Are We Ready for Aliens?

https://telepathyacademy.com/how-are-humans-different-from-aliens/

I believe that many alien stories serve as powerful social commentary, and I tend to interpret them through that lens. At their core, these narratives reflect human fears, flaws, and the ways in which we grapple with our own place in the universe. If I’m being honest (and perhaps a bit pessimistic), I believe that if aliens were real, they would most likely resemble the dispassionate and superior entities narrating “They’re Made Out of Meat.” In that story, humans are reduced to a mere curiosity–talking, breathing, creative meat–but still trivial and almost laughable to the alien species. This detachment implies an outlook on humanity that seems plausible for more advanced beings: seeing us as insignificant, even though we view ourselves as the pinnacle of existence. 

These beings would likely humble us, or at least point out the flaws in our connections and behaviors as humans. Before attempting to contact extraterrestrial species, we need to prioritize improving our relationships with each other, working towards a more stable and prosperous future, free from violence, division, and chaos, before we can genuinely engage with beings from other realms. Otherwise, the fragility of human thought and tendency to succumb to paranoia make me believe that, if we were to encounter alien life, we would be vulnerable to manipulation and control. “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” captures this perfectly. In the episode, a small community collapses under the weight of its own fears and suspicions, turning on each other, when an alien presence is suspected. The townspeople’s paranoia quickly spirals out of control, leading to fighting, death, and destruction–highlighting how fragile human trust and cooperation is when faced with the unknown. If we were to make contact with otherworldly beings, our own insecurities and irrational fears might leave us open to exploitation from more advanced species. 

Additionally, history has shown that humanity is prone to moral failures driven by power and greed. In “Space Traitors,” the story analyzes how humans might be quick to exploit even their own species for personal gain under the guise of “the public good.” The same historical patterns of colonialization and imperialism, fueled by the desire to control and profit from the resources of other lands. “District 9” is another encapsulation of this idea (I will be using the first half of the movie for the following). Humans would abuse the alien counterparts, disallowing them to leave, and capturing all their alien weaponry and advanced technologies in order to advance human civilization. When Wikus became infected, they used him as a testing subject and did live experimentation. When he escaped, they twisted the narrative in order to make his survival futile. All this was in the name of human advancement, connecting with intergalactic species, and the idea of 'progress.' But, this leaves me wondering, what is ‘progress’? What is the cost we have to pay to achieve it?

We would not hold the higher ground; rather, we would likely be viewed as a subservient species. With no real advantage to gain from interacting with us, the more advanced alien species’ superiority will leave us at their mercy.