If you could ask a more intelligent species one question, what would it be?

[Cyrano]

I'd like to borrow my answer from Carl Sagan, author of the book "Contact."

There is a scene in the film "Contact" where Jodie Foster is asked, if she were to be chosen to take the trip to meet the beings trying to contact them, what question would she ask?

Her (Carl Sagan's) answer is pure brilliance.

"How did you survive your adolescence?"

Given the status of today's world, I don't know whether or not our species (humans) will survive our adolescence. But you never know.

What do you think? And would you have asked a different question?

[tachyon]

1. Didn't see the movie but my first thought was "how did you avoid politics?"

:D

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. I'd love advanced perspective on the question "Why?"

Not brilliant, but functional :)

[zanne]

7. Same here.

And I'd hope they wouldn't say "because".

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. "42" is also not an acceptable answer.

:)

[Occulus]

10. I would also add to that,

"How?"

[Richard D]

3. I'd stick with Sagan's question . . .

. . . especially considering how miserably we're doing now.

[Glorfindel]

4. How can we stop humanity's insane destruction of the planet RIGHT NOW?

I'd think that would be the most vital question.

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. We already know the answer(s) to that question...

the problem is the willingness to implement them.

[jody]

5. Do humans have a soul/spirit that survives the death of the physical body? n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. That was my question too

[jakem]

9. how do you hide the cash trail to the hookers?

sorry :shrug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. How did you get impeachment back on the table?

[Elspeth]

13. Why fractals?

And repeating series in general?

[rucky]

14. What's the best way to prepare a mango?

I always end up with a syrupy mess dripping down my arms.

[catnhatnh]

15. Can you take me with you? N/T

[timtom]

29. That was my reply, too.

I guess I need to scan these things before replying.

[catnhatnh]

40. Great minds and all that,what....N/T

[damntexdem]

16. How long do you give us?

I worry about the response.

[leftofthedial]

17. how did your species overthrow the capitalists?

[klyon]

18. How did your society get it together to travel the universe?

How do you travel the universe?

[BlooInBloo]

19. Does P=NP?

[Contrary1]

20. Why am I here?

After 56+ years, I still wonder. Have I already done what I was supposed to do?
And, if not; I really could use a clue. I'm not getting any younger.

[Arctic Dave]

21. I don't have to "ask" the more intelligent species

My wife tells me what the answer is, whether I want to know or not.:hide:

[Oeditpus Rex]

22. 'What can you teach us?'

[Cyrano]

24. Ahhh, great question. I suppose we'd first have to ask, "Will you teach us?"

[Breeze54]

23. Why?

[Cyrano]

25. That's an open-ended question. It would be too easy to reply, "Why not?"

[Breeze54]

31. You're right.... I'll try harder.

;)

[Breeze54]

35. Ok.... What is the meaning of life? n/t

[Cyrano]

37. Life is a fountain.

[Jeroen]

39. No, life is the fountain itself

[PsciStudent]

26. nerdy question...

How do you reverse entropy?

[Cyrano]

30. Easy answer. Discover what "dark energy" and "dark matter" is.

[Mike03]

27. "What can we do to prevent our own imminent self destruction?"

And if I had more than one question, I would want to know what it would take for our species to initiate some sort of mass intellectual and spiritual evolution or transcendence.

[timtom]

28. Will you take me with you?

[Klukie]

32. Does an erection have a conscience?

Sorry... I couldn't resist. :hi:

[Cyrano]

34. It all depends what planet you're on.

[Throd]

33. Have you ever tried to sneak one out and ended up with a "mudbubble"?

It can't only be humans

[katty]

36. PLEASE tell me the secret of getting off my planet?!

[Cyrano]

38. Gravity inversion