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Originally posted by spines
At a certain point I imagine the cost would even out into a normality. There is a initial buildup which is sufficient in its ability to be a detterent. However, after the buildup there is only the minimal costs of upkeep and training. Hell, the 'troops' could be trained initially and then useful in a service sector, while still keeping in shape with further training, until they are needed for war (if they are needed for war).
At a point the build up of a defensive and largely unused military force would seem to hit a stasis of negligible cost. The economy will have fluxed and warped around it, making it just another annual cost which gets payed off with no consequence.
I suppose that as long as peaceful coexistence remained then it would not be an issue. However, if for whatever reason two competing empires destroy one another or mutually remove one another from the galactic scale then both species should never have been in this scale.
It is not killing those who do not disagree with you. Well, it is to a point --they want conquest and the rest of the galaxy wishes coexistense and cooperation.
However, if an emmerging species begins to take offensive action against another, weaker, species then this emerging species could risk compromising the rest of the species involved.
It may be cold but...it would seem equal to putting down a pet with rabbis as to save the rest of the animal population in the area. If it is not dealt with immediatly and permanently (for that individual circumstance) then the infection will spread and continue to do so until there is no living 'target' left.
I would not call it tyrrany. I would call it the ensured existense of the greater whole.
Originally posted by DarkSide
But that would mean technological stagnation, and complete lack of experience. They would be outmatched by another military that has experience and ongoing research.
Originally posted by DarkSide
Not necessarily species, but civilisations. Political Entities. There could be a peaceful civilisation on one side and a warlike one on the other, yet belonging to the same species. Should we then destroy the whole species? Surely these political and belligerent behaviours are not inherent to a species and can appear in any species that is based on competition (because of natural selection).
Originally posted by DarkSide
It is not killing those who do not disagree with you. Well, it is to a point --they want conquest and the rest of the galaxy wishes coexistense and cooperation.
However, if an emmerging species begins to take offensive action against another, weaker, species then this emerging species could risk compromising the rest of the species involved.
But what if they are not able to do so?
Originally posted by DarkSide
The best way is not to put down the animal but to vaccine the whole population
Originally posted by spines
Hmm, I am not quite sure that I see how a capable and continually trained/upkept military would lack the skill or manpower to engage itself in a military conflict (should the need arise).
The point you make about technological stagnation: I am assuming that you mean military tech. stagnation. If the species is focused on technological advancement (as I assume a species on this scale must be)then I would assume that advancement in all branches of their tech. would continue. After all, advancement in one field often leads to advancement in many others; much like the branching off of a tree.
Originally posted by DarkSide
b) The more violant of the two quickly wins. They have shown themselves to be hungry for power and control. Their offensive action to obtain these things would show them as a threat which should be removed from the galactic scale; either by extermination or by stifling their ability to participate on the larger scale.
I left my quote in here because I am not sure what you are asking exactly. Could you restate it?
Originally posted by spines
Now, if the initial animal had been put down the many others, of many differing species, would not have died. Necessary cruelty to ensure the further existence and benefit of all other species involved.
Originally posted by DarkSide
Yes but as I said it would be only a defense force. The attacker always has the advantage of striking first and usually has new tactics unknown to the defender (for example the blitzkrieg in WWII). Also better technology does not equate victory.
Originally posted by DarkSide
True. But it doesn't mean they will have new weapons easily available for the simple fact that they'd believe they don't need them.
Originally posted by DarkSide
A civilisation of that type attaining that level of technology would not easily be wiped out by galactic carebears :p
Originally posted by DarkSide
You said the established civilisations would destroy any violent one, but what if they were not able to do so?
Originally posted by DarkSide
But if the whole population had been vaccined there would not have been an outbreak at all. This is exaclty why Smallpox only exists in laboratories now, so many people were vaccined that the virus died out in nature.