# what would you do if ..... \[you learned that an alien invasion was imminent\]? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 1, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427 "2003-08-01T19:55:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joeblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@joeblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joeblack)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/1 "2003-08-01T19:55:55Z")
If whilst watching jerry springer your viewing was interupted by a news flash “Alien invasion iminent, 12 hours before contact”, what would you do ? you have 12hrs to prepare, friendly or hostile is not determined yet … ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/2 "2003-08-01T20:06:44Z")
I suppose I’d start believing in aliens…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/3 "2003-08-01T20:17:32Z")
Put down the bong, I suppose. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![joeblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@joeblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joeblack)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/4 "2003-08-01T20:25:39Z")
just wanna see what different reactions ppl would make, personally i would prepare for the end of the world as we know it, time to crack eachothers skulls open and eat the insides lol 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/5 "2003-08-01T21:51:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by joeblack \* > \*\*just wanna see what different reactions ppl would make, personally i would prepare for the end of the world as we know it, time to crack eachothers skulls open and eat the insides lol 🙂 \*\* Uh… Yeah… … Brains…there what’s for dinner.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/6 "2003-08-01T21:59:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by joeblack \* > just wanna see what different reactions ppl would make … That is commonly referred to as a “poll.” Such opinion gathering is normally done in IMHO. I fail to see what is debatable about this. ---
**Author:** ![joeblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@joeblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joeblack)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/7 "2003-08-01T22:10:55Z")
a poll normally gives you options or choices, this is finding out individuals thoughts on what their actions would be…you would have to give thousands of different options for people to choose if it were to be a poll…also the debating will arise from peoples answer ie: why would you start running away or why would you take the actions you have chose etc etc !!! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/8 "2003-08-01T22:32:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Put down the bong, I suppose. > > Why do you ask? \*\* You should just pass it. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/9 "2003-08-01T23:19:49Z")
Pass it?! Hell, I’d take a bigger toke. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/10 "2003-08-01T23:29:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > \*\*Pass it?! Hell, I’d take a bigger toke. > > 😃 \*\* For some reason I read that as: Pass it, Hell!! _I’d_ take a bigger toke. You should know better than to be watching Springer whilst partaking anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/11 "2003-08-01T23:31:34Z")
Maww! Git mah gun! We got ourselves an alien hunt! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/12 "2003-08-01T23:56:01Z")
I think it would be time to activate the squid-signal; let the ancient ones of the deep face the problem on our behalf. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/13 "2003-08-02T00:39:49Z")
Hail Ants! ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/14 "2003-08-02T02:02:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*That is commonly referred to as a “poll.” Such opinion gathering is normally done in IMHO. I fail to see what is debatable about this. \*\* Hi Mr. Junior Moderator man. :rolleyes: If I knew Aliens were coming in 12 hours, I suppose I would first call my broker and try to sell as much stock as possible. I would watch the market tumble, and then prepare to reinvest after we discover that the aliens are peaceful. Either that, or get out a nice bottle of vino and cook a steak. Either way. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c37758/32.png) [@Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Owes_Bess)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/15 "2003-08-02T04:18:00Z")
I would try keep calm until I was absolutely sure they had no books in their library titled: “How To Serve Man.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/16 "2003-08-02T04:39:26Z")
get the bibles round up, ‘cause in 12 hours there gonna be some aileeeuhns who’ll be a needin’ some learnin bout jesus. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/17 "2003-08-02T05:15:00Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** Edited thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/18 "2003-08-02T05:29:08Z")
Depends, largely, on what KIND of aliens, and the type of invasion. Are we talking the not-too-bright aliens who come here to steal our elements, like iron and water… after having driven past uncounted tons of the stuff, out there in the asteroid belt? How about aliens who are extremely susceptible to horrible corrosive toxic reactions to substances that are extremely common on Earth… like water, or iron? And apparently didn’t notice the sheer ubiquity of the stuff while planning the invasion? Perhaps they’re DNA-based aliens to whom it has never occurred that perhaps getting to know something about the local bacteria and microlife would be a good idea before sampling the local snacks? If they aren’t any brighter than the people who make most science fiction movies, I figure we don’t have much to worry about. I’d just go downstairs and wait with my canned food and shotguns until next Tuesday, by which all the aliens are dead or fleeing, and then come back out and go back to work… ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/19 "2003-08-02T11:19:23Z")
When the aliens come a-knockin’, I’ll be editing my resume and writing a nifty little cover letter about why I want to work for Alpha Centauri Enterprises and what I can bring to the table. It would mention my willingness to travel around 50 or so light-years per month, and my ample knowledge about human baseball, which would so utterly confuse them as to realize that they absolutely need me to be able to do any business here on Sol-3. Benefits would probably include fancy teleporters and ray guns, and I hear the dental is out of this world! ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427/20 "2003-08-02T18:25:06Z")
1. Put on tin-foil hat. 2. Pile bags of fertilizer against doors and windows. 3. Hope the aliens are so stupid, that they’ve come to a planet whose surface is 70% water, even though water kills them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-you-learned-that-an-alien-invasion-was-imminent/192427.md?page=2)