Unsealed has opened me up to all kinds of great documentary content that I had overlooked or forgotten about. Right now I'm watching an episode of Discovery Channel's Curiosity, in which scientists and military strategists try to envision what would really happen if aliens attacked Planet Earth.
Just for fun I was imagining what it'd be like if one morning I wake up as usual, a normal average day. Then I go down stairs, and someone's watching the news, as they often are. And on the news there's a man standing next to a podium, and at the podium itself, there's a grey alien, in flesh and blood. How would I feel, what would I do?
My first thought might be that it's fake. Even the CNN or Fox News banner wouldn't necessarily rule out some sort of spoof, gimmick, or movie clip. After all, in the last 15 years we've seen paranormal-themed cinema verite, found footage and faux-documentaries not just in the movie theater but on learning channels like Animal Planet and The Discovery Channel. Taking the deceit to the 24-hour news networks wouldn't be much of a leap, if they haven't done it already.
So in all seriousness I might at this point be thinking "fucking awesome, the effects on this are GREAT. It looks so real!" But out of due diligence I'm obligated to check other news stations, competing news stations, cable stations, network stations, ABC, CBS, to see if they have the same story.
When I find out that this is broadcast across the board, each network with their own *unique* footage, it becomes clear that this is real. When it becomes clear that this is real, I start screaming uncontrolalbly. Screaming bloody terror and clawing my eyes out. Not screaming for the unbearable implications that an intelligent race that can transverse galaxies will almost certainly eliminate or enslave us as advanced civilizations have always done to simple savages like us, nor screaming for the terrifying fact that if real flesh and blood aliens look just like greys... all those brutal tales of alien abduction are most likely true as well. No, I'd just be screaming because greys are fucking CREEPY.
I've long hoped that during my lifetime we would discover alien life, and make contact with extraterrestrial beings. I don't believe that they've been here, I don't believe in government cover-ups or hidden encounters. But even in the utmost mainstream of science, it's becoming clearer and clearer that life is most likely not a unique occurence. Rare perhaps, or perhaps not. The leading theory is that Mars itself has liquid water and primitive life. If life can strike twice in our mere solar system, most scientists agree that in the grand scheme of the universe, the likelihood of life beyond our own is near-insurmountable.
Intelligence is perhaps a different scenario. We're yet to be clear on quite what has made human beings develop intelligence to begin with. Some scientists speculate that intelligence may not be an evolutionary advantage in the wide scope, compared to a bacteria or fungus which retains no risk of self-inflicted extinction. So could it be that we're the only life? It could. But with the probability that life itself is so prevalent the likelihood of intelligent life somewhere in the vast universe seems like a good bet, to me.
The fun thing about extraterrestrial life is that, it requires no step-ladder for aliens to reach us. We don't have to go to Mars, go past our solar system, terraform other planets in order for intelligent beings to find *us*. It would make it more likely, no doubt, the more presence we have in the universe. But there's nothing stopping intelligent beings from another world from landing on your doorstep five minutes from now.
Yes, an alien race would almost certainly spell our doom. Thus far the progress of civilization has made us less overtly barbaric but no less cruel or destructive in truth, and it has made us even more brutal to lesser beings. Look at how KFC treats their chickens, this is likely the same regard a galaxy-traversing alien species would have for us.
So yes, it's a disturbing notion. But I care little for that... I just want to see an alien being. I want that worldwide fervor when humanity finally knows something beyond our scope exists. Hopefully the actual invasion force would be millenia from reaching us. It's not implausible that a rogue ship, thrown far off course, could end up on our planet without the technology necessary to get home or communicate with his brethren. Something like Roswell or District 9. That way we get to meet an extraterrestrial being, but with no threat in the near future of being enslaved or destroyed.
Ooh and Falling Skies is free on Amazon Prime. Perfect segway from this doc.
No comments:
Post a Comment