This might be in research, but eh, it's a good enough discussion for the lounge. Let's say that aliens show up. We don't quite know their tech level, but it's very much above ours. Tech difference ranges from WW2 compared to modern day, to modern day versus caveman. It can't be hidden from the world, and yes, the world know that we're not alone, and that the aliens are in the solar system, sending out messages.
It is an interesting question to ask . Humans have not managed to have any real understanding or empathy with the other animals we share this planet with . Creatures from a different planet my see us in the same way . So it will not be how we will communicate with them ,but their attitude to us that will be a big factor. It is imposable to physically cross space in the way depicted in programs like Star Trek . It is a real possibility that we will detect signals from a distant civilisation. Unfortunately it will be for observation only . By the time the signals arrive, the civilisation may have long died out .
Just in case you missed it, the aliens *have* crossed space in that way. And they're right here, right now, looming over us.
It would be people having days of drinking, vanity, lust, etc. - And then people running to the churches or the wilderness... I know a few people who went crazy the day before they thought Y2K would happen.
Well if it's anything like society's reaction to Covid-19, half the people won't believe it's happening.
May I recommend Farscape (the tv series.) A lot of the story's magnificent arc deals with this exact question ...and I think does it very well indeed.
No. He went back to earth a couple of times ...and once or twice when he was being conned into believing he was back on earth as well.
Whatever happens, it sure as acid rain is going to be interesting. I imagine we will be very welcoming but also cautious. We know what happens too well when an advanced civilization meets a less advanced one. We will of course have few options but to go along with whatever the aliens have in mind for us. Unless their tech is entirely made with peaceful intent, in which case we might exploit them. Either way, it will be an awakening for humanity.
We'd worship them as gods. I, though, will join a ragtag group of sceptics who discovers the aliens' true designs, and we will destroy their evil superstructures in a blaze of glory. Humanity will then rebuild as a simple, agrarian folk. But seriously, we'd worship them as gods. Modern cultures would bend themselves around the alien ideal. Any life that can travel the stars represents transcendence, and I think your average atheist will instantly find new religion.
We've seen what happens to humans when a technologically advanced civilisation appears on their doorstep; initially there's nothing they can do, but over time they'll learn from the newcomers and eventually match them. Heck, maybe they're here looking for an equivalent to our BRIC countries to source cheap goods. What impact would knowing we aren't alone in the universe have? I suspect very little. For a while, people believed that there were canals on Mars showing intelligent life, but that had no real impact on our societies. Racism might be impacted. I could imagine that groups that currently don't get on well because they favour different races might suddenly find common cause. "I don't care about the colour of a human's skin, but I don't want my kids growing up near one of those damned aliens. Earth for the humans."
Once they make contact I give it 2 years tops before they start putting McDonald's and Quick Marts on their planets and get addicted to reality TV.
The ancient aliens theory does make for very interesting sci-fi stories. And I love to play with the idea of "what if" when it comes to that theory. Maybe the rock that offed the dinos was deliberate... Yes, yes, volcanoes might have played their part.
We'd all still have to go to work the next day. And mow our lawns. And pick up the dry-cleaning. I'd imagine 97% of our day to day lives would be unaffected. The other 3% would be very interesting. A decent chance that a lot of people wouldn't care at all. Or forget about it a few weeks later if the aliens only made a quick pit stop. Funnily enough, I actually have a contingency plan for this written into the restaurant's operating manual, right next to fire and floor plans. Something like: "Should a UFO land in the middle of ____ Street, figure out what the aliens like to eat, how they can pay, and how to market to the rest of their species." I've got a Godzilla attack in there somewhere, too. Something like, "Should Godzilla emerge from the Providence River and start tearing up downtown, we keep cooking until the tickets are sold."
It very much depends on whether they greet us with "Live long and prosper", "Your technological and biological distinctiveness will be added to our own" or "High power hatrack ratcatcher to port weapons brickbat lingerie".
They would be called racists, homophobic, liberals, conservatives, atheists, religious, commies or socialists. They would question climate change, and they would deny of biological science. or claim you could make it up as you go. If you think of all the things that someone is hated for today, you would be hard pressed to think that anyone coming from a different place, a different experience with a different set of values, would be accepted by anyone on this planet. We are too busy creating division, to do more than appear anything but very primitive to any other being. The Good News is that they probably would fall back on the time proven saying that has been long forgotten in todays society. " Sticks and Stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Thick skin in life is the first sign of intelligence.
Probably the same way we depict them in pop-fiction. Aliens show up, and we greet them with guns and tanks. Cause everyone knows we kill everything (hence all our wars throughout the ages), so why would beings from another place be treated any different when it comes to old traditional customs? Sure we would probably steal their tech, and study them, but overall we would probably combat them for galactic and species dominance. Nature has only evolved to cut out the competition, even though a space faring species and humans would be genetically incompatible. Or they enslave us for cheap labor. In a less grim scenario, we actually do something for mutual benefit opening up trade and diplomacy. Though IDK what a bunch of violent apes and a highly advanced species would have in common ground, but I'm sure there could be something. There may be a possibility of sharing our own culture in an exchange of cultures and tech with them, since they would have put aside our favorite past time long ago in favor of more productive means. Which in turn could have them dragging us out of the proverbial dark ages, and into a society worth progressing out into the galactic stage. We won't know until language barriers and intentions could be established. Though they would more than likely just pass us by if it were about resources, since there is way more out in space than here on Earth. Also no point in strip mining a planet that has opposition on it, when there are millions that are lifeless and much richer in materials. To conclude, we will have to ultimately wait until that moment arrives. Until then: "This is why we can't have nice things."
@Cave Troll You bring up an interesting point about cultural exchange. The Aliens may not be able to play string instruments, or other types of human instruments. Yet, they may love our music. This could give us the ability to trade concerts and such with them. It may also be the case that they don't have the limbs to play human sports, so that may also be new and exciting for them. Sure after some time, they may be able to develop artificial means by which to play instruments and our sports, but nothing ever beats the real thing in my opinion. So cultural exchange may be our only hope when/if we ever meet an advanced civilization. That was a lot of may's, one would think it is spring.
Well, my spaceship stampeded the cattle, but once the ranchers got the stock under control, they were actually pretty nice to me: invited me to a barbeque, got me a beer, asked me what I thought of UW's chances against Fresno State in the fall. I didn't have a clue what a Fresno State was, but I drank the steak, ate the beer bottle, and told them I thought UW was going to kick ass.