[hacklite]

What difference would it make if there were extraterrestrial life?

How would an advanced Alien intelligence view human beings, who exploit and slaughter intelligent life around them on a daily basis, including other human beings, and helpless animals who they raise under torturous conditions and then dismember while conscious in order to consume them -- needlessly, as our physiology does not require animal products.

Not to mention the warmongering, as the majority of the U.S. public supported war -- as long as it seemed convenient. No anti-war stance on principle for most U.S. citizens, bogglingly, especially after the lessons of Vietnam.

A lack of human rights or environmental laws in the most populous country on Earth.

Widespread environmental destruction, wiping out forests and ecosystems all over the globe.

I don't think Aliens would be too impressed with humanity in general, including SETI researchers who retire to the cafeteria for a nice plate of murdered intelligent being on a daily basis.

[dfranke]

The remarkable thing about humans is that we're even vaguely concerned about environmental destruction. Out of millions of species, we're the only one that is. So what makes you think that extraterrestrial species we encounter are likely to care more than we do?

[garbowza]

It seems that most people aren't concerned with environmental description per se, but rather how that destruction might affect their own lives. So really it's just self preservation and self interest, which isn't much different from other animals.

[nazgulnarsil]

right, but raising another sentient being in terrible conditions just to slaughter and eat it might be considered a universal bad.

say an alien civilization comes along and is as far beyond us as we are beyond cows. I think we'd raise some objections if they started eating us, even though it is logically sound.