aliens just landed and asked........?

Question

"we've been watching the way your species destroys your planet and each other with such extreme malice and lack of remorse. tell us: why shouldn't we wipe you out and give this planet to a more deserving species?"

Answer 1

Because we're an interesting species, even if we harm each other occasionally. We also have great potential to be a better species, if we can only live up to that potential through re-education of those humans who do harm to the planet and to each other. There is a line from the alien in the movie "Contact" that puts it correctly:

"You're an interesting species. An interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you're not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we've found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other."

As semi-intelligent, another species of greater intelligence could learn a lot from "preserving" human being.

Answer 2

Ironically, the aliens are no better than us if they are going to wipe out a whole species with "malice and lack of remorse." I think that aliens so hypocritical would probably act the same as we do on their planet. Therefore, if they act the way we do, they wouldn't have the technology necesary to create a space-travelling ship.

Answer 3

Why would the same beings who put us here want to know anything more about us?

Prisoners on a prison planet - we either help recover our moral decency together or we perish as a species anyway. They won't have to worry whether they should do it or not, because we're quite capable of wiping ourselves out. We even have atomic weapons for god sake on a small planet!

We are so thoroughly ingrained with our current education on this planet to thinking we're the only ones here in this universe its absurd! Why do you think the tendency is always toward that of segregating anti-socials from socials so that some of our prisons are full to overflowing, where some even number more than small villages.

We are prisoners trying to escape our prisons individually! Once we work that out and see we must help each other overcome that idea we can then walk forward and do something about our "prison walls."

Answer 4

Because you're no better then us humans. You've passed judgement upon us all, because of the evil that a realitively small percentage of our population has inflicted upon us. The sins of our parents (as the saying goes) should not mean that the children should be held accounteable.
If you look deeper into our history you will see the potential of the good that human nature possesses not just the evil.
Yes, you can condemn us all to death and Hell for cruelities inflicted by the Hitler's and Stalins of the world, but what about the Buddha's, Dali Lama's, Ghandi's, Mother Theresa's and Martin Luther's of the world? Do their actions not speak for mankind?
It is easy to judge mankind by the deep dark shadow we cast, but that is only b/c we fear our own light.
If aliens did arrive on the planet, I would hope that they were a higher form of sentient intelligence and would be able to see that there are many many facets to human nature. And I would hope that they would be more intelligent then us and more compassionate then us and would judge us not only by the evil acts we've commited, but also by the good we have done. And if, for some reason they are unable to see the two sides of the same coin that is human nature and decide to condemn us to death, then they are as human as we are. They are not aliens, but human and must condemn themselves to death.

Answer 5

The interesting thing about your question is the implied morality involved. It suggests that a superior race (at least technologically) is going to find our damaging the environment and killing each other to be repugnant. I hope you realize that there is no reason why this must necessarily be... in fact, I seem to recall a very entertaining Twilight-Zone-ish episode on that very subject: (You'll have to forgive me for paraphrasing... I couldn't find the episode online)

An alien shows up from nowhere, proclaims humanity to be a vast disappointment, and advises us of our imminent destruction. Political leaders beg for just one day of grace to make things right, and the alien shrugs and agrees. One day later the leaders are all gathered, shaking hands over a world peace accord that will disassemble all armies and end conflict forever. At which the alien laughs.

'In the thousand worlds we control, we breed WARRIORS. But look at you: your weapons are awkward and costly, your tactics pathetic, and worst of all - in your hearts you long for peace. No... I'm afraid you can only be considered failures. Good bye.'

Which is exactly the point. If aliens show up on our doorstep and try to enforce some kind of external morality, they might enforce ANY morality. They may be upset that we don't kill our weak children to advance the species. They may consider our pollution laws which limit how businesses can operate to be offensive. They could even consider it an insult if we don't attack them first. A statement such as yours may even be an invitation to do just that, for all we know of alien sociology.

So any answer we give would be almost meaningless. We could justify ourselves and they could consider us to be weaklings for making excuses. We could defy their authority and they might consider us foolish and primitive.

And when you have no information about the best course of action, it is probably best to just be true to yourself.

Answer 6

Because that would make you as bad as us or worse. There are many good people on this planet. All the misery is caused by a few bad people. Wiping out the species would prove that they are very bad.

Answer 7

If you only see the worst of us, then you are as incapable of passing judgment on us as we are on each other. Too often the good that occurs and the progress we as a species have made is forgotten in light of our mistakes.

For every wrong we commit there is also an achievement.

Answer 8

That would be a question Tom Cruise or John Travolta could answer. We mere mortals don't have enough "thetans" to be able to communicate and locate aliens. But, Tom and John could talk them out of hurting people, they're really good actors and are very active in their church, and very influential in the alien community. Look out, Scott Baio might give you pink eye.

Answer 9

They wouldn't ask or say such a thing and expect any kind of answer! They'll just do it and get it over with!

Answer 10

Tell ya what, if you would just get rid of those bad individuals you could come back in a century or two and see how we are doing then. What are you doing later?