S.O.S. from space? Would you help them?

[moonbogg]

Lets say humanity discovers an SOS signal from space. Would you risk our entire civilization to go help another one? Assume we discovered a method of instant communication across the stars, so the message was in real time. Assume we just developed interstellar travel technology and have the ability to build a MASSIVE armada of ships to send. Just assume that stuff and then decide if its worth it.

We might get there, save them from their attackers and then have an ally for a long time to come. Or we could get there, realize just how insanely powerful and massive the attackers are, they track down earth and all of our other outposts and wipe us out. Or maybe its a trick. It could be an ambush. What would you do?

 

[Smoblikat]

I wouldnt help.

 

[sm625]

Even if we could communicate instantaneously (and that is a BIG if), we wouldnt be able to send help as quickly. We would surely send a probe or a scouting party first.

 

[alzan]

Wait, is this an offshoot of the Kobayashi Maru test?

 

[SMOGZINN]

I would just invent a time machine and go back in time before the SOS and undo the event that caused it in the first place. That way there is no danger to mankind.
I mean, why not. We are already inventing instantaneous communication, FTL travel, and quick ship building. Time travel is almost simple comparatively.

 

[moonbogg]

I would just invent a time machine and go back in time before the SOS and undo the event that caused it in the first place. That way there is no danger to mankind.
I mean, why not. We are already inventing instantaneous communication, FTL travel, and quick ship building. Time travel is almost simple comparatively.

The OP is meant to ask you what your moral calculation would be. Its OK though. I expected dishonest answers and nitpicking.

 

[SMOGZINN]

The OP is meant to ask you what your moral calculation would be. Its OK though. I expected dishonest answers and nitpicking.

It is impossible to make a moral calculation when we are dealing with fantasy scenarios. You might as well ask if the Elves asked for our help with their war against the dwarves, which would we choose?

 

[moonbogg]

It is impossible to make a moral calculation when we are dealing with fantasy scenarios. You might as well ask if the Elves asked for our help with their war against the dwarves, which would we choose?

What? Of course it isn't. How many fantasy, sci-fi and animated movies are made with a strong moral component where the characters are faced with difficult moral calculations? Star Trek had plenty of episodes like that. Nearly every Disney movie was like that. Hell, just yesterday I watched "How to train your dragon 2" with my kids and they were forced to decide if they wanted to go to war, or stay and protect their town using their DRAGONS. There is nothing wrong with the question. You just want to make things difficult for me. I get it.

 

[SMOGZINN]

To answer the question directly: You send help only if it seems reasonably safe to do so. You left out any information that would help us judge risk.

 

[moonbogg]

To answer the question directly: You send help only if it seems reasonably safe to do so. You left out any information that would help us judge risk.

See? That wasn't so hard. You choose to help as long as you don't destroy earth. Not a bad plan.

 

[Fern]

I think our first step should be gathering intel.

Your post, without saying so, implies that the senders were worthy of protecting. Maybe they're not.

Then otherwise I agree risk assessment etc should be considered. Not much use in attempting to help them if our efforts will be unsuccessful and subject us to destruction.

So:

1. Yes to help if they are worthy, we are assured of success and no meaningful risk to us.

2. No if they are unworthy, success is not possible and we will be destroyed.

3. Tough call if they are 'sort of' worthy or it's unclear who started the 'space war' and for what purpose, we are not assured of success and the risk of reprisal is too great to assure us of safety.

Fern

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Of course we would help. With the exception of politicians, we're all human. Helping is what humans do.

 

[inachu]

With todays technology? F-em. let them die.

But now lets say world war never breaks out and 3 thousand years from now we are super advanced in technology and are living in a state of technology like that of Star Trek or Star Wars then yes we should 100% help them in every way possible.

 

[xXandra]

What? Of course it isn't. How many fantasy, sci-fi and animated movies are made with a strong moral component where the characters are faced with difficult moral calculations? Star Trek had plenty of episodes like that. Nearly every Disney movie was like that.

Is your life similar to movies so often?

 

[inachu]

What? Of course it isn't. How many fantasy, sci-fi and animated movies are made with a strong moral component where the characters are faced with difficult moral calculations? Star Trek had plenty of episodes like that. Nearly every Disney movie was like that. Hell, just yesterday I watched "How to train your dragon 2" with my kids and they were forced to decide if they wanted to go to war, or stay and protect their town using their DRAGONS. There is nothing wrong with the question. You just want to make things difficult for me. I get it.

It is the exploration of these morals that we as humans have not been confronted with or have similar truth in our history in the past.

The morals presented are not fictional but possible outcomes that just could happen.

 

[Caravaggio]

Assume we discovered a method of instant communication across the stars, so the message was in real time. Assume we just developed interstellar travel technology and have the ability to build a MASSIVE armada of ships to send. Just assume that stuff and then decide if its worth it.

Of course we should help. That is our moral duty as 'head culture'.
But only if they grant us the fracking rights under their planet and they promise to let us keep our nuclear weapons whilst they must agree not to develop such systems themselves.
You know, the usual colonialist legal clauses. Isn't that what we normally do to different cultures, near or far?

 

[Kelvrick]

They need help, and the help that we would send is a massive armada? I'm assuming they are under attack from another civilization of some sort. Sounds like me like a throwback to WW2. Why wait for it to get to our shores, lets to fight on someone else's shore? Yes, we help them.

Unless we already know about that third civilization and they can wipe us out like an undustrial spray bottle of round up. Then we send our armada to help them wipe out that SOS civilization like the good little puppet world we are.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I would tell them to stay FAR FAR away from this fucked up planet (I should say people)

 

[z1ggy]

We'd go help, and under the guise of that help, slowly take them over (and kill their people and steal their resources).

 

[moonbogg]

We'd go help, and under the guise of that help, slowly take them over (and kill their people and steal their resources).

Hipster?

 

[flexy]

I am one of those who thinks that attempts to communicate or send messages to potential extraterrestrial civilizations may be VERY dangerous.

It's just a law of nature that everything which is "different" is our enemy or in the best case indifferent to us.

Do you go out, alone, in a deep jungle, unarmed and try to get the attention of any creature so that any predator sure knows that you're there? You don't, otherwise you would be stupid.

And sending probes into space with messages attached indicating our position...or responding to a hypothetical message from extraterrestrials I think would be as stupid.

Think about it: If creatures on our OWN planet are already hostile to each other and mostly see each other as "food"....why then would you think that creatures "out there in the universe" would be all about peace and happiness?

It's very naive to assume this...imho..

And:

From our side too: We have wars because of differences in religion, race, political systems. We KILL each other because of those things. There is no way in hell we're ready for "contact", not even remotely. What it would lead to is that such a potential extraterrestrial civilization would become "the ultimate enemy". For me this is the most likely scenario.

 

[Moonbeam]

Yes