An interesting philosophical/ethical question

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Originally posted by K T Ong: Just keep one thing in mind: the next generation doesn't even exist yet.

and *wont* be if u accept these aliens propsal (for the sake f arugment)

Originally posted by K T Ong: a perfectly painless and comfortable life for everyone -- and extinction?

I say give in,
The human race was never meant to last forever,
And on what better note to end it (given our shameful record) than on that.

Although it depends what they want to do with the planet, if they were just going to abuse and use it like we have, then we would be placed in a catch 22.

[Neb]

I'd say, those who wanted to fight would be allowed to fight, the rest would take refuge somewhere till the battle was over and then be allowed back on the Earth. Personally I'd give fighting a shot, we might actually win. Especially if we allowed ourselves to use nuclear and biological weapons.

Though miracle victories and winning against all odds are MAINLY for the movies, it CAN happen in real life.

[The Hunter of Jahanna]

My first thought was that I would fight them. But then I had a better thought. Why don't we let the Americans fight them and see how they get on.

Now your talking!!! Leave all the fighting to a nation of hot headed murderers. I would lead the aliens up around central park north after dark and laugh till I peed as the got mugged and kiled by NYC street gangs.

[/)eathKiller]

It's better to go out like a LION than a LAMB! Besides, we don't need to be able to fertilize eachother to reproduce, that's what Testube babies are for! If we accepted the first choice we would orchestrate and underground movement where we would secretly reproduce sterile versions of ourselves and then continue living until they waste all of their recources just trying to keep us at bay, and that's when we use the most powerfull weapon we have: The Human Will to Survive! Nothing can surpass it, and no snoody superior race can deny it. With power comes some loss you know. They wouldn't stand a chance against us. Until the last man went down fighting we WOULD NOT stop! And as for slavery, HAH! that's a good one! If we kill just ONE of their kind, that's an accomplishment!

[Legolas]

It's not all that hard, really. Most of us are human (note the 'most' ). Humankind will always try to survive.

That aside, you don't know a thing about your chances against the aliens. They could be anything from six foot tall sticklike insects who only figured out how to fly through space, bluff a litte and remove other creature's organs, to muscular, overly armed humanoids with impenetrable forcefield technlogy and whatever else.
Maybe there's a hivemind, maybe they are all intellignet. Too much speculation.
But, even assuming the aliens are the well equipped type, the moral thing for humans to do is to fight. The results will probably be a short but brutal massacre and a planet where the alien life is no longer possible. Maybe even a few dead aliens. What'll happen after that is that mankind is gone, and the aliens move on, maybe less in number but certainly not more.
If there's no fight, mankind will have a few more years before it's gone, the agressor stays on the planet a while and then moves off stronger than ever to plague another race.
And I don't think those last years will be too enjoyable either. Knowing aliens are after your world and have already treated you isn't pleasant, there's no guarantee they don't come down to kill you anyway for the fun of it, there's no future and, as a result, there'll soon be no laws. What these aliens promise had better be real good, or those final years won't be very happy at all.

Also, I don't believe the aliens have a right to deny my potential children life. If I had to make a choice between the life of a stranger coming with lethal intent and the life of my child, that wouldn't really be a choice, now would it? The situation the ETs put you in make that you don't have a lot to lose. If you've nothing to lose but everything to gain, that's all the more reason to fight.

[K T Ong]

Originally posted by Dramnek_Ulk: I say give in, The human race was never meant to last forever, And on what better note to end it (given our shameful record) than on that.

That makes three (the other two being Melusine and me)!

[K T Ong]

Originally posted by /)eathKiller: It's better to go out like a LION than a LAMB! Besides, we don't need to be able to fertilize eachother to reproduce, that's what Testube babies are for! If we accepted the first choice we would orchestrate and underground movement where we would secretly reproduce sterile versions of ourselves and then continue living until they waste all of their recources just trying to keep us at bay, and that's when we use the most powerfull weapon we have: The Human Will to Survive! Nothing can surpass it, and no snoody superior race can deny it. With power comes some loss you know. They wouldn't stand a chance against us. Until the last man went down fighting we WOULD NOT stop! And as for slavery, HAH! that's a good one! If we kill just ONE of their kind, that's an accomplishment!

Might be a good idea, actually -- find a secret way to continue reproducing ourselves. And if the aliens are true to their word, they'll have to keep on burning their resources to keep us all happy and comfortable, until they're drained dry of their resources (read: defenceless). Then we'll do'em in!!

Only trouble is, this assumes we will still be able to reproduce, even in unusual ways...

[caleb]

Originally posted by Donut: My first thought was that I would fight them. But then I had a better thought. Why don't we let the Americans fight them and see how they get on.

I dont know donut it IS a entire race after all. I think China and Russia would have to at least lend a helping hand

[Donut]

I've got another hypothetical question for you. Suppose Hitler had give the same option in the 1930's to the Jews. Should they accept it? Or should they fight? Hitler would have accepted sterilisation of the Jews. Should the Jews have just given up?

"It is better to die on your feet than to live a lifetime on your knees"

[ 06-28-2002, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: Donut ]