Peter Crisp wrote:The other question is whether it's a good idea to be contacted by aliens in the first place.
Every time a more technologically advanced section of humanity has come into contact with a lesser advanced society it's been bad news for the latter so do we really think an alien species capable of interstellar travel will be a good thing for us?
While we are a long way from perfect (a bloody long way!) the difference in western society from the first Europeans in America to now is vast. The majority of people in the West would not support colonisation anymore and the majority do not support imperialistic wars. Our leaders might want to, but most people don’t.
It seems unlikely to me that a hugely advanced alien civilisation would still be a race that enjoys war and there is nothing on Earth that they would need or covet. Once you have the galaxy open to you, what are you fighting over? You have more resources than you could ever hope to use.
It’s possible an alien race might be war crazed religious fanatics, but I doubt it.
Far more likely (although I don’t believe they really exist) is that alien races would see our immaturity and leave us alone until we are capable of not ruining everything.
