If war can be sold, why can't the Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence be sold?

[Boojatta]

The threat: hostile aliens may have enough technology to destroy our entire planet.

The solution: get into friendly communication with potential alien allies who can protect us from hostile aliens.

Bonus: journalists toting cameras won't be mistaken for terrorists toting rocket-propelled grenades. Neither foreigners nor American soldiers will die.

Added bonus: technology developed for SETI could have applications for other purposes and help America compete in the global economy.

[mmonk]

1. Use fear, hate, suspicion, scapegoats, greed, and beliefs.

That seems to work.

[marginlized]

2. Boy, if contact was ever made,

there would be NO END to the fear, suspicion, envy, greed, hate, and killing.
Everyone would assume technology transfer did occur. Human nature would do the rest. The aliens, if they ever bothered to come, would arrive on an empty world.

edit: I forgot greed.

[Ikonoklast]

3. What has happened to every civilization that encountered a more technologically advanced one?

Hint: Nothing Good.


We should try to remain inconspicuous.

With our luck our first contact will be with rabid xenophobes that eliminate all sentient competition for planetary resources.

[Ian David]

4. I want to know if we can unscramble their porn channels. n/t

[Cetacea]

5. ...

Better to put the money into trying to speak with aliens who've been here for fifty million years already and who are probably far more interesting and benign to ETs than we are.

[Boojatta]

6. Kick

[Boojatta]

7. Kick