If we received a message from aliens should we respond to it?

[Markluzz]

Let's say we receive a signal from outer space that is clearly from an extra-terrestrial being but we cannot interpret it (which would be fairly likely), how should we respond, or should we respond at all?

Discuss.

[time0ut]

No. The message will have taken at least decades to get here and our reply will take at least decades to return and there's no unsend. We should study it for as long as it takes to understand it.

[ComputerNerd]

Given the time it would take for a message transmitted by any traditional means to travel, then the lack of back and forth feedback would make the first reply or first impression very important.
Therefore really we should try to have some understanding before we replied.

[Felya]

Yes! We respond with 'all your base is belong to us'.

[Rucati]

There really wouldn't be much of a point, or any way for us to respond in the first place. It's not like they're going to put a return address on it we can read, how would we even get in contact with them? And even if we did it would take 50+ years for the messages to get back and forth. Or at least for our messages to get to them.

Besides, do we really want aliens to know we exist? If they have the ability to find us and get something here, they're already way ahead as far as technology goes, and if history is any example the weak always get conquered by the strong, would be best for us to avoid that altercation.

[DEATHETERNAL]

They will probably have watched enough I Love Lucy by the time our response reaches them to have figured out whether they want to head our way or not anyway, so I don't think it matters.

[time0ut]

Yes! We respond with 'all your base is belong to us'.

This actually got me thinking...

If the government ever did receive such a message, they would have to keep that shit secret. Imagine if they released it and someone figured out how to reply. Like a crazy cult or rogue government or mad scientist.

Felya says all your base...
aliens say orly?

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They will probably have watched enough I Love Lucy by the time our response reaches them to have figured out whether they want to head our way or not anyway, so I don't think it matters.

Maybe. Depends how far away they are and if they are listening.

[GoldNSilence]

Yes, why not? The world is in crap poor condition as it is, you have a good chance that the aliens will either simply observe, attack, or restore order.

[lawow74]

I doubt it would matter, as I have a nasty suspicion Prof. Hawking would be right, and that any aliens out there able to receive and comprehend our transmissions would quickly come to treat us much as we have traditionally treated indigenous peoples when arriving in unexplored territory, which is to say not well at all.

[Teroseth]

If such a signal did reach us (and possibly has already, google the Wow! Signal) we wouldn't have to respond as such, the odds are likely that our "response" would already be out there as radio waves and the like....still, might not be a bad idea to set up some kind of think tank to craft a message of "hey, other world, we're out here too, don't worry, there's other life in the universe" or whatever...I'd argue the case for responding.

[Aeka]

Murphy's Law says: If we don't answer, It'll be something like a notice that our planet'll be destroyed for a new interstellar hyperway, unless we register a proper protest by way of reply.

And if we do respond, it'll be to a species that finds us to be quite tasty.

[Speaknoevil]

If they're contacting us specifically they knew we're sadistic and primitive, if generalized by the average human.

[obdigore]

Just reply with a single phrase:

"SS or it didn't happen."

[Dirgon]

If they already know we're here (and aren't broadcasting random "HELLO!" messages) then there's no point in *not* replying. They've already receieved radio beams we've transmitted.

If we ever *do* detect a radio wave from another civilization, my assumption is it'll just be radio garbage, like what we're sending out right now.

[belfpala]

Murphy's Law says: If we don't answer, It'll be something like a notice that our planet'll be destroyed for a new interstellar hyperway, unless we register a proper protest by way of reply.

The notice has been on file at Alpha Centauri for decades.

(Hitchhiker's guide ftw).

[belfpala]

Ah, I've read about this topic several times before. Basically specialists in respective fields are saying it would be a bad idea to reply or to send out a message into space in the first place.

Too late. We've been doing it for decades.

[obdigore]

Ah, I've read about this topic several times before. Basically specialists in respective fields are saying it would be a bad idea to reply or to send out a message into space in the first place.

You don't see small animals flashing lights and making a lot of noise to let the bigger animals know where they are at either. For a reason...

Sociologists also point out that more technologically advanced cultures overall have exploitative or aggresive tendencies towards less advanced cultures.

Which respective fields? The same ones that originally thought up and started beaming human information into space? You can only study human cultures. Why are you (and whoever you are reading) assuming a culture from a planet with one less ice age is somehow going to subscribe to human cultures and values?

[Adam Jensen]

Send them a copy of Star Wars and imply that we have a Death Star and Sith Lords.

[belfpala]

Send them a copy of Star Wars and imply that we have a Death Star and Sith Lords.

We did, more or less. Unless I'm wrong that German broadcasts in the 1930's are at the front of our transmission bubble.

[Masark]

If such a signal did reach us (and possibly has already, google the Wow! Signal) we wouldn't have to respond as such, the odds are likely that our "response" would already be out there as radio waves and the like....still, might not be a bad idea to set up some kind of think tank to craft a message of "hey, other world, we're out here too, don't worry, there's other life in the universe" or whatever...I'd argue the case for responding.

1. Actually, you'd be pretty lucky to make any sense out of broadcast transmissions from the edge of the solar system, much less from another solar system. We need this thing to signal to the Voyager probes. That antenna is 70m across. To pick up life-originating interstellar signals, you'd need a dish like a geological feature unless the signal was absurdly powerful and pointed almost straight at us.



Furthermore, we've been getting quieter for quite some time. Our use of radio is becoming increasingly directional and short range and we're running more stuff down physical links.

2. I'd think out first transmission should be something simple and clearly-not-a-natural-phenomenon, like a sequence of prime numbers.