they used all the science fiction to make a kind of committee to approach us. Just imagine how horrible that situation would be if they mistaked all those comics and movies as how we usually greet aliens.

Men get your tentacles ready and set your blasters to explode we need to greet our new neighbors

 

[Josh123914]

How about this depressing scenario:

We never develop technology capable of accelerating massive ships past lightspeed, even in vacuum. Furthermore, we never figure out how to make viable energy weapons or energy shielding. Eventually we figure out how to make self-sustaining colony vessels that can travel to worlds we think are capable of sustaining life.

One of our vessels finds a world inhabited by a sapient reptilian species who have completely overcome their warlike past, have a truly utopian society set up, and are just on the cusp of developing extragalactic travel... so they're maybe a few centuries of development behind the ship that reaches them.

Unfortunately, the ship is full of human colonists armed to the teeth and expecting their own world. Worse than that, they're the 30th generation to live aboard that vessel. They don't know anything they weren't taught by the ship's computers... and there's no contingency plan for contact with a sapient species (typical government contractor company).

Contact is made, understanding is nowhere to be found, and our people wind up opening fire because the natives are big, ugly, scary lizard-people making threatening gestures. A war ensues, and because of our superior weapons technology, our colonists win, driving them off of one continent. What was once a utopian society devolves into a species of xenophobic revolutionaries. About the time our colonists' first transmissions from the planet reach Earth, the lizard people have already taken back their continent, and not one human remains alive on the planet.

yeah, that was depressing but very proable

 

[Josh123914]

The aliens come and investigate our culture, including science fiction. Then, they go "What is WRONG with you people?".

Crap, now that you think about it they will be none too pleased about how most sci-fi's depict aliens as the bad guys or things to have sex with,

EDIT: Oh and for the LOVE OF GOD, keep them AWAY from anything Mass Effect related, I mean, I love the series and all but aliens will probably be freaked out a bit by the HUUUUUUGE stockpile of Talimancer fanfiction.

 

[thelonewolf266]

I think we'll find just one single alien, who will tell us that there were millions of space-faring species but they all got in a massive war and killed each other. He'll then tell us that we are the only sentient beings remaining in the entire universe, and throw himself into the Sun.

And it will be terrible.

Mega lol

 

[theonlyblaze2]

Probably play out with us saying "Hi." and them absolutel destroying us.

 

[Josh123914]

5. We encounter religious nuts who believes our very existance offends their gods,a la Halo(bar the Halocaust ringworlds)

I never understood this aspect of Halo. What makes Humans so repugnant that The Prophets want us dead? The took in the Brutes, the worms that make up Hunters and, Scarabs, the Grunts, why not humans? Also, why is it that humanity never encountered another species rejected by The Prophets (other than The Flood I mean). It could have worked out better than the whole brute-elite falling out I think.

I've covered this in an earlier post, here:

5. We encounter religious nuts who believes our very existance offends their gods,a la Halo(bar the Halocaust ringworlds)

I never understood this aspect of Halo. What makes Humans so repugnant that The Prophets want us dead? The took in the Brutes, the worms that make up Hunters and, Scarabs, the Grunts, why not humans? Also, why is it that humanity never encountered another species rejected by The Prophets (other than The Flood I mean). It could have worked out better than the whole brute-elite falling out I think.

back on topic:

Any species that has mastered interstellar travel will either be
A) conquers who will raze our planet and strip it of resources or,
B) Smart enough to know that if they mess with us too much, it'll screw our society up

That being said, I would think first contact would either be sudden, loud and, quick (former) or, quiet and taking place between select individuals (later)

I would much rather have Aliens be here right now, trading silicon for corn peacefully and quietly than to have Darth Malak glass the Earth from above because we are unwittingly harboring the fallen Darth Revan. Honestly though I wouldn't be surprised if either one happened.

Well from my understanding Elites and prophets were the founding members, Brutes, Jackals and the bugs(can't remember their name) joined volunterally because it benefitted them, the Grunts were only just entering their bronze age and the worms that made up hunters were sitting on top of craploads of Forerunner relics so they were pretty much forced in(though only by the prophet's orders, that's why most of them joined the Elites in Halo 3)The Engineers I'm not sure about, but they are deployed as recon, repair and suicide bombers and apparently can only communicate with the prophets so they are like a slave race, but not exactly at the bottom(those spots are reserved for Jackals, Grunts and bugs). The reason why the prophets want to 'kill all humans'(cookie for reference)is because of our connection with the forerunners, I didn't read any of the books but apparently Truth and Mercy discovered the connection around a year before war broke out about the connection, and it's probably the explanation, I mean why else would Tartarus need Keyes jr. in Halo 2 to activate the Halo array? or why Truth needed Johnson(Summer Tales, Rooster trails, you, your kids and your Johnson(you get the cookie jar for this reference))alive on the Ark in Halo 3, hell, even in the original Halo the Elites captured the survivers of the Pillar of Autumn, probably to activate Instillation 04 because to my understanding that is one of the only times the Covenant took Human prisoners, All times on a Halo ring or some other Forerunner Instillation. Also, I'm guessing that the reason why we haven't seen species rejected by the Covenant is because either A) the covenant accept everyone, we hjust haven't seeen them all, I mean since halo 2 we've met at least half a dozen species outside of Grunts, Elites, Hunters and Jackals,(not to mention 2-3 species from the covenant were scrapped in Halo 2 because of time restrains) or B) They simply eradicate any that they don't deem 'worthy' for admission.

 

[theonlyblaze2]

5. We encounter religious nuts who believes our very existance offends their gods,a la Halo(bar the Halocaust ringworlds)

I never understood this aspect of Halo. What makes Humans so repugnant that The Prophets want us dead? The took in the Brutes, the worms that make up Hunters and, Scarabs, the Grunts, why not humans? Also, why is it that humanity never encountered another species rejected by The Prophets (other than The Flood I mean). It could have worked out better than the whole brute-elite falling out I think.

back on topic:

Any species that has mastered interstellar travel will either be
A) conquers who will raze our planet and strip it of resources or,
B) Smart enough to know that if they mess with us too much, it'll screw our society up

That being said, I would think first contact would either be sudden, loud and, quick (former) or, quiet and taking place between select individuals (later)

I would much rather have Aliens be here right now, trading silicon for corn peacefully and quietly than to have Darth Malak glass the Earth from above because we are unwittingly harboring the fallen Darth Revan. Honestly though I wouldn't be surprised if either one happened.

Well from my understanding Elites and prophets were the founding members, Brutes, Jackals and the bugs(can't remember their name) joined volunterally because it benefitted them, the Grunts were only just entering their bronze age and the worms that made up hunters were sitting on top of craploads of Forerunner relics so they were pretty much forced in(though only by the prophet's orders, that's why most of them joined the Elites in Halo 3)The Engineers I'm not sure about, but they are deployed as recon, repair and suicide bombers and apparently can only communicate with the prophets so they are like a slave race, but not exactly at the bottom(those spots are reserved for Jackals, Grunts and bugs). The reason why the prophets want to 'kill all humans'(cookie for reference)is because of our connection with the forerunners, I didn't read any of the books but apparently Truth and Mercy discovered the connection around a year before war broke out about the connection, and it's probably the explanation, I mean why else would Tartarus need Keyes jr. in Halo 2 to activate the Halo array? or why Truth needed Johnson(Summer Tales, Rooster trails, you, your kids and your Johnson(you get the cookie jar for this reference))alive on the Ark in Halo 3, hell, even in the original Halo the Elites captured the survivers of the Pillar of Autumn, probably to activate Instillation 04 because to my understanding that is one of the only times the Covenant took Human prisoners, All times on a Halo ring or some other Forerunner Instillation. Also, I'm guessing that the reason why we haven't seen species rejected by the Covenant is because either A) the covenant accept everyone, we hjust haven't seeen them all, I mean since halo 2 we've met at least half a dozen species outside of Grunts, Elites, Hunters and Jackals,(not to mention 2-3 species from the covenant were scrapped in Halo 2 because of time restrains) or B) They simply eradicate any that they don't deem 'worthy' for admission.

You basically have it. The humans connection with the Forerunners has to do with a gene-based memory that allows us to interact with their technology(this was just added in the newest book). And, yes, the Covenant do accept every species that they come in contact with by means of an ultimatum: absolute destruction or joining them on the Path. The Prophets wanted the humans dead because they had just taken power and were afraid of losing it if the rest of the Covenant discovered that the Path was wrong. You should check out the books, if you like the series. They add a lot to it.

 

[Josh123914]

5. We encounter religious nuts who believes our very existance offends their gods,a la Halo(bar the Halocaust ringworlds)

I never understood this aspect of Halo. What makes Humans so repugnant that The Prophets want us dead? The took in the Brutes, the worms that make up Hunters and, Scarabs, the Grunts, why not humans? Also, why is it that humanity never encountered another species rejected by The Prophets (other than The Flood I mean). It could have worked out better than the whole brute-elite falling out I think.

back on topic:

Any species that has mastered interstellar travel will either be
A) conquers who will raze our planet and strip it of resources or,
B) Smart enough to know that if they mess with us too much, it'll screw our society up

That being said, I would think first contact would either be sudden, loud and, quick (former) or, quiet and taking place between select individuals (later)

I would much rather have Aliens be here right now, trading silicon for corn peacefully and quietly than to have Darth Malak glass the Earth from above because we are unwittingly harboring the fallen Darth Revan. Honestly though I wouldn't be surprised if either one happened.

Well from my understanding Elites and prophets were the founding members, Brutes, Jackals and the bugs(can't remember their name) joined volunterally because it benefitted them, the Grunts were only just entering their bronze age and the worms that made up hunters were sitting on top of craploads of Forerunner relics so they were pretty much forced in(though only by the prophet's orders, that's why most of them joined the Elites in Halo 3)The Engineers I'm not sure about, but they are deployed as recon, repair and suicide bombers and apparently can only communicate with the prophets so they are like a slave race, but not exactly at the bottom(those spots are reserved for Jackals, Grunts and bugs). The reason why the prophets want to 'kill all humans'(cookie for reference)is because of our connection with the forerunners, I didn't read any of the books but apparently Truth and Mercy discovered the connection around a year before war broke out about the connection, and it's probably the explanation, I mean why else would Tartarus need Keyes jr. in Halo 2 to activate the Halo array? or why Truth needed Johnson(Summer Tales, Rooster trails, you, your kids and your Johnson(you get the cookie jar for this reference))alive on the Ark in Halo 3, hell, even in the original Halo the Elites captured the survivers of the Pillar of Autumn, probably to activate Instillation 04 because to my understanding that is one of the only times the Covenant took Human prisoners, All times on a Halo ring or some other Forerunner Instillation. Also, I'm guessing that the reason why we haven't seen species rejected by the Covenant is because either A) the covenant accept everyone, we hjust haven't seeen them all, I mean since halo 2 we've met at least half a dozen species outside of Grunts, Elites, Hunters and Jackals,(not to mention 2-3 species from the covenant were scrapped in Halo 2 because of time restrains) or B) They simply eradicate any that they don't deem 'worthy' for admission.

You basically have it. The humans connection with the Forerunners has to do with a gene-based memory that allows us to interact with their technology(this was just added in the newest book). And, yes, the Covenant do accept every species that they come in contact with by means of an ultimatum: absolute destruction or joining them on the Path. The Prophets wanted the humans dead because they had just taken power and were afraid of losing it if the rest of the Covenant discovered that the Path was wrong. You should check out the books, if you like the series. They add a lot to it.

Well, I might, but considering I only own Halo Reach I can't honestly justify multiple books which will be spoilertastic(and before you ask, yeas Reach is the only Halo game I have, I'm waiting for the inevitible Combat Evolved and Halo 2 remakes before I buy ODST or Halo 3)

 

[CG NUTS]

A team of scientists meet them.
During the meeting, one scientists sneezing and kills every alien there.
Or Vise versa.

Why don't people think of this?

I believe at least one person did, in 1898. Rumor has it was Orson Wells. He just elaborated slightly more than you did.

what about et.

 

[Carlston]

It's already happened.

And we are basicly road blocked off from space lanes and if we try and colonize else where we'll be mysteriously destroyed.

Why? Look at us. Can't even get along with ourself. We call our Sun "Sun" and out planet Earth (dirt).

Yeah really advanced. Nothing,like rubbing our gods in aliens face, I mean not like their races know what's true and think invisible men in the sky is a joke. Heck bet energy based alien life would laugh at us.

Then would come the cold hard fact we were a space Australia, and a prison colony mind wiped and they would like to keep us not bringing our racism and hatred through the galaxy.

 

[FaustianBargain]

We'll probably be visited by the hyper-advanced robots/artificial intelligences of some species which is most likely extinct by now. And they'll either wipe us out in order to construct more of themselves and move on or they'll settle down and teach us all there is to know about their creators and all they've learned since. I figure it'll be a moment of mixed feelings where all of humanity realizes it isn't alone in the universe but that we'll never get to meet them.

I only say this because I don't see FTL being feasible in our universe.

 

[FalloutJack]

The aliens come and investigate our culture, including science fiction. Then, they go "What is WRONG with you people?".

Crap, now that you think about it they will be none too pleased about how most sci-fi's depict aliens as the bad guys or things to have sex with,

EDIT: Oh and for the LOVE OF GOD, keep them AWAY from anything Mass Effect related, I mean, I love the series and all but aliens will probably be freaked out a bit by the HUUUUUUGE stockpile of Talimancer fanfiction.

Come to think of it, the internet might freak them out more than the movies, games, and books combined. Rule 34 would be more effective a deterrent against a REAL invasion than all nuclear armaments currently in service around the world.

 

[Josh123914]

-snip-

in all actuality, this is how first contact will play out:



*ship lands on earth*

George W. Bush: hhhhHHHHHOLY SHIT, ITXS ALIENS..........


Aliens: We Come In Pea-

George W. Bush: FUCKING KILL THEM THEY HAVE WEAPONS AND GUNS AND DISEASES AND BREAKFAST CEREALS!

:insert Lair of the Shadow Broker theme:

George W. Bush: WEEEE KICKED UR ASSES! EAT IT ALINE SCUM!

Aline Hierarchy: Yea, the consensus was correct, they are nothing but morons and have no real place in the universe, the new consensus is that they must be destroyed before they become a bigger threat to the rest of the universe.


[insert some horrible end of the world explosions and shit]

fix'd for ya

 

[Dags90]

I just want to know how long after First Contact will people start to argue about sex.

 

[ChaoticKraus]

If we are to be realistic, any goverment would simply nuke them out of existence if they got the stupid idea to land. You know how millions of native south americans died of european bacteria? Now imagine if that stuff came from a different planet. No one would be willing to take that risk.

They would be incinerated and the area would be forbidden territory for many years before anyone dared to step foot there.

 

[Hyper-space]

First, contact with aliens could only come through mastery of interstellar travel. To achieve interstellar travel is to have achieved a way to create near infinite amounts of energy, which in turn would solve all of our problems (water-purification etc.) and would enable us to mine comets and other interstellar bodies which are rich in irons (or that we have created a perfect substitute for metal). THUS, we have no interest in resources (which would cross off warfare in the possible scenarios).

Observation would be our first course of action, we would use high-power telescopes and other recon technology to map out their environment, possible structures, etc. Then we would find a way to communicate with them (as in no way would the aliens think/communicate as we do), for the difference in psychology (mind-body relationship, qualia etc.) could be staggering. Hell, even their perception of time could be different from ours, so imagine trying to talk to someone who communicates through different wave-lengths of light and who is not observing this particular spectrum of time. Even more mind-boggling would be if the aliens were other dimensional (5th, 6th, etc), in which we could just give up on any attempt to establish communications with said aliens.

If we are to be realistic, any goverment would simply nuke them out of existence if they got the stupid idea to land. You know how millions of native south americans died of european bacteria? Now imagine if that stuff came from a different planet. No one would be willing to take that risk.

They would be incinerated and the area would be forbidden territory for many years before anyone dared to step foot there.

No, if we were to be realistic, NONE of what you just suggested would have happened. All of humanities genocidal tendencies come from our desire for resources. Something that in the future will be no concern.

 

[retterkl]

It'll be ok if we use Interprative Dance.

It's a universal language.


But I reckon that aliens will have to come to use, we just don't have the resources to go the distance to ever find life. So when they do it'll mean they have the resources and will likely be peaceful. I doubt they'd kill us Independance Day style, they're more likely to domesticate us to their ways and keeps us as slaves/pets.

 

[spartandude]

well the aliens will try to destroy us. and in the end it will not be our advanced weapons which destroy the aliens, but the simplest and most humble of all god's creations... the tyrannosaurus rex