The Theory of Nothing

What would it be like to make a first contact?

What would it be like to make first contact?

So, let’s say we do make it to another solar system where intelligent aliens live. How would we handle a first contact situation?

Most of us would imagine it much like they show in movies and TV shoes like Star Trek. The only thing I didn’t like about Star Trek was the Prime Directive. This was the rule that one could not make contact with an alien species unless they had warp capability. The idea was that we humans didn’t want to upset their normal evolution. That’s obviously what UFO aliens are not obeying when they come to Earth. So why do we have to obey it?

The real question is: would we even understand or be able to communicate with an extraterrestrial species? They could be so weird we wouldn’t know where to start. Most movies show UFO aliens as monsters hell bent on killing us. If they were that violent, they would have more than likely destroyed their civilization before they went out into space. That could be what stops us from making it to another star system. We humans need to get our shit together and learn how to get along. Otherwise, we’ll never be able to deal with aliens on other planets.

There are several problems connected with making first contact with an alien species. One is communication. How are we going to talk to them, if talk is even possible? Maybe they don’t communicate by making noises. What if they use telepathy or some form of mind transfer? We may not be on the same frequencies as they are.

Another problem is the possibility of becoming infected with a pathogen that we have no immunity to. Think of Ebola. Think of how the Mayans and Aztecs were nearly wiped out by European diseases like smallpox or influenza. Think about the Andromeda Strain movie.

What if the aliens we try to contact are much more advanced than we are? They could consider us to be a sub species much like the European explorers considered the Africans and the American Indians to be sub-human. Look what they did to them.

One thing is for sure: an extraterrestrial species is not going to think like we do or act like we do. They may be even more violent than we are, which means that we could be in for a rough introduction. That last thing we want is a war with an alien species; although, that is a very common science fiction plot idea. Recall Starship Troopers, Star Trek, Star Wars, Avatar, Amazon Women on the Moon. The last one is a laugher. We could end up having the Earth vaporized as in Star Wars or the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Ouch!

We could run into a situation like what happened in the original Star Trek third season series episode called ‘The Tholian Web.’ Some crystalline alien species doesn’t like other species intruding on their space and trap the Enterprise in an energy web and nearly causes the crew to go crazy. Maybe alien species are Xenophobic and don’t like or trust outsiders.

That’s how humans are depicted in many science fiction first contact movies, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, or Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or The Thing. In most cases the military gets involved in trying to kill the aliens.

How does one prepare for an extraterrestrial first contact? Is there a course on that? The only thing I know is that it won’t be easy and could be full of danger, maybe worse than science fiction portrays it.

Or, the extraterrestrial species could be benign like ET. I vote for that.

Thanks for reading.