Do we dare let aliens know we’re here?

MSN ^ | 8/17/10 | Clara Moskowitz

[LibWhacker]

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Even if humanity could reach out to an intelligent alien civilization, scientists are polarized over whether we should.

Famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has argued that the extraterrestrials we contacted would be likely to harm us, a view that divided the experts here at the SETIcon convention.

*SNIP*

However, Douglas Vakoch, director of interstellar message composition at the SETI Institute, said of aliens: "Even if they tend to be hateful, awful folks, can they do us any harm at interstellar distances?"

[brytlea]

I find it hard to believe we could possibly be the worst thing out there.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I think the Mexicans know we're here whether we inform them or not.

: |

[MHGinTN]

Have you ever read the real history of how the koran came to be a book? ... Even momronism is more organized in their lies on their origins.

[mad_as_he$$]

They have already been here and left.

[randog]

This is a very real threat. It threatens to snuff out human life within the century. I call it Global Cacophony^® and propose that all nations except nations we have no control over developing nations like China reduce their transmitter outputs to pre-1950 levels and nightly brownouts be enacted immediately. The fate of our planet depends on it! And all the children say, "Don't be a Global Cacophony^® denier, you Nazi!!!

[brytlea]

Love that movie! hehehe

[MHGinTN]

Ah, but that doesn’t preclude we are on the quarantine list.

[longtermmemmory]

there is an old sci fi short story where one of those greetings gold records is mistaken for a menu...

[brytlea]

You mean they have bought into the whole “hopey change” thing??

[AU72]

I find it hard to believe we could possibly be the worst thing out there.

If an advanced civilization scouted earth and only visited Iran, North Korea, and Cambridge it would not report back favorably.

[omega4179]

Or they could view us like we view locusts. Better to not know them.

[xp38]

This alien yes

This alien no

[brytlea]

There is that. ;) We are the unwashed.

[brytlea]

Ok, you do make an excellent point.

[BenLurkin]

"They're technologically advanced and so they have obviously evolved into a peaceful species..."

[MrEdd]

[dfwgator]

"I want the people to know that they still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad."

[MrEdd]

[onedoug]

Yet more Hawking nonsense.