# Existential Threats **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 5, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existential-threats/932232 "2021-02-05T01:51:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 200
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existential-threats/932232/200 "2021-03-24T23:16:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > We’ve also done the “what if we encounter aliens” (more like “they encounter us”) a lot of times here on the 'Dope. A little searching might pay dividends. I found this. Thanks > [@Science Fiction Debate: Ethics and best practices of contacting other, less-developed civilizations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-fiction-debate-ethics-and-best-practices-of-contacting-other-less-developed-civilizations/843573): > > So I thought I might curate some Great Debates that have nothing to do with current events but are more ethics and science fictional in nature. If it goes well, I have more. Situation: Humanity has achieved faster than light travel. Ships are small but fast so no Star Destroyers or Enterprises. What is our ethical position vis-a-vis discovering new civilizations that have not gotten into their equivalent of low-earth orbit? Do we have an ethical duty to assist an alien civilization into in… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existential-threats/932232)._