# How would the world react if we found conclusive proof of extraterrestrial intelligence? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 6, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199 "2010-06-06T21:21:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/21 "2010-06-07T15:02:18Z")
I’d try to get them to sign a representation contract. They’ll be getting calls from all the networks and major studios. They’d probably settle for taking a piece of the net. Then I’d try to get options for Tom Cruise and Sandra Bullock to play the lead alien couple. Maybe that Bieber kid to play their son, and Megan Fox as the young crusading reporter who falls in love with him. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/22 "2010-06-07T15:25:32Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > …if there was such alien sentient being, Jesus would have appeared there too, in some form or another, to redeem them… Also King Arthur. (Surely someone else remembers the end of _Camelot 3000_). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/23 "2010-06-07T15:27:40Z")
It would definitely boost the space program – partly out of renewed scientific curiosity, but also out of (not completely irrational) fear. "We need a human presence in space! If the ETs find us, we need to be **ready!"** ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/24 "2010-06-07T15:29:52Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > The Roman Catholic Church, mainstream Protestant Churches, probably Eastern Orthodoxy, and even many Evangelical/Fund’ist Churches would have no problem. > However, many other Evan/Fund would indeed be condemning- esp. the Young Earthers who also tend to believe only Earth contains sentient life. The Latter-day Saints’ Church would have no problem… inhabited worlds is mentioned in their Scriptures somewhere. > > Now, responses among the adherents of every group would vary widely. The Hindus, at least, would have no problem at all; a multiplicity of worlds is part of their mythology. Likewise, the Buddhists, who historically neither endorse nor contradict Hindu mythology. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/25 "2010-06-07T15:32:45Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > A lot of flying saucer CT folks would be nodding their heads … > > Some people and even formal (or informal) religions would probably go a bit nuts, deny stuff, make it all a CT or whatever … **xtisme** , what does “CT” mean in this post? “Creation theory”? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/26 "2010-06-07T15:35:20Z")
Conclusive proof of extraterrestrial intelligence would be followed in short order by a Republican demand for “school choice” to be expanded to Alpha Centauri. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/27 "2010-06-07T15:37:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, a truthful response. The fact of the matter is that there’s no reason to think that there’s anything all that profound about UFOs. Of course there is, if the UFOs are ET spacecraft visiting Earth; because the existence of such does not only imply ET intelligent lifeforms, it implies the possibility of technology capable of interstellar travel. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/28 "2010-06-07T15:38:38Z")
The only way I could see it being covered up is if the initial intelligence came to the a military group, or to a dictatorial power, in which there is a very strong top down structure. These sorts of discoveries tend to happen slowly, so that first there is some initial observation of an anomaly, which is published in a Journal or press release, and only later would it become clear that it is true proof of extra-terrestrial intelligence. By that time the cat is so far out of the bag, that it can’t be kept in any longer. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/29 "2010-06-07T16:04:50Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] xtisme, what does “CT” mean in this post? “Creation theory”? [/QUOTE] Sorry about that. It means ‘Conspiracy Theory’, sort of what ivan astikov is pushing in this thread. Basically the position that we already have conclusive ‘proof’ that there are extraterrestrial aliens, and that the Government™ is covering it up. I don’t want to hijack the thread anymore than Der Trihs did, but the notion is pretty ridiculous for a variety of different reasons, and it’s not what the OP wants to talk about in any case. This won’t stop ivan from continuing to TRY and hijack the thread in the direction he wants it to go, sadly. -XT ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/30 "2010-06-07T16:19:13Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, a truthful response. The fact of the matter is that there’s no reason to think that there’s anything all that profound about UFOs. The idea of a government conspiracy is ridiculous - what’s it supposed to hide? Aliens? Hah. As if you’d get the governments of the world to all cooperate on hiding something. As if the government was even all that good at keeping secrets. > > If you want to criticize the government, there are plenty of real evils and screwups to be laid at its collective feet; no need to make any up. But if the governments are good at keeping secrets ,how would we know? They are pretty tricky. What if every congressman and senator is given a UFO briefing when they get elected?,(except Bachmann, that would be silly). ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/31 "2010-06-07T16:33:14Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Sorry about that. It means ‘Conspiracy Theory’, sort of what ivan astikov is pushing in this thread. Basically the position that we already have conclusive ‘proof’ that there are extraterrestrial aliens, and that the Government™ is covering it up. I don’t want to hijack the thread anymore than Der Trihs did, but the notion is pretty ridiculous for a variety of different reasons, and it’s not what the OP wants to talk about in any case. This won’t stop ivan from continuing to TRY and hijack the thread in the direction he wants it to go, sadly. > > -XT How much more relevant to the OP’s title and subject matter can I be? I’ve given you a link to the nearest thing we have to an unofficial authority on this subject, and its relationship to shady military and intelligence agency goings on, and all you can pipe up with is “Conspiracy Theory! Conspiracy Theory!” like an annoying parrot. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/32 "2010-06-07T16:42:03Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Like everywhere else, America also has its topics that are too sensitive to discuss openly without distressing some powerful interest. **What** powerful interest would be distressed by evidence of UFOs (defining “UFOs” as “ET spacecraft visiting Earth”)? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/33 "2010-06-07T16:47:54Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > **What** powerful interest would be distressed by evidence of UFOs (defining “UFOs” as “ET spacecraft visiting Earth”)? The interest’s of having a modicum of control over the planet’s populace, and the appearance of governments and military groups of knowing what they are doing. That important enough for you? Did you read the summary of his work I linked to upthread? It gives a bit more of a detailed explanation. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/34 "2010-06-07T16:51:22Z")
[QUOTE=ivan astikov] How much more relevant to the OP’s title and subject matter can I be? [/QUOTE] Perhaps if you actually READ the OP it would be clear? The OP doesn’t want to talk about your loony CT’s concerning alien visitations. So, continuing to try and discuss them is hijacking the thread. If you want to make your reply to the OP in the context of ‘well, the Governments already know all this, but if it came out to the general public I think it would have this effect…’, then that wouldn’t be hijacking the thread. > [@](#): > > I’ve given you a link to the nearest thing we have to an unofficial authority on this subject, and its relationship to shady military and intelligence agency goings on, and all you can pipe up with is “Conspiracy Theory! Conspiracy Theory!” like an annoying parrot. You link is BULLSHIT, and it has nothing to do with the subject of THIS thread. If you want to discuss your loony theories on the subject then start another thread and I’ll be happy to make you look foolish on the subject. In fact, it would be my pleasure to do so, as it’s been my pleasure to do so in the various 9/11 CT threads. But you are hijacking THIS thread, and that sucks, given that it’s an interesting subject. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/35 "2010-06-07T16:58:47Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > But if the governments are good at keeping secrets ,how would we know? They are pretty tricky. What if every congressman and senator is given a UFO briefing when they get elected?,(except Bachmann, that would be silly). Bachman would be the one giving the UFO briefing to the rest. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/36 "2010-06-07T17:00:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The Hindus, at least, would have no problem at all; a multiplicity of worlds is part of their mythology. Likewise, the Buddhists, who historically neither endorse nor contradict Hindu mythology. At least some in Islam also- A Louisville Ky radio station has a news discussion program with area clergy. In a week some UFO reports were in the news, all the clergymen chuckled about it except for the imam- he very excitedly started talking about the djinn possibly being involved. Alas, I had to go to work so I didn’t get to hear the rest of the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/37 "2010-06-07T17:14:18Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > \< snips opinionated bollocks \> > -XT [Here ya go!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12545936&posted=1#post12545936) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/38 "2010-06-07T17:44:12Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Conclusive proof of extraterrestrial intelligence would be followed in short order by a Republican demand for “school choice” to be expanded to Alpha Centauri. Hey, that looks fun! Can I play? Conclusive proof of extraterrestrial intelligence would be followed in short order by Democrats sending those oh so diligent and throughly reputable ACORN workers to register them all to vote. As Democrats. Any that indicated any interest in voting Republican would have their registration mysteriously lost. WHEEEEEEEEEE! Gratuitous cheap shots at opposing political parties are fun! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/39 "2010-06-07T18:00:43Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > > [@xtisme](#): > > > > \< snips opinionated bollocks \> **ivan astikov** , if you’re going to shorten someone else’s post, please do it without adding any snide comments. You’re taking this thread off-topic. If you want to have a discussion about whether or not aliens have already visited earth you should start a separate thread. **Jackmanii** , **Oakminster** and anyone else: partisan politics don’t belong in this thread, so this hijack is over. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199/40 "2010-06-07T18:16:02Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > The interest’s of having a modicum of control over the planet’s populace, and the appearance of governments and military groups of knowing what they are doing. That important enough for you? Definitely not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-world-react-if-we-found-conclusive-proof-of-extraterrestrial-intelligence/542199.md?page=3)