If extraterrestrials ever landed on Earth and a representative had to be picked to represent all the people of planet Earth and all the nations of planet Earth who should it be and why?
The president of the United States, because we’re in charge politically, economically, militarily, and culturally.
Will “Welcome to Earth!” Smith.
Ron Jeremy because we need someone who will, um, “impress” our visitors.
Well personally I would pick President Putin of Russia over him but tbh I would avoid politicians all together.
Probably the Secretary General of the UN, actually. Not that he has particularly more power than the President of the US, but he can at least claim some authority. But the reality is we don’t have a single representative and wouldn’t claim to have one.
I would say also that if aliens landed and wanted to speak to who is in charge they should be referred to Washington, Brussels, Moscow and Beijing since those are the 4 capitals that matter.
I will.
The whales.
Actually, this is a semi-serious question, since SETI scientists are currently debating whether we should deliberately try to contact ETs. Is it up to scientists? Up to their government? Should we poll everyone on Earth? What about uncontacted tribes? Should we ask them what they think?
It would be more courteous and professional of us to assemble those executives in a body in one place. The Sec Gen can be the front man.
UNIT, obviously.
And then they will need representatives from the chimps, the dolphins, the termites (not ants), the sentient squid who we haven’t discovered yet, and all the elves in hiding.
It’s up to the scientists and their funding resources, with some regulatory oversight by the government.
As this would probably be an exercise in free speech, the government (U.S.) would be very hard put to forbid it or prevent it.
So…if some Mad Scientist Johnny can get the financial backing, he not only is permitted to send signals to space in hopes of contacting aliens…he can say pretty much anything he wants. It doesn’t have to be friendly! (“Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft.”) He can broadcast, “Hey, muckheads! We got nukes! Ya wanna piece of us? Ptui on youi!”
And it doesn’t have to be a scientist. Anybody can (within FCC regulations) broadcast a signal. Ham Radio fans (who don’t like being called Ham Radio fans, apparently) send signals of non-trivial power, which passing alien craft could hear, if not quite as easily as the big broadcasters.
Wouldn’t they want to talk to the people who really run the planet?
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18220861#post18220861
You couldn’t get them to sit down at the same table to begin with.
And then the aliens will ask where the passenger pigeons’ representative is and there’ll be an awkward silence.
You might be right
Silly – the dolphins. They owe us for all the lovely fish.
The reality is no-one can speak for the Earth which is one of the things that make a visit of that type a little frightening.
If there are any elves left alive, it is not my fault, and I will correct the matter at first opportunity.
But then who will make my cookies??? 