The only evidence that ETs may be hostile and dangerous is in the mirror. They may be just like us and be coming to a new world to exploit its resources and enslave its people, just like "we" did. Then again, it seems unlikely that that level of technology could be developed without the species getting over its societal greed, hatred, and ignorance quite a while ago.
Thanks, I've gotten lazy and haven't read SciFi in quite awhile. But what is the point of "Pak" that responds to the proposal that interstellar travel would not be possible for a species until they evolve beyond being conditioned by greed, hatred, and ignorance?
And all my many years I thought I was lazy as only SciFi would hold my attention. Niven's Pak were/are beings living on a cluster of planets orbiting a star near the center of our galaxy. During childhood and breeding years the Pak have no capacity for abstract thought; instinctually driven by hunger for food and sex. Upon middle age, the Pak's sex organs atrophy to vanishing; their bodies undergo vast changes; their brain cases enlarge and their minds sharpen to extreme bright clarity. However the Pak remain monomaniacal, each elder Pak's interest surging from food and sex to totally ruthless protection of his or hers individual blood line. Hence protectors. The protectors achieve interplanetary flight, first ravaging their home planet and then taking their generational wars to neighboring planets of their star system. Childless Protectors, having no motivation to live, stop eating and die. However some childless Protectors find reason to live by adopting orphaned Pak children. Seeding planets across our Galaxy is high motivation for the childless Pak: to extend the breeding grounds for their adopted Pak; and, not coincidentally for the story, an immense black hole is expanding at the center of our galaxy with certain destruction of the Pak home star system.
The American military establishment is the very last gang I want interacting with an alien intelligence. Imagine sampling a society that relegates their Netanyahus, Cheneys, Boltons, and Clintons to zoo-keepers for the well-being of the universe.
No worry, the extra-terrestrials would not interact with any party without that party accepting their terms and preconditions in full. To my knowledge such an offer had one time in the last century been made during the time of Jimmy Carter government. And as you can imagine arrogant fools came with own demands. End of the story. A second offer is unlikely to happen for a very long time.
The War party and military needs new "threats" -- arms industry is immensely profitable for ALL players, including politicians and media. Plus -- the War party needs - distractions from our brutal reality and fear.
Note that astronomers are NOT reporting anything ;-))
Two thoughts: 1. We really didn't need yet another acronym; 2. Fear enables a mute populace that's being multiply screwed by its corporate (especially military-industrial) masters. Coming soon: a larger military budget increase for "extra-planetary defense." — the absurdity of which should be obvious when referencing any "alien" technology capable of intergalactic travel. But to the brainwashed militaristic mind, such a course is, unfortunately, not unreasonable.
Thank you for another fine essay. "UFOs are their new Trump" is a great line, narrative destroying insight, and my new bumper sticker.
You likely know that Wernher von Braun (rocket engineer who passed away in 1977) supposedly warned that the powers-that-be had prepared a series of fear/control narratives. After the commie threat would come terrorism, then rogue third world countries, then asteroids. "The alien card is the final card. We are going to have to build space-based weapons against aliens and all of it is a lie."
One point of difference. You said the UFO narrative "doesn't actually threaten real power structures in any way." The narrative may not, but if there is any truth to these accounts, it threatens the energy industry. These "ships" are likely not powered by internal combustion engines or lithium-ion batteries.
What's interesting to me is how the official stand on UFO's were to not only to disregard them, but make excuses for them, which is still carrying on today.
I was one of perhaps a handful of viewing participants who managed to key up a sharp and clear video online, which was taken by a very good video camera, and posted of the day of the O'Hare Airport UFO event in 2006, in which the saucer ascended after hovering over the airport, clearly "punching a hole" into a cloud layer as it disappeared. I replayed that vid over and over thinking this is finally the clear proof of what we are dealing with, and perhaps an indication of how its propulsion system works possibly riding on a column of high pressure which did not allow the cloud moisture to return back around it as it moved up through the cloud?
The whole episode was denied by airport "officials" to this day, and that video was seamlessly removed from the net and never seen again. Who and what power could do that kind of thing and how?
They are doing it elsewhere too. Priority one for them on their exploratory space missions is to spot upcoming potential dangers from primitive civilisations for their home systems. With such a task, on what country on Earth would you focus?
Atenção! Achtung! Attention: In the wake of the 20 year anniversary of 9/11, the US is moving to create another distraction in order to validate its future actions. Last time, this caused big destruction to the world. Keep critical thinking up!
Neil DeGrasse Tyson was on Joe Rogan and soent a lot of time patiently suggesting that we might be the victims of an attempt to manipulate the publics attention... Its painful at times, listening to Tyson allow Rogan to 'debate' science with him, but actually a really great Neil DeGrasse Tyson interview, all around. I even think hes maybe into Zizek a little...
Scores of U.S. military personnel have come forward with their UFO testimonies.
The three U.S. Navy UFO videos are real, of course. The FLIR video proves that UFOs are real. The UFO escapes after performing a right-angle manoeuvre.
Here are the latest U.S. government UFO documents:
Since WWII there have been periodic waves of UFO sightings in the USA, waxing and waning. Many a time, while out walking the cat, I've looked to the skies with fond hope of my close encounter with a friendly orange blob gifting a chocolate eclair pour moi and a kibble for my cat. Alas, not even a Twinkie. Maybe I should build a Devil's Tower in my living room. .
Indeed, they are flushing their own credibility, but as long as a significant portion of the population believes it, "...all is well. And all will be well in the garden." And all the gardeners out there will marvel and say, "I like to watch TV."
The only evidence that ETs may be hostile and dangerous is in the mirror. They may be just like us and be coming to a new world to exploit its resources and enslave its people, just like "we" did. Then again, it seems unlikely that that level of technology could be developed without the species getting over its societal greed, hatred, and ignorance quite a while ago.
See the Pak in Larry Niven's "Protector".
Thanks, I've gotten lazy and haven't read SciFi in quite awhile. But what is the point of "Pak" that responds to the proposal that interstellar travel would not be possible for a species until they evolve beyond being conditioned by greed, hatred, and ignorance?
And all my many years I thought I was lazy as only SciFi would hold my attention. Niven's Pak were/are beings living on a cluster of planets orbiting a star near the center of our galaxy. During childhood and breeding years the Pak have no capacity for abstract thought; instinctually driven by hunger for food and sex. Upon middle age, the Pak's sex organs atrophy to vanishing; their bodies undergo vast changes; their brain cases enlarge and their minds sharpen to extreme bright clarity. However the Pak remain monomaniacal, each elder Pak's interest surging from food and sex to totally ruthless protection of his or hers individual blood line. Hence protectors. The protectors achieve interplanetary flight, first ravaging their home planet and then taking their generational wars to neighboring planets of their star system. Childless Protectors, having no motivation to live, stop eating and die. However some childless Protectors find reason to live by adopting orphaned Pak children. Seeding planets across our Galaxy is high motivation for the childless Pak: to extend the breeding grounds for their adopted Pak; and, not coincidentally for the story, an immense black hole is expanding at the center of our galaxy with certain destruction of the Pak home star system.
The American military establishment is the very last gang I want interacting with an alien intelligence. Imagine sampling a society that relegates their Netanyahus, Cheneys, Boltons, and Clintons to zoo-keepers for the well-being of the universe.
Nail on the head!
No worry, the extra-terrestrials would not interact with any party without that party accepting their terms and preconditions in full. To my knowledge such an offer had one time in the last century been made during the time of Jimmy Carter government. And as you can imagine arrogant fools came with own demands. End of the story. A second offer is unlikely to happen for a very long time.
The War party and military needs new "threats" -- arms industry is immensely profitable for ALL players, including politicians and media. Plus -- the War party needs - distractions from our brutal reality and fear.
Note that astronomers are NOT reporting anything ;-))
That's what I think too. By the way, R or D either way are War Parties. MIC/Pentagon/Congressional Revolving Door is an enormous scam on this nation.
Yes, while spending huge sums of money for SETI, while the answer to that question can be found right here around our home planet.
Two thoughts: 1. We really didn't need yet another acronym; 2. Fear enables a mute populace that's being multiply screwed by its corporate (especially military-industrial) masters. Coming soon: a larger military budget increase for "extra-planetary defense." — the absurdity of which should be obvious when referencing any "alien" technology capable of intergalactic travel. But to the brainwashed militaristic mind, such a course is, unfortunately, not unreasonable.
Thank you for another fine essay. "UFOs are their new Trump" is a great line, narrative destroying insight, and my new bumper sticker.
You likely know that Wernher von Braun (rocket engineer who passed away in 1977) supposedly warned that the powers-that-be had prepared a series of fear/control narratives. After the commie threat would come terrorism, then rogue third world countries, then asteroids. "The alien card is the final card. We are going to have to build space-based weapons against aliens and all of it is a lie."
One point of difference. You said the UFO narrative "doesn't actually threaten real power structures in any way." The narrative may not, but if there is any truth to these accounts, it threatens the energy industry. These "ships" are likely not powered by internal combustion engines or lithium-ion batteries.
What's interesting to me is how the official stand on UFO's were to not only to disregard them, but make excuses for them, which is still carrying on today.
I was one of perhaps a handful of viewing participants who managed to key up a sharp and clear video online, which was taken by a very good video camera, and posted of the day of the O'Hare Airport UFO event in 2006, in which the saucer ascended after hovering over the airport, clearly "punching a hole" into a cloud layer as it disappeared. I replayed that vid over and over thinking this is finally the clear proof of what we are dealing with, and perhaps an indication of how its propulsion system works possibly riding on a column of high pressure which did not allow the cloud moisture to return back around it as it moved up through the cloud?
The whole episode was denied by airport "officials" to this day, and that video was seamlessly removed from the net and never seen again. Who and what power could do that kind of thing and how?
Did you keep your original/copy of it offline?
to my mind, the ruling elite have taken Orwell's book 1984 as their bible, their blueprint for empire
but that's none of my business
our corporate media is the ministry of truth 😏
and if you think we could mount a defense against a civilization that's mastered interstellar travel, you've seen too many Hollywood movies
Agreed it is hubris and plain ignorant. Fantasy
Why are they swarming in 🇺🇸 and nowhere else? Hmmmmmm.
They are doing it elsewhere too. Priority one for them on their exploratory space missions is to spot upcoming potential dangers from primitive civilisations for their home systems. With such a task, on what country on Earth would you focus?
Atenção! Achtung! Attention: In the wake of the 20 year anniversary of 9/11, the US is moving to create another distraction in order to validate its future actions. Last time, this caused big destruction to the world. Keep critical thinking up!
Neil DeGrasse Tyson was on Joe Rogan and soent a lot of time patiently suggesting that we might be the victims of an attempt to manipulate the publics attention... Its painful at times, listening to Tyson allow Rogan to 'debate' science with him, but actually a really great Neil DeGrasse Tyson interview, all around. I even think hes maybe into Zizek a little...
You UFO debunkers have lost.
Scores of U.S. military personnel have come forward with their UFO testimonies.
The three U.S. Navy UFO videos are real, of course. The FLIR video proves that UFOs are real. The UFO escapes after performing a right-angle manoeuvre.
Here are the latest U.S. government UFO documents:
https://www.navair.navy.mil/foia/documents
https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-chances-of-these-UFOs-filling-our-skies-being-responding-aliens-when-you-consider-200-light-years-of-radio-signals-is-like-dropping-a-pebble-in-the-centre-of-the-Pacific-Ocean-and-creating-a-concentric/answer/Grant-Wearing?ch=10&share=9b077e36&srid=ulXsr
Since WWII there have been periodic waves of UFO sightings in the USA, waxing and waning. Many a time, while out walking the cat, I've looked to the skies with fond hope of my close encounter with a friendly orange blob gifting a chocolate eclair pour moi and a kibble for my cat. Alas, not even a Twinkie. Maybe I should build a Devil's Tower in my living room. .
Indeed, they are flushing their own credibility, but as long as a significant portion of the population believes it, "...all is well. And all will be well in the garden." And all the gardeners out there will marvel and say, "I like to watch TV."
"shaming people into silence"
s/shaming/bullying