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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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IF a space faring culture had the ability to cross interstellar distances to come to Earth in the first place, they have a higher technology than we do.

This means they have the ability to wipe us out without much of a bother.

No it doesn't.

And how do reach that conclusion, Muse? Jlf's statement is correct, and what he expresses is self-evident. Crossing interstellar space requires controlling the release of vast amounts of energy, within the parameters of safe operation. To know what those are requires knowing what happens when they are exceeded. Or, if you don't like bombs that use the same energy source as their drive, having the ability to move a ship across interstellar space means they have the ability to just throw a million mph (whatever) rock at the planet, and time their own arrival for after the atmosphere starts clearing up.

Now whether they actually have the desire to wipe us out is not so easily assumed, and they might have reasons which precluded such action. Maybe they want us for slaves, or food. Maybe they don't give us any more thought than we give an anthill in the path of a new sidewalk, or want the surface resources undamaged. Maybe, as someone pointed out, they are from the La planet, of the Shangri system, coming to gently bestow their benevolent wisdom, and sprinkle "can we all get along" dust over our water supplies.

If they can get here across interstellar space, then they can make sure nobody is home when they land, if that is what they wish to do. What's hard?

Nothing's "hard" about it; nothing is demonstrated. It's an assumption, not a foregone conclusion. We sent men to the moon; did we have the ability to destroy it? It's pretty big. They are possible, but not inherently, joined skills.

Imagine, for example, space travel done through dimensional jumping. That just brings them here, not with means to destroy us. Nor is energy infinite--the distance could be the limits of their power, leaving none to use on destruction even if they wanted to.

Does anyone learn logic anymore?

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ORIGINAL: Moonhead

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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IF a space faring culture had the ability to cross interstellar distances to come to Earth in the first place, they have a higher technology than we do.

This means they have the ability to wipe us out without much of a bother.

No it doesn't.

And how do reach that conclusion, Muse? Jlf's statement is correct, and what he expresses is self-evident. Crossing interstellar space requires controlling the release of vast amounts of energy, within the parameters of safe operation. To know what those are requires knowing what happens when they are exceeded. Or, if you don't like bombs that use the same energy source as their drive, having the ability to move a ship across interstellar space means they have the ability to just throw a million mph (whatever) rock at the planet, and time their own arrival for after the atmosphere starts clearing up.

Now whether they actually have the desire to wipe us out is not so easily assumed, and they might have reasons which precluded such action. Maybe they want us for slaves, or food. Maybe they don't give us any more thought than we give an anthill in the path of a new sidewalk, or want the surface resources undamaged. Maybe, as someone pointed out, they are from the La planet, of the Shangri system, coming to gently bestow their benevolent wisdom, and sprinkle "can we all get along" dust over our water supplies.

If they can get here across interstellar space, then they can make sure nobody is home when they land, if that is what they wish to do. What's hard?

Nothing's "hard" about it; nothing is demonstrated. It's an assumption, not a foregone conclusion. We sent men to the moon; did we have the ability to destroy it? It's pretty big. They are possible, but not inherently, joined skills.

Imagine, for example, space travel done through dimensional jumping. That just brings them here, not with means to destroy us. Nor is energy infinite--the distance could be the limits of their power, leaving none to use on destruction even if they wanted to.

Does anyone learn logic anymore?

No, but I did learn enough physics to know that the notion of dimension jumping is ridiculous nonsense that won't work outside of an episode of Doctor Who.

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

The only one talking about planetary destruction here, is you, Muse, and it's getting obvious that you'd rather do that, than just admit you shot off an arrogant snark without noting the barrel was pointed at your own foot.

Now you want to condescend your way out of it. Sorry dude. SOL

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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IF a space faring culture had the ability to cross interstellar distances to come to Earth in the first place, they have a higher technology than we do.

This means they have the ability to wipe us out without much of a bother.

No it doesn't.

And how do reach that conclusion, Muse? Jlf's statement is correct, and what he expresses is self-evident. Crossing interstellar space requires controlling the release of vast amounts of energy, within the parameters of safe operation. To know what those are requires knowing what happens when they are exceeded. Or, if you don't like bombs that use the same energy source as their drive, having the ability to move a ship across interstellar space means they have the ability to just throw a million mph (whatever) rock at the planet, and time their own arrival for after the atmosphere starts clearing up.

Now whether they actually have the desire to wipe us out is not so easily assumed, and they might have reasons which precluded such action. Maybe they want us for slaves, or food. Maybe they don't give us any more thought than we give an anthill in the path of a new sidewalk, or want the surface resources undamaged. Maybe, as someone pointed out, they are from the La planet, of the Shangri system, coming to gently bestow their benevolent wisdom, and sprinkle "can we all get along" dust over our water supplies.

If they can get here across interstellar space, then they can make sure nobody is home when they land, if that is what they wish to do. What's hard?

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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ORIGINAL: Moonhead

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

quote:

IF a space faring culture had the ability to cross interstellar distances to come to Earth in the first place, they have a higher technology than we do.

This means they have the ability to wipe us out without much of a bother.

No it doesn't.

And how do reach that conclusion, Muse? Jlf's statement is correct, and what he expresses is self-evident. Crossing interstellar space requires controlling the release of vast amounts of energy, within the parameters of safe operation. To know what those are requires knowing what happens when they are exceeded. Or, if you don't like bombs that use the same energy source as their drive, having the ability to move a ship across interstellar space means they have the ability to just throw a million mph (whatever) rock at the planet, and time their own arrival for after the atmosphere starts clearing up.

Now whether they actually have the desire to wipe us out is not so easily assumed, and they might have reasons which precluded such action. Maybe they want us for slaves, or food. Maybe they don't give us any more thought than we give an anthill in the path of a new sidewalk, or want the surface resources undamaged. Maybe, as someone pointed out, they are from the La planet, of the Shangri system, coming to gently bestow their benevolent wisdom, and sprinkle "can we all get along" dust over our water supplies.

If they can get here across interstellar space, then they can make sure nobody is home when they land, if that is what they wish to do. What's hard?

Nothing's "hard" about it; nothing is demonstrated. It's an assumption, not a foregone conclusion. We sent men to the moon; did we have the ability to destroy it? It's pretty big. They are possible, but not inherently, joined skills.

Imagine, for example, space travel done through dimensional jumping. That just brings them here, not with means to destroy us. Nor is energy infinite--the distance could be the limits of their power, leaving none to use on destruction even if they wanted to.

Does anyone learn logic anymore?

No, but I did learn enough physics to know that the notion of dimension jumping is ridiculous nonsense that won't work outside of an episode of Doctor Who.

And yet invading aliens is A-Okay.

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ORIGINAL: Moonhead

Well, perhaps you should have remembered that before you started quibbling and naysaying somebody else's comment about the likelihood of invading aliens having better technology than we do then, shouldn't you?

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Fun is a lot harder than it used to be.

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

And as pointed out, Muse, wiping out a fragile species of surface dwellers is a long and far cry from destroying a planet.

Perhaps you missed it, but this was intended as a lighthearted thread, on a highly speculative subject. Unless you are emotionally invested in the religious tenet that God made us in His own image, and we are therefore unique and especially blessed by His awesomeness, then we ain't special, and the odds are mighty long that we aren't alone, and I personally hope, not the best and brightest the entire universe has to offer.

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
I simply pointed out that travel doesn't necessarily mean ability to destroy with ease. Period.

I didn't realize that was a given assumption in the Alien Fantasy Handbook.

You guys take this FAR too seriously.