 January 12, 2011 - 7:57am | My January topic of discussion. Picture if you would....Earth year 2011, with everything that is going on today, when one late night, the communications officer at the Arecebo Observatory recieves a long signal pulse that could not be background noise from the universe. After several months of of studying these strange intermittent signals a team of scientists, and linguists determine that it is in reality a friendship message made using data from the voyager probe from a race calling itself the Vrusk. The question is what would happen if the core 4 were to meet in a reality based on present day? "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
 January 12, 2011 - 8:26am | They'd nuke us and use our bones as picks to clean their carapaces. |
 January 12, 2011 - 8:48am | Orkin, Jane Goodall, and Jillian Michaels would be our ambassadors to the Vrusk, Yazirians and Dralasites, respectively. You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley |
January 12, 2011 - 10:35am | It would firstly throw religion into a tailspin, what with the concept of man being the center of the universe being thrown out the window. As for the governments of earth, would they try to exploit the other races? And what would the other races think of humankind? would they try to elevate us, or blockade our star system until we reached a certain level of maturity as a species? Would they try to exploit humanity? "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
January 12, 2011 - 11:24am | IMHO, the Vrusk would hate all but the Chinese and Japanese due to lack of order and organization. Yazirians would have a ball in the anarchy, and the Dralasites would love the washed-up comics in Vegas. I bet they'd even find Conan funny. If only the Yaz found us, there'd likely be some slavery involved. I've always pictured them as a bit exploitative in their clan structures. I wouldn't be surprised to find in their literature that they enslaved the clans that were defeated. We'd be easy pickin's. You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley |
 January 12, 2011 - 12:58pm | It would firstly throw religion into a tailspin, what with the concept of man being the center of the universe being thrown out the window. Not all religions. And for those that it does disrupt don't discount how rapidly they would adjust. Polytheism is not just a historical subject. Look to the East. If in 2011.... The current world political power balance would shift. If you didn't have the national ability to invest in space exploration your nation's voice would be drown out. The space race would re-ignite with China as a major player. Private corporations would for the first time have a strong profit motive for investing in space exploration. Where there are people/beings, there are new markets. -iggy |
 January 12, 2011 - 3:34pm | I'm sorry but the aforementioned events could not occur because WOTC did not release the IP for Vrusk, Dralasite, And Yazarian and thus there sudden apperance on planet Earth would be result in swift lawsuits and injunctions to ruin the fun. So unless they changed their race names they would have to pay WOTC royalties for their use. Of course irritating our visitors to the point that they decided to nuke the site from orbit, after all it is the only way to be sure, and then using our bones to pick their carapaces. |
 January 12, 2011 - 4:59pm | It would firstly throw religion into a tailspin, what with the concept of man being the center of the universe being thrown out the window. Why? After we trick them into landing, kill them all, reverse engineer their stuff and start our own Terran Empire, we'll just say God/Allah/Whomever made those nasty bugs come down here so as to give The Chosen Few all their stuff, so that They may take their rightful place as Masters of Creation. Religion is nothing, if not adaptable. It is, after all, a political creature. As for the governments of earth, would they try to exploit the other races? And what would the other races think of humankind? would they try to elevate us, or blockade our star system until we reached a certain level of maturity as a species? Would they try to exploit humanity? We would definitely try to exploit them, and they would try to exploit us. After we were both through exploiting each other, then comes war to the death. Cynical, but.... " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |
 January 12, 2011 - 6:30pm | Having study theology, multiple theologies of various world religions on a superficial level, and Judaism and Islam on a more than superficial level and Chrisitian theology on a much deeper level; I'm not aware any religion that would end up in a tailspin unless there is a tribe of animists in the South Pacific that view themselves as the center of the universe. Frankly there is no explicit statement in the Bible that states man is the center of the universe. As to vrusk arriving, I think if the arrived in orbit they'd be interested in examining our space junk and approaching the international space station (perhaps where first contact, of the third kind, would occur) dralasites would be a sensation, doing leno and letterman and vegas. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 January 13, 2011 - 5:34am | Wrong all wrong. First there would not be a united Earth effort. The nations which made contact and translated the signal would try and establish contact and negotiate with the Vrusk. This would go on for a while until a meeting could be arranged. Of course various Vrusk trade houses would align themselves with different Earth nations and massive trading would begin. Once the news leaked about the Vrusk (I am thinking Wikileaks) there would be massive cultural upheveal. Nations like the US, Europe (their one nation stop acting like they aren't), Russia, and some some African and South American would be shocked and then get excited. Others would go into shock and attack the "Demons the Great Satan has brought to Earth from Hell." Others would be thrown into a state of "what do we do now?" But get over it quickly enough. Soon a New World Order emerges with those nations which adapt and accept become the Haves and those that don't becoming the have nots. Wars and terrorism continue but the Have nations are able to exploit space based weapons and detection devices better and end them much more quickly until terrorists figure new ways to attack. Since the Vrusk technology is not as advanced as we thought we start tinkering with it and soon surpass the Vrusk in some areas where they then begin more trade and our economic and political empire begin to emerge. Then we go out together and find the Yazirians and Dralasites and our real friends the Sathar. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
January 13, 2011 - 5:56am | No, the bible doesn't mention that any religion is the center of the universe, but, many think that. They all think that they're the magic 144,000 that are going to be taken to Heaven by "The Rapture". (Even though they all have MILLIONS of followers.) Now, there are BILLIONS/TRILLIONS more living beings, which are going to skew their numbers. I'd foresee ALOT more religions becoming as fanatic as the Muslims, and going on terror campaigns to reduce that ratio. You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley |
January 13, 2011 - 10:45am | On an aside and lighter note...I think the Yazirians would be insulted when they discovered the Planet of the Apes series....Humans, you've got some explaining to do. Damn stinking apes? Well...@#$% you too! "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
January 13, 2011 - 4:20pm | On an aside and lighter note...I think the Yazirians would be insulted when they discovered the Planet of the Apes series....Humans, you've got some explaining to do. Damn stinking apes? Well...@#$% you too! LOL! On that, Deryn, I think we can all agree.... " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |
 January 14, 2011 - 6:01pm | I'm sorry but the aforementioned events could not occur because WOTC did not release the IP for Vrusk, Dralasite, And Yazarian and thus there sudden apperance on planet Earth would be result in swift lawsuits and injunctions to ruin the fun. So unless they changed their race names they would have to pay WOTC royalties for their use. Of course irritating our visitors to the point that they decided to nuke the site from orbit, after all it is the only way to be sure, and then using our bones to pick their carapaces. LOL +10! Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
January 16, 2011 - 8:40am | No, the bible doesn't mention that any religion is the center of the universe, but, many think that. They all think that they're the magic 144,000 that are going to be taken to Heaven by "The Rapture". (Even though they all have MILLIONS of followers.) Now, there are BILLIONS/TRILLIONS more living beings, which are going to skew their numbers. I'd foresee ALOT more religions becoming as fanatic as the Muslims, and going on terror campaigns to reduce that ratio. only the Jehovah Witnesses go in for the 144,000 and because there are now more than 144,000 JD's they include a large multitude relagated to a secondary condition. Your average door knocker JW hopes that they're 1 of the 144,000. Your average evangelical, baptist/ pentacostal dont fuss over the 144,000 for a variety of reason, its just not an issue they view heaven as having millions in attendence. Your premise that religious people become crazed fanatics and commit acts of terrorism simply doesn't hold- sure some fanatics have killed themselves and committed acts of terrorism have been religious but not all. Among Jews- they'd take it all in stride and continue with business as usual; Conservative Jews will continue in their cultural tradition, liberal jews- same, the hasidic jew will continue to do their thing as well, your conservative and liberal jew will simply make integrate the new facts that the vrusk represent into their world view and probably crack a joke about it. Christians (used in a broad sense refering to those who believe they should follow the bible) will debate, discuss and ponder the ramifications but since they use the dictates of the bible to order their personal world they are not likely to react with terrorism or etc. since those actions are clearly sins. Muslims- tough call but my read is it will depend on individual imans who decide to incite terrorism in the name of their religion (something true of any cult- Iman/leader says so and they are the authority so we must) Plus there are cultural economic factors at play in todays world that make poor, disenfranchised, muslims suseptable to this sort of thing. and those things are different than the actual religion. Catholicism- it will likely roll with the changes with reactions by individual catholics varying on a national/racial basis I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
January 16, 2011 - 11:33am | As a Christian, the interesting thing is this, the Bible never actually states that God didn't create life elsewhere. It's kind of assumed, but never does it come right out and say that we are it and all there will be. I think that Christians, like any other religion would be a little ruffled at first and then take it in stride as just part of the bigger scope of universe and creation. However, like all religions anywhere, there are nut jobs in every faith who just cant see beyond their own noses. I don't think its a matter or religion as much as a matter of human nature. I don't mean to generalize, but as a race, it seems that mankind has always sought new and creative reasons to try and control / dominate others and destroy those who oppose them. |
January 16, 2011 - 1:07pm | No, the bible doesn't mention that any religion is the center of the universe.... Weellll, aside from all those passages where the G-Man says you worship Him, or He'll rain down fire, death, pestilence, your nation's enemies, etc., upon you, and lay bare your "whoredoms," that is true....  " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |
January 16, 2011 - 7:01pm | I think that the best situation for a meeting between Humans in the current would with any of the core three would come from Humans meeting with representatives from the Dralasite race, because the dralasites tend to be leff threatening than either the Vrusk, or the Yazirians. I believe though the canon books said the first communications were between humans and the Vrusk though (I don't have my book handy to verify this though). I doubt that the Vrusk would be very willing to exchange technology with humankind unless their was some profit to be made by the Vrusk for doing so. I think that if we were looking at today's world the Vrusk might start by offering to help humans produce cleaner more efficent energy sources if Humans allowed them to set up a corporate headquarters on Earth seeing this as a way to get a foot in the door to perhaps make money off of the humans. Dralasites however would be facinated with the diversity of human culture, and would probably appreciate the great comedians of the past (Lucielle Ball, Jackie Gleason, the Marx bros etc.). Dralasites would be more like tourists on our world. Yazirians are more of a wild card, though, after all they can be easily offended and can be pushy. i think our initial meeting with the Yazirian race would be frought with many setbacks, and misunderstandings, because I have always seen Yazirians as being blunt, and saying what is on their minds, and not liking people who are not up front with them. I don't see the Yazirians getting along with most politicians. "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
January 16, 2011 - 7:09pm | First contact was between Humans and Vrusk via subspace radio. Dralasites however would be facinated with the diversity of human culture, and would probably appreciate the great comedians of the past (Lucielle Ball, Jackie Gleason, the Marx bros etc.). Dralasites would be more like tourists on our world. But not even Dralasites could stomach Carlos Mencia. Yazirians are more of a wild card, though, after all they can be easily offended and can be pushy. i think our initial meeting with the Yazirian race would be frought with many setbacks, and misunderstandings, because I have always seen Yazirians as being blunt, and saying what is on their minds, and not liking people who are not up front with them. I don't see the Yazirians getting along with most politicians. Actually, I think Humans and Yazzies will the ones most likely to get along with one another. Sure they're rude and pushy, but no more than Human beings shopping at Walmart, especially during the holidays. Sides, they'll take one look at the Humans' warlike past and no-less violent present, and the only question the Yazirians will be asking will be "where have you people been all my life?" " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |
January 17, 2011 - 5:37pm | @ Deryn: I suspect the 3 Stooges would be a more popular with drals, In fact I'd bet they'd rip off the 3 Stooges with the 3 Dralasites- humans, vrusk would just cringe when it came on and a yazirain would have a Jon Bulushi coming down the stair during the toga party in Animal House reaction when he grabbed the guitar and smashed it. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
January 17, 2011 - 6:27pm | Read a short story several years ago where an alien race arrived and communicated with all of Earth via radio and absolutely no video or any kind of visual image. They were very friendly and very helpful and finally had a face to face ten years after the first communication. Turns out they looked exactly like demons. 10 feet tall, red scales, bat wings, lots of fangs the whole works. After ten years of guessing humans just accepted their looks simply because they had been imaging much worse. Oh then all the humans advanced into energy beings since the aliens couldn't they went around the galaxy getting other races ready for the big change. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 January 31, 2011 - 1:22pm | I would just assume a lot of religions would have to deal with their new situation. While I do agree that most religions are very adaptable, they still have to adapt. I'm thinking the zealots could go a lot of different ways with this. Either the aliens are an ultimate test of faith, or they are the new angels. "Who knows where those Star Wars Online coupons are hiding?" |
February 3, 2011 - 5:06pm | I would just assume a lot of religions would have to deal with their new situation. While I do agree that most religions are very adaptable, they still have to adapt. I'm thinking the zealots could go a lot of different ways with this. Either the aliens are an ultimate test of faith, or they are the new angels. And, they adapt as well, twisting their beliefs even further to fit, Just look at the millennialists. They've been preaching that the Rapture, Armageddon, the Antichrist, and, oh yes, the end of the world, is coming real soon now. Anytime. Honest Ifshnit. The fact that they've been saying this for the last 2,011 years or so doesn't make their beliefs untrue, in their opinion. They just adjust things so that they were right all along. If need be, the major religions will just re-write their holy books to include the aliens, even taking passages from their holy books and changing them to suit, then declare the revised holy books to be the received word of God/Allah/Krishna/Bob the Builder/Whomever, while all other versions are demon-spawned heresies. After all, it wouldn't be the first time major Earth religions have rewritten their holy texts to correct inconsistencies or hide inconvenient truths. (I especially like the apologists who claimed G. meant murder instead of kill, in one commandment that needs not be mentioned....) " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |
 February 3, 2011 - 8:29pm | @ Will the Stampede : "I find your lack of faith.... Disturbing" - Darth Vader. squeeze squeeze "Enough of this! Vader, release Him!" "As you wish." LOL The bombing starts in five minutes. |
February 4, 2011 - 12:05am | No offense to Will. While I am a religious / spiritual person and this is the number one reason I absolutely never allow religion or politics to be discussed at the game table. |
February 4, 2011 - 1:43pm | @ Will the Stampede : "I find your lack of faith.... Disturbing" - Darth Vader. squeeze squeeze "Enough of this! Vader, release Him!" "As you wish." LOL May the Force be with you dmoffett. " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |
February 4, 2011 - 1:45pm | No offense to Will. While I am a religious / spiritual person and this is the number one reason I absolutely never allow religion or politics to be discussed at the game table. None taken. We're all entitled to our beliefs. In the words of the late, great Dave Allen,"may your God go with you." " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |
