First Contact Should Matter

[kineticspartan]

I think most people here are on the same page with this.
The impact of first contact is dependent on what guides your species, and, to an equal extent, who -or what- you run into. With two xenophilic pacifist races having the most positive outcomes. And two militaristic races descending into war pretty quickly. Along with the concept that the initial first contact and it's outcome should have an effect on future interactions with all subsequent species, along with the effect that future first contacts become less and less of a major development.

But to add my two cents into the debate, I think that there should also be a chance of a "misunderstanding" between to parties, something on the lines of a misinterpretation of signals (like in B5) or something more complicated like a war wearied species that's constantly being attacked becoming more jumpy and attacking out of fear?

 

[Fireplay]

Or the first signs of an emerging one, making us humans the elder species whom have the responsibility to teach this young rising species what we know. Now that is probably the scariest thought, someone actually looking up to mankind as an example.

Considering our history, that would result in a lot of interesting changes for humanity; both good and bad. Hopefully by then we've left our desire for destruction behind by then.

 

[Es57]

Am I the only one who thinks that a first contact with another sentient, intelligent, species would have devastating social consequences on Earth ?

Especially from a religious perspective, as it would be perceived by many as the proof of the non-existence of God ?

 

[valergain]

Am I the only one who thinks that a first contact with another sentient, intelligent, species would have devastating social consequences on Earth ?

Especially from a religious perspective, as it would be perceived by many as the proof of the non-existence of God ?

Dude here in the first world we're pretty cool with the concept of aliens. A lot of people think they're out there. And even those that think there are no aliens its not like the concept is entirely new and shocking. Finding out there are aliens would be something that is a bit of major shake up, but not the OMG my entire life is lie degree.

 

[TheDungen]

Am I the only one who thinks that a first contact with another sentient, intelligent, species would have devastating social consequences on Earth ?

Especially from a religious perspective, as it would be perceived by many as the proof of the non-existence of God ?

Don't worry the religious people would find a way to explain that away.

Dude here in the first world we're pretty cool with the concept of aliens. A lot of people think they're out there. And even those that think there are no aliens its not like the concept is entirely new and shocking. Finding out there are aliens would be something that is a bit of major shake up, but not the OMG my entire life is lie degree.

I don't know people these parts seems to be pretty anti aliens even when those aliens are humans fleeing from war.

 

[Es57]

Dude here in the first world we're pretty cool with the concept of aliens. A lot of people think they're out there. And even those that think there are no aliens its not like the concept is entirely new and shocking. Finding out there are aliens would be something that is a bit of major shake up, but not the OMG my entire life is lie degree.

It may not be shocking to you, but it would certainly be to those who think man was created by God to his image, in six days, and only a few thousand years ago.

And I assure you, such people exist even in what you call "first world".

 

[TheDungen]

It may not be shocking to you, but it would certainly be to those who think man was created by God to his image, in six days, and only a few thousand years ago.

And I assure you, such people exist even in what you call "first world".

Well they'd probably tell you that the aliens were created by the devil to mislead them or some such nonsense. Isn't that what they say about dinosaurs?
You're not really expecting creationists to change their views based on such unimportant things such as evidence.

 

[Cuthuthulu]

Am I the only one who thinks that a first contact with another sentient, intelligent, species would have devastating social consequences on Earth ?

Especially from a religious perspective, as it would be perceived by many as the proof of the non-existence of God ?

That depends on the circumstances. I doubt first contact between the Tralfogians and the U'rraaak will have any social impact on Earth.

 

[Es57]

Well they'd probably tell you that the aliens were created by the devil to mislead them or some such nonsense. Isn't that what they say about dinosaurs?
You're not really expecting creationists to change their views based on such unimportant things such as evidence.

Precisely my point, they would certainly not change their views about it, which is why they would become more radical, shouting things like "these aliens are the devil's work, we must purge them with fire !"

Thus creating major unrest in the human population like protests, riots or even terrorism against the humans advocating a peaceful and friendly contact with the aliens.

That depends on the circumstances. I doubt first contact between the Tralfogians and the U'rraaak will have any social impact on Earth.

But it would on the Tralfogian homeworld (Tralfogia ?).

 

[TheDungen]

Precisely my point, they would certainly not change their views about it, which is why they would become more radical, shouting things like "these aliens are the devil's work, we must purge them with fire !"

Thus creating major unrest in the human population like protests, riots or even terrorism against the humans advocating a peaceful and friendly contact with the aliens.


But it would on the Traflogian homeworld.

True but no one listens to them today, I doubt they'll get more members when they go more rabid. Then again their xenophobia may get them other members. We've seen similiar trends in europe in the last decade.

 

[Es57]

True but no one listens to them today, I doubt they'll get more members when they go more rabid. Then again their xenophobia may get them other members. We've seen similiar trends in europe in the last decade.

Agreed, they are not very prominent in most Western countries, but they are in other, more "religious-based" societies. Think about some countries of the Middle-East for example. I think the current situation of that region is enough proof that unrest in this area can be a major powder keg in the whole world.

An issue such as the response to a first contact with alien life forms could easily radicalize already existing social and religious viewpoints, and fracture even more the populations of Earth.

 

[TheDungen]

Agreed, they are not very prominent in most Western countries, but they are in other, more "religious-based" societies. Think about some countries of the Middle-East for example. I think the current situation of that region is enough proof that unrest in this area can be a major powder keg in the whole world.

An issue such as the response to a first contact with alien life forms could easily radicalize already existing social and religious viewpoints, and fracture even more the populations of Earth.

True but it is just because the creationists are such a fringe group that they are so reluctant to change, larger groups tend to be more pragmatic.

 

[GermanPower]

First contact should be a huge deal. Its finding another species can preform and do the task we can do. It will be shocking for any race. Meeting something totally different and new.

Depending on the race a lot could happen...It depends on what it would. Humanity I'd think it'd be war on contact or something similar to that instantly. Its hard for me to see some peaceful means of first contact. It raises a ton of questions...a ton and I don't think the entire human race would have reached enlightenment by then.

 

[CptWilly]

I think human beings are pretty socially and psychologically resilient. We can handle pretty big world-changing type shocks and tend to find and adapt to a "new normal" pretty quickly. I think there is some obvious bias in assuming that because someone might be more or less religious or hold different political views (i.e. belong to a different POP) that they are somehow less adaptable... that they are the dogmatic ones who would crumble, unlike we adaptable and clear-headed pragmatists. The truth is, however, that human adaptability is a survival mechanism hard wired by millions of years of evolution and doesn't depend on holding certain belief systems to apply.

If we found aliens tomorrow it would be a crazy, but mostly socially ordered couple of weeks. Some people's beliefs might change (possibly in unpredictable ways), but then people would mostly get back to business as usual.

 

[TheDungen]

I think human beings are pretty socially and psychologically resilient. We can handle pretty big world-changing type shocks and tend to find and adapt to a "new normal" pretty quickly. I think there is some obvious bias in assuming that because someone might be more or less religious or hold different political views (i.e. belong to a different POP) that they are somehow less adaptable... that they are the dogmatic ones who would crumble, unlike we adaptable and clear-headed pragmatists. The truth is, however, that human adaptability is a survival mechanism hard wired by millions of years of evolution and doesn't depend on holding certain belief systems to apply.

If we found aliens tomorrow it would be a crazy, but mostly socially ordered couple of weeks. Some people's beliefs might change (possibly in unpredictable ways), but then people would mostly get back to business as usual.

Yeah that is one of the truths of the human condition. There has been incidents which 'changed everything' but the following monday millions of people went to work as usual anyway. Be that incident the dropping of the a-bombs 9/11 or any such event.
I seem to remember Robin Hobb had a character describing the phenomenon in on of her books. How after a battle after all that bloodshed people would very quickly return to the daily routine and start picking up the pieces. For all that there are people who suffer PTSD there are also a lot of people who have a remarkable ability to cope with things.

 

[ponasozis]

finding out aliens are a thing for humanity would not be so bad
mostly because most humans that are relevant already know that alliens most likely exist and they are kinda prepared for it
while irrelevant humans (aka manpower) does not matter because their purpose is to be manpower

 

[Alexander Seil]

I think human beings are pretty socially and psychologically resilient. We can handle pretty big world-changing type shocks and tend to find and adapt to a "new normal" pretty quickly. I think there is some obvious bias in assuming that because someone might be more or less religious or hold different political views (i.e. belong to a different POP) that they are somehow less adaptable... that they are the dogmatic ones who would crumble, unlike we adaptable and clear-headed pragmatists. The truth is, however, that human adaptability is a survival mechanism hard wired by millions of years of evolution and doesn't depend on holding certain belief systems to apply.

If we found aliens tomorrow it would be a crazy, but mostly socially ordered couple of weeks. Some people's beliefs might change (possibly in unpredictable ways), but then people would mostly get back to business as usual.

Well, depends. If we found aliens broadcasting to us, yes, it wouldn't cause a mass panic. However, if a flying saucer 20KM in diameter appears tomorrow over a major world city, I think it's safe to say that social order will be strained to its limits.

Same principle ought to apply in Stellaris. If my science ship finds a barely space-flight capable race on an Earth-like planet, most POPs should shrug it off ideologically. But if on turn 2 an alien armada shows up in the Solar System with clearly hostile intentions, I'd expect a very sudden uptick in Xenophobic feels.

 

[Reezy]

If I was an invading alien, I would dress up as their deity, angel wings and all.

Much better to have the planet's zealots kill their free thinkers for you than to waste your own resources on it.