John Doe
Wants To Speak To His Lawyer
A thought experiment, for your consideration and discussion.
Firstly, let us suppose that our modern experience as 'technical humanity' is not original, and that our species has - perhaps more than once - exceeded our current 'state', especially if we acknowledge the abundance of past time as a resource, the consistent predicates of human nature as a patterning influence, and the destructive influence of Earth's dynamic surface upon historical artefacts.
Secondly, let us suppose that the human or humanoid appearance of reported entities associated with UFOs is consistent because the reports have some basis in fact. Note that we actually see very little in the way of occupant-reports which are, truly, 'alien'. Instead we seem to see bilaterally symmetrical, bipedal, binocular figures that differ from humans more by way of their ratios, size, texture, colour, etc. than their fundamental characteristics.
By intersecting these two suppositions, a question.
If at some point in human history, our supposed distant, technical ancestors developed the desire and capability to leave their planetary cradle (i.e. they noticed that a vast universe seemed to be waiting for them) how might they choose to eventually return?
Some further suppositions, and questions.
Suppose that - though these supposed ancestors found life to be abundant throughout our quadrant of the galaxy - it was typically no more complex than multi-cellular life; mosses, lichen, fungi, or simple animals. Perhaps no identifiably sentient species, or technical civilisations. Perhaps the closest they uncovered were archaeological traces from the deep past which seemed to consistently suggest that civilisations are - frankly - anomalous, temporary, and have a taste for dramatic endings.
Suppose that Earth had changed radically during their long absence. Perhaps those that remained were tossed back into the stone-age by catastrophe, or cultural degeneration, or a combination of the two.
Suppose - after millennia had passed for us on Earth - our cousins began to return, perhaps somewhat crestfallen. If they were to travel at relativistic speeds (as seems necessary, at the very least) we should expect the time-slowing effects associated with that mode of travel to make their rate of cultural change slower, also. They might also choose to sleep between the stars.
Would it be wrong to claim that humanity had split in two when those that decided to leave did so, and left behind those who chose to 'stay home'?
What would such a returning branch of humanity - aware of both the astonishing significance of sentience, and (ironically) the risks involved in the expression of sentience upon ecosystems, for example - be willing to do, and not do, as they decide upon their options?
Why type of plans might logically be mooted? Or implemented?
What might their attitudes towards us be? And (if revealed) vice versa?
How might regional authorities (e.g. defence establishments associated with nation states) decide to handle information relating to such 'visitors'?
If they chose to communicate, how might that be achieved, who would they contact, and what might they say?
What rules or laws might they develop to handle such contacts?
How might they understand - or fail to understand - their stay-behind cousins?
What if such returnees were balkanised in their form, strategies and tactics?
What types of UFO reports become less puzzling if the 'alien' of UFOlogy is redrafted as a 'cousin' who has travelled far, seen much, and is now wondering how to reconnect with the family it left behind? Or if such a reconnection is possible?
What might they be willing to take for granted?
What analogous, recorded historical cases might we look to in order to better appreciate a returning-diaspora scenario?
Firstly, let us suppose that our modern experience as 'technical humanity' is not original, and that our species has - perhaps more than once - exceeded our current 'state', especially if we acknowledge the abundance of past time as a resource, the consistent predicates of human nature as a patterning influence, and the destructive influence of Earth's dynamic surface upon historical artefacts.
Secondly, let us suppose that the human or humanoid appearance of reported entities associated with UFOs is consistent because the reports have some basis in fact. Note that we actually see very little in the way of occupant-reports which are, truly, 'alien'. Instead we seem to see bilaterally symmetrical, bipedal, binocular figures that differ from humans more by way of their ratios, size, texture, colour, etc. than their fundamental characteristics.
By intersecting these two suppositions, a question.
If at some point in human history, our supposed distant, technical ancestors developed the desire and capability to leave their planetary cradle (i.e. they noticed that a vast universe seemed to be waiting for them) how might they choose to eventually return?
Some further suppositions, and questions.
Suppose that - though these supposed ancestors found life to be abundant throughout our quadrant of the galaxy - it was typically no more complex than multi-cellular life; mosses, lichen, fungi, or simple animals. Perhaps no identifiably sentient species, or technical civilisations. Perhaps the closest they uncovered were archaeological traces from the deep past which seemed to consistently suggest that civilisations are - frankly - anomalous, temporary, and have a taste for dramatic endings.
Suppose that Earth had changed radically during their long absence. Perhaps those that remained were tossed back into the stone-age by catastrophe, or cultural degeneration, or a combination of the two.
Suppose - after millennia had passed for us on Earth - our cousins began to return, perhaps somewhat crestfallen. If they were to travel at relativistic speeds (as seems necessary, at the very least) we should expect the time-slowing effects associated with that mode of travel to make their rate of cultural change slower, also. They might also choose to sleep between the stars.
Would it be wrong to claim that humanity had split in two when those that decided to leave did so, and left behind those who chose to 'stay home'?
What would such a returning branch of humanity - aware of both the astonishing significance of sentience, and (ironically) the risks involved in the expression of sentience upon ecosystems, for example - be willing to do, and not do, as they decide upon their options?
Why type of plans might logically be mooted? Or implemented?
What might their attitudes towards us be? And (if revealed) vice versa?
How might regional authorities (e.g. defence establishments associated with nation states) decide to handle information relating to such 'visitors'?
If they chose to communicate, how might that be achieved, who would they contact, and what might they say?
What rules or laws might they develop to handle such contacts?
How might they understand - or fail to understand - their stay-behind cousins?
What if such returnees were balkanised in their form, strategies and tactics?
What types of UFO reports become less puzzling if the 'alien' of UFOlogy is redrafted as a 'cousin' who has travelled far, seen much, and is now wondering how to reconnect with the family it left behind? Or if such a reconnection is possible?
What might they be willing to take for granted?
What analogous, recorded historical cases might we look to in order to better appreciate a returning-diaspora scenario?