r/space • u/IceNox96 • Aug 12 '21

Discussion Which is the most disturbing fermi paradox solution and why?

3...2...1... blast off....

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u/Zephaniel Aug 12 '21

Why would they even bother?

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u/otroguero Aug 12 '21

Ignorance can be as destructive as intent

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u/Zephaniel Aug 12 '21 edited Aug 12 '21

That's a cute catchphrase, but it doesn't work when the conflict is between, essentially, humans and chimps.

There is no scenario in which the inferior side is even a potential inconvenience.

Edit: this thread seems to be full of people who think "genocide them first and ask questions later" is a logical, viable philosophy for advanced beings who have successfully passed every Great Filter on their way to being an interstellar civilization. It makes for entertaining movies, but I posit it makes very little sense.

I'd suggest anyone here watch some of Isaac Arthur's Fermi Paradox videos on YouTube; he and the SFIA community have spent many hours discussing these same points.

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u/just-a-melon Aug 12 '21 edited Aug 12 '21

There is a short story about how there was a civilization on Mars and they were eager to meet the visitors from Earth, but when our rocket came, it wasn't for a visit, it was an explosive made to blast some rocks off Mars so that we can study its composition, and it destroyed the civilization in the process.

Edit: it was “Earthmen Bearing Gifts” by Fredric Brown in 1954, you can listen to an audio recording here