I always wonder about the authors who think humans would be aggressive
compared to other alien species... How many other species have they met? In
human history at least, aggression and greed tend to be linked with large
scale journeys of discovery and conquest. So you can know what kind of aliens
would be travelling out there. Humans might be viewed as silly naive beings
who think aggression and greed are bad things...
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Even the engineers are not *this* depraved. This must be the work of the Med.
students.
- A friend of mine
On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 16:33:22 -0600 (MDT), Chen-Song Qin
<cqin@ee.ualberta.ca> wrote:
> I always wonder about the authors who think humans would be aggressive
Several million, actually. Most fall into one (or both) of two camps:
1) procreate enough so that they can afford to lose an acceptable number of
the herd/pack/hive/whatever;
2) eat #1.
However, you have to understand that science fiction is rarely, if ever, about
what WILL happen. It's usually (at least since the mid 60s) used as a
metaphor. Considering that our war waging abilities have put us on the brink
of annihilation, and that our greed may very well denude the planet, it's a
little early to be saying that we've got the right stuff to get to space.
I think that's where those authors are coming from, that our way of warfare
over co-operation is likely to kill us off rather than make us stronger.
On the other hand, every species on the planet is food or eats other species.
I doubt if it's MUCH different on other planets. A species adept at killing
for survival's sake might make out like a bandit in space. And there have been
plenty of books on that subject, too.
I can see intelligent herbivore species that fight by leaving "scorched earth"
planets behind them as they run from an enemy. It's an interesting thought, if
not a very good one for a space combat wargame.
> So you can know what kind
Yep. Or so dangerous and unpredictable that nuking the Earth from orbit is the
only way to be sure... Look at the Aliens movies for instance. As nasty as
that critter is (could you imagine what must have to EAT that thing in order
for the population to balance out?), it was humans that wanted to cultivate
it... What's more dangerous?
> Chen-Song Qin wrote:
Neat idea, but would they use submarines in space...:)
(Actually, the Imperials in SALVAGE AND DESTROY were pretty aggressive
themselves, they just didn't want any major competition.)