# Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 5, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609 "2018-12-05T13:13:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/21 "2018-12-06T20:05:55Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > What’s really disconcerting and frightening is that his first thread (about crushing ants) was in 2014, then he didn’t post again until 2017 when he resurrected his 3 year old thread, and hasn’t posted again until this one in 2018. Maybe he’s contending for the world’s longest whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![UnwittingAmericans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d9b06d/32.png) [@UnwittingAmericans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwittingAmericans)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/22 "2018-12-06T20:54:29Z")
Couldn’t you just act like the real God and just kick back and watch them fuck each other up? ---
**Author:** ![jakeyjake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jakeyjake/32/93_2.png) [@jakeyjake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeyjake)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/23 "2018-12-07T20:28:59Z")
Not fun enough. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/24 "2018-12-07T23:02:03Z")
I’d give them the finger and tell then it means “Peace Among Worlds”. ---
**Author:** ![jakeyjake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jakeyjake/32/93_2.png) [@jakeyjake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeyjake)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/25 "2018-12-08T02:52:08Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > Read the OPs four other posts. His describing the tiny humans a the size of ants and crushing their tiny homes has a direct correlation to how he treats ants in real life. Crushing them just because he can, because they annoy him and since crushing isn’t cruel because it’s instantaneous. Disregarding that crushing something/someone sometimes leads to a major injuries that may take a while to lead to death. > > Ants to larger insects, to small animals to larger animals to humans. A common pattern of those with serious mental issues. Then you may be overthinking it? Honestly I am not sure what to make of your post. What you think are weak points are what I think make us god-like. Being power-hungry and hubristic has helped humanity. In that point, I think our under-evolved, animalistic instincts help us move forward. We humans are animals with dark tendencies. We (or at least most of us guys who are normal) love power. Otherwise we would have never invented the idea of a god. Our civilized society is a thin veneer over these instincts, in my humble (or hubristic) opinion. Many like yourselves are embarrassed by your humanity. But the fact is, underneath our thin veneer of society we still retain those natural qualities. We will always make rude noises and have rude odors, or at least us men do. That’s why many guys like myself proudly fart in front of others. I am a competitive runner too, so my feet pretty much always stink. And the more they stink the more manly I feel. 😃 So keep on stating that I, as a typical dude, have mental issues with no basis except that I step on ants for no other reason than I think it’s funny… Doubt you are much different though, deny it as you might. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/26 "2018-12-08T03:11:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’d give them the finger and tell then it means “Peace Among Worlds”. Bonus points for the _Rick and Morty_ reference. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/27 "2018-12-08T03:35:43Z")
Op is describing extremely psychotic behavior. It isn’t good if you describe yourself acting like a bigger asshole than Bender Bending Rodríguez . > [@Hermitian](#): > > Am I going to be the first to point out that nuclear weapons don’t scale down very well? The smallest nuclear mass (not counting all the explosives and electronics) is like 30 lbs. > > … Why bother using science, Humans don’t scale down very well either. But if it makes you feel better maybe the little people are really good at microbiology and can design a killer biological weapon instead. ---
**Author:** ![jakeyjake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jakeyjake/32/93_2.png) [@jakeyjake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeyjake)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/28 "2018-12-08T03:47:21Z")
So, without getting in TOO much detail, I am a healthcare professional who works in direct patient care. I am well familiarized with medical jargon. Psychosis describes behavior out of touch with reality. Doesn’t describe my statements, nor does it describe this thread which is ultimately just a thought experiment. Avoid throwing around words if you don’t know what they mean. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/29 "2018-12-08T03:51:09Z")
> [@jakeyjake](#): > > So, without getting in TOO much detail, I am a healthcare professional who works in direct patient care. I am well familiarized with medical jargon. Psychosis describes behavior out of touch with reality. Doesn’t describe my statements, nor does it describe this thread which is ultimately just a thought experiment. Avoid throwing around words if you don’t know what they mean. 🙂 In the vernacular of the non-medical community, you are self-describing yourself as a mass murdering pyscho. That is odd and scary. ---
**Author:** ![jakeyjake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jakeyjake/32/93_2.png) [@jakeyjake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeyjake)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/30 "2018-12-08T04:18:33Z")
Not sure how, but okay. I’d only be a murderer if I actually came to kill people, which I’ve never done. And only would be a psycho if I came to feel no remorse or empathy after hurting others, which has also never taken place. I’m telling you nothing more than hypothetical thoughts in this thread. I’m telling you my actions as they pertain to reality. Do you believe that thoughts predominantly define a person? Or actions? I’ll admit I have desires that if brought to reality would make me a tyrant; I’d love every second of bullying a race of flea-sized people who couldn’t do anything to stop me. Call me sleazy but I’ll be honest; I’d fiendishly command their laborers to rake up my toejam just to remind them who’s top dog. At the same time, I can unequivocally say that my actions in REAL LIFE are pure in the eyes of most well adjusted people. Do you believe thoughts define us? Or actions? I’ve always thought actions speak louder than words (or thoughts). ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/31 "2018-12-08T04:51:45Z")
This excerpt from an article from [webmd.com](http://webmd.com) [https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/sociopath-psychopath-difference#1](https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/sociopath-psychopath-difference#1) describes the OP well: "Sociopath vs. Psychopath: What’s the Difference? By Kara Mayer Robinson FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES "You may have heard people call someone else a “psychopath” or a “sociopath.” But what do those words really mean? You won’t find the definitions in mental health’s official handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Doctors don’t officially diagnose people as psychopaths or sociopaths. They use a different term instead: antisocial personality disorder. Most experts believe psychopaths and sociopaths share a similar set of traits. People like this have a poor inner sense of right and wrong. They also can’t seem to understand or share another person’s feelings. But there are some differences, too. A key difference between a psychopath and a sociopath is whether he has a conscience, the little voice inside that lets us know when we’re doing something wrong, says L. Michael Tompkins, EdD. He’s a psychologist at the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center. A psychopath doesn’t have a conscience. If he lies to you so he can steal your money, he won’t feel any moral qualms, though he may pretend to. He may observe others and then act the way they do so he’s not “found out,” Tompkins says. A sociopath typically has a conscience, but it’s weak. He may know that taking your money is wrong, and he might feel some guilt or remorse, but that won’t stop his behavior. Both lack empathy, the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes and understand how they feel. But a psychopath has less regard for others, says Aaron Kipnis, PhD, author of The Midas Complex. Someone with this personality type sees others as objects he can use for his own benefit." BTW, I consider expression of thoughts through a forum as actions. Anyway, I’m out. This thread seriously frightens and disturbs me. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/32 "2018-12-08T04:59:47Z")
Above all else, a God needs compassion. ---
**Author:** ![jakeyjake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jakeyjake/32/93_2.png) [@jakeyjake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeyjake)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/33 "2018-12-08T05:32:11Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > This excerpt from an article from [webmd.com](http://webmd.com) [https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/sociopath-psychopath-difference#1](https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/sociopath-psychopath-difference#1) describes the OP well: > > "Sociopath vs. Psychopath: What’s the Difference? > By Kara Mayer Robinson > FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES > > "You may have heard people call someone else a “psychopath” or a “sociopath.” But what do those words really mean? > > You won’t find the definitions in mental health’s official handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Doctors don’t officially diagnose people as psychopaths or sociopaths. They use a different term instead: antisocial personality disorder. > > Most experts believe psychopaths and sociopaths share a similar set of traits. People like this have a poor inner sense of right and wrong. They also can’t seem to understand or share another person’s feelings. But there are some differences, too. > > A key difference between a psychopath and a sociopath is whether he has a conscience, the little voice inside that lets us know when we’re doing something wrong, says L. Michael Tompkins, EdD. He’s a psychologist at the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center. > > A psychopath doesn’t have a conscience. If he lies to you so he can steal your money, he won’t feel any moral qualms, though he may pretend to. He may observe others and then act the way they do so he’s not “found out,” Tompkins says. > > A sociopath typically has a conscience, but it’s weak. He may know that taking your money is wrong, and he might feel some guilt or remorse, but that won’t stop his behavior. > > Both lack empathy, the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes and understand how they feel. But a psychopath has less regard for others, says Aaron Kipnis, PhD, author of The Midas Complex. Someone with this personality type sees others as objects he can use for his own benefit." > > BTW, I consider expression of thoughts through a forum as actions. > > Anyway, I’m out. This thread seriously frightens and disturbs me. Uhm, okay. Get some help, soon. ---
**Author:** ![jakeyjake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jakeyjake/32/93_2.png) [@jakeyjake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeyjake)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/34 "2018-12-08T05:34:43Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Above all else, a God needs compassion. Disagree. A God just needs power. In the old testament, God’s compassion was basically nil. He was vengeful, angry, and sanctioned violence. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-how-would-you-act-if-given-absolute-power-over-an-alien-civilization/825609/35 "2020-10-14T22:43:03Z")
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