[remarkEon]

These thought experiments are always a little strange to me. If an alien race has the technology for interstellar travel I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to assume they’d also be able to do whatever they want to observe us (i.e. stay hidden if they like).

I think a much more interesting thought experiment is this: if an alien race chooses to make First Contact with us, what’s the likelihood we’re actually the first for them? Being a student of history, it’s a stretch for me to think they wouldn’t know these sorts of events trigger drastic changes in the native populations (usually resulting in death) when encountering a more developed civilization. So, I’m forced to conclude that if they do make First Contact with us we’re either the first for them and we’re doomed, or we’re not and they have some sufficient protocol for First Contact that’s “good enough” that they benefit in the exchange. Either way I don’t think Humanity makes out well unless we get lucky with some really benevolent explorers.

[Udik]

> Being a student of history, it’s a stretch for me to think they wouldn’t know these sorts of events trigger drastic changes in the native populations

I think we should really stop thinking that space travel is the natural continuation of the geographic explorations and colonizations of our past. It has nothing to do with it- new planets cannot be colonized because they're uninhabitable (Earth included for an alien) and distances are too big to transfer significant amounts of population.

[remarkEon]

I don’t think your last sentence follows. Like I noted if they have the technology for interstellar travel I sincerely doubt they wouldn’t also be able to transfer larger populations across those distances. Even that idea might not make sense in this context. Perhaps they’d store their genetic code and simply grown the colonists upon arrival. For us yes we shouldn’t think of colonizing the solar system like it’s just a new continent, but that’s viewing it in the context of our current technology levels. If we had interstellar travel available suddenly that equation changes considerably.

[7952]

Human life already relies hugely on an artificially created habitat to satisfy basic needs. The trend is to become less coupled to the natural environment that we evolved within. Perhaps that could one day include self supporting habitats beyond the surface of earth. But I do wonder if the focus on planetary surfaces is desirable. If we can survive on the surface of Mars then perhaps space stations/ships could also be self sustaining? If there is enough material outside of big gravity wells then why not?

[emodendroket]

Being accomplished space travelers doesn't necessarily imply a nuanced understanding of psychology