You are the leader of our future interstellar race...

You would first need to get there without them knowing and find some remote area where you can live without them knowing, like underground or under an ocean. Then build your numbers and other hidden colonies. Then when it comes that they will eventually stumble upon us try to gain their trust so that whatever they have done positive must have been through us, if we are more advanced we try to get the credit for everything good they do, and for them to take the blame for everything bad that happens. Then keep building numbers and colonies and supplies, to every remotely hidden place and then eventually there would be some type of war and no matter what happened they would never find all the colonies and so we would survive. But if we won we should then expand our numbers by as huge amount and then take over and then say they can live side by side until our system greater intellect or hidden favouritism would allow us to turn them into a subservient servant race.

Check their religion sector and play god. Either that or provide them with advanced formulas and then once they advance in say 50 years to surpass our technology as they'd have a rate of advancement above ours, destroy them and harvest the tech and be back on the hunt

originally posted by: intrptr
Kill everyone, take everything, burn whats left.

(sarcasm off)

Or they come to earth, kill everyone, take everything, and burn what's left.

OK, fair enough. I knew I ran the risk of wasting my time, but with only about two sensible responses I'll consider this a loss.

It's a serious question and something I have experimented with as a social experiment for a while. I've had some great answers previously. What I usually say is something like 'your actions determine their reactions' but that has proven to promote more aggressive responses, so this time I left it out. It's quite unusual that many of the members here are still responding aggressively, either in jest or not.

If anyone wants to give me a serious response I would be happy to hear it.

a reply to: Temudjin

There's another advanced civilisation practically next door but you'll only go see them when your milk runs out?

originally posted by: blackcrowe
maybe we're actually all thru the universe already.
space parasites.
killing, eating, raping and pilliging every perfect planet we come accross.
just a thought.

In a very small way I believe we are.

originally posted by: Vasa Croe

originally posted by: 321Go
I'd like to find out what each of us would do, if we were able, having found a habitable planet that is likely to be occupied by unknown advanced creatures. Here is the scenario:

Some time into the future hunger and poverty are distant memories, we have explored and conquered the depths of our oceans and the outer reaches of our solar system and made some fantastic discoveries. Only one remains; proof of life out there.

News soon emerges of a planet much like our own, and not too distant – we could travel to it in less than one lifetime. Indications from the chemical structure of the atmosphere suggest it is inhabited by oxygen-breathing creatures unknown. Our new space telescope has pictured what it thinks are constructed satellites orbiting the planet. This could be the moment mankind has been waiting for.

The technology exists to get there, an army of volunteers await the astronaut induction program, and the world wants answers.

So, Mr/Mrs President, what do we do next?

Send a probe with two way communication abilities. Sending people would likely not end well. If it takes a lifetime, then by the time the probe reaches and sends info back we could have trained for the mission and what we would encounter. Once the knowledge of the indigenous people is gained and the probe is able to allow our communications and we agree on what will happen next, we make it happen.

I would say something more along the lines of a co-op program for both sides to send "ambassadors" to each others planets.

That is pretty much the standard response. About 70% of responses are this or very similar.

originally posted by: PsychoEmperor

originally posted by: 321Go
I'd like to find out what each of us would do, if we were able, having found a habitable planet that is likely to be occupied by unknown advanced creatures. Here is the scenario:

Some time into the future hunger and poverty are distant memories, we have explored and conquered the depths of our oceans and the outer reaches of our solar system and made some fantastic discoveries. Only one remains; proof of life out there.

News soon emerges of a planet much like our own, and not too distant – we could travel to it in less than one lifetime. Indications from the chemical structure of the atmosphere suggest it is inhabited by oxygen-breathing creatures unknown. Our new space telescope has pictured what it thinks are constructed satellites orbiting the planet. This could be the moment mankind has been waiting for.

The technology exists to get there, an army of volunteers await the astronaut induction program, and the world wants answers.

So, Mr/Mrs President, what do we do next?

I posted a very similar thread once upon a time and a member gave me a very interesting proposition. He suggested we just observe and don't' make contact at all. The reason being, even though they may SEEM similar or less in advancement level, they could just be a small outpost from a much larger civilization.

I'd feel bad for the Civilization that goes to conquer a small outpost planet of a much larger Galactic Empire.

Well, I said nothing about conquering their planet. I asked what you would do, if you were able.

The possibility that they are an outpost could provide even more positive interaction with the main colony, no?

a reply to: AnuTyr

I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about. It didn't look like you answered my question though.

originally posted by: seagull
A lot of you are leaping to an assumption that as we reach out to the stars, we won't change...

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Nothing is immutable. Nothing in the Universe is unchanging.

Will we be saints in this far-flung future time? God alone knows, I suppose. Will we be latter-day Genghis Khans? God alone knows that either...

I suppose, depending upon when this happens, we'll be somewhere between the two. Closer to the former, rather than the latter.

As to what I'd do?

Probably leave 'em alone. We've no business, no matter how altruistic our intentions might be, interfering in the development of other peoples. It's their toes to stub.

If we run across 'em out in space? Then sure, wave to 'em, and say hello. Cautiously. Because they might be as evil as some of you seem to think we'll be.

This is an interesting answer.

originally posted by: Spacespider
I the president of the world, will create a joint organisation called "Friendship" a organisation that consist of all nations best and brightest scientists of all fields from organics, space, psychology, think tanks.

No doors will be closed, the organisation would be streaming live everyday for the whole world to follow.
It will be a global endeavor and a global goal.


Our first goal is to make contact, visual and eventual and hopefully communication of some kind.

Our final goal is to make a new friend, no expectations no fear, just a friend.

A good answer. More my line of thinking.

originally posted by: AnuTyr
a reply to: MystikMushroom

I would prefer that route over Aritificial intelligence using us as a meat suit for it's own personal gain.

How do you know than an intelligent artificial intelligence isn't using our bodies as meat-avatars? Perhaps our consciousness is connected to a big mainframe and individuals are just unique subroutines in a massive AI's program?

*Cue Twilight Zone music*

do-do-do-do-do...

Did you say likely to be occupied by an advanced race?

You'd meditate, or in astral or remote viewing, meet and greet them, you'd need to know who they were, this is a duality!

Also, not every star is still shining. It takes a while for light to reach us.

a reply to: 321Go

The problem is, that no matter what these hypothetical 'people' are made of... the bugs and bacteria that surround them would be deadly!

Ever read the book Jannissaries?
Earth supposedly is the MOST violent planet in the cosmos so I guess we would fight for someone ELSE then.
So long as the body mods are good I'm down.

a reply to: 321Go

We lie, tell the people we've been, then cover our asses and whack the whistleblowers.
Case closed.

a reply to: cavtrooper7

Good story.

Scan for Oil. Invade if found.

I think the premise for contact would be centered in the concept of mutual benefit. In considering many of the material and social factors that may invite or preclude contact, the focus would invlove surveiling the planet; languages, cultures, political and esoteric beleif systems, as well as the general state of evolution and the environmental impact of population and tecnology.

This of course would take decades and involve thousands of scientists and other specialists. For humans it would be one of the largest and most anticipated world uniting efforts ever done. The research would continue until a scientific review board could difinitively say whether or not contact would be adviseable or detrimental.

In the event that the determintion was deemed adviseable, based on all accrued research and the wisdom of humanity having risen beyond its own demise and destruction, a small entourage of scientists and scpeicalists would be sent to the leaders of the most mature and progressive nations.

They would go directly to the highest leaders with a multilateral proposal on a quid pro quo basis, pending some discussion on the matter. This would assumably lead to new industries and technological advancements supporing trade, building the interstellar economy, which would expand the wealth of both planets.

It may even open the door to a rudimentary form of eugenics and hybridization, an important lesson from ancient human history in its evolution. This is also a form which we may find quite common in even more advanced civiliations who may have utilized it as an adaptive evolutionary accelerate toward galactic colonization and biological diversity.

a reply to: 321Go

Tittis!!