Earth like planets

GunnerGraham · 27th January 2011

With all the talk and speculation of earth like planets abound,are there any laws governing terraforming?
For instance,say humankind discovered such a planet,but the top of the food chain life form was a danger to us,could we arbitrarily wipe it out in order for us to successfully colonise the planet,
And if so,should we be afraid of et?
Just a little seed of thought,anyone care to expand on this...?

adrian · 27th January 2011

if we were to wipe out a "race" for our own agenda,
we couldnt really complain if a superior race to us came here and did the same...

**mercuryrapids** · 27th January 2011

Depends what they taste like, I suppose.

**Jurgen** · 27th January 2011

By terraforming you change the enviroment to suit your needs. Any creature already living there would not fair well by that. As for being afraid of et... that is one big guess and depends on how they regard life. They can be like hippies and say live and let live but effectively do nothing about it. If they are anything like Klaatu from The Day the Earth Stood Still... well, then we probably draw the shortest straw.

Elara · 27th January 2011

In the field of Astrobiology scholars are undergoing heated debates about the ethics of terraforming. The "greens" in favor of terraforming (mars in this case) far outnumber the "reds" or those opposed to terraforming.

here is a link to a good mock debate, presenting both sides of the argument:

http://library.thinkquest.org/C00376...ge=terraform02

IMO~doesn't the prime directive only apply to sentient life? nerf? meh?
((yes i know we don't really have a united federation of planets with a prime directive. ....yet))

~Elara

**Carol Nistri** · 27th January 2011

I should think if we happend on a planet already occupied that the occupant defending its territory would be seen by many as a species to be protected.I would vote for protecting it so it in turn could continue on as a species.

27th January 2011

Fantastic submit. Thanks for sharing

**Wilhelm** · 27th January 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elara

In the field of Astrobiology scholars are undergoing heated debates about the ethics of terraforming. The "greens" in favor of terraforming (mars in this case) far outnumber the "reds" or those opposed to terraforming.

here is a link to a good mock debate, presenting both sides of the argument:

http://library.thinkquest.org/C00376...ge=terraform02

IMO~doesn't the prime directive only apply to sentient life? nerf? meh?
((yes i know we don't really have a united federation of planets with a prime directive. ....yet))

~Elara

Good link.

I think the Reds lose because they undercut their own argument. First it's a moral objection (which I may not agree with, but I respect it), and then they say, "oh, plus, it's too hard, and a big waste of time."

Bunch of Negative Nellies...

Alien Guy · 27th January 2011

We humans would not wipe out another top species. Granted many would want to, and some would try. Of course it is a possibility...but I doubt it. Possibly we would rid an area but not the entire species. Also, they would probably be spread across the planet, and it would take us a long time to take control of one area, forget the entire planet. I will be making longer posts from now on, as I am getting ready for the MCA 2 test I need to take to graduate. Lol writing isn't my forte.

**Miss Deetective** · 27th January 2011

By what right would we take over like that?? If we did...then our planet is fair game too, imo.
I would rather respect other life forms and hope they would do the same for us!!

27th January 2011	#1
GunnerGraham Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2,054 Rep Power: 0	Earth like planets With all the talk and speculation of earth like planets abound,are there any laws governing terraforming? For instance,say humankind discovered such a planet,but the top of the food chain life form was a danger to us,could we arbitrarily wipe it out in order for us to successfully colonise the planet, And if so,should we be afraid of et? Just a little seed of thought,anyone care to expand on this...?

27th January 2011	#2
adrian Ufologist Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: barnsley Age: 41 Posts: 546 Rep Power: 112	Earth like planets if we were to wipe out a "race" for our own agenda, we couldnt really complain if a superior race to us came here and did the same... __________________ the magnitude of the event is lost in the translation!

27th January 2011	#3
mercuryrapids Ha'DIbaH Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,908 Rep Power: 2763	Earth like planets Depends what they taste like, I suppose. __________________ The Mercury Rapids Website www.mercuryrapids.com "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C Clarke "Yyyyeeeeeaaaarrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!" - The Great Naga

27th January 2011	#4
Jurgen ⌘ Age quod agis ⌘ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,460 Rep Power: 4143	Earth like planets By terraforming you change the enviroment to suit your needs. Any creature already living there would not fair well by that. As for being afraid of et... that is one big guess and depends on how they regard life. They can be like hippies and say live and let live but effectively do nothing about it. If they are anything like Klaatu from The Day the Earth Stood Still... well, then we probably draw the shortest straw. __________________ ___________________________________ "If you understand, things are just as they are. If you do not understand, things are just as they are." - "When things do not go as supposed, I suppose things go as they do" ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

27th January 2011	#5
Elara Ufologist Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: East Coast, USA Posts: 267 Rep Power: 576	Earth like planets In the field of Astrobiology scholars are undergoing heated debates about the ethics of terraforming. The "greens" in favor of terraforming (mars in this case) far outnumber the "reds" or those opposed to terraforming. here is a link to a good mock debate, presenting both sides of the argument: http://library.thinkquest.org/C00376...ge=terraform02 IMO~doesn't the prime directive only apply to sentient life? nerf? meh? ((yes i know we don't really have a united federation of planets with a prime directive. ....yet)) ~Elara

27th January 2011	#6
Carol Nistri Majestic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 16,736 Rep Power: 6395	Earth like planets I should think if we happend on a planet already occupied that the occupant defending its territory would be seen by many as a species to be protected.I would vote for protecting it so it in turn could continue on as a species. __________________ NIL ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM

27th January 2011	#7
Click Here Guest Posts: n/a	Earth like planets Fantastic submit. Thanks for sharing

27th January 2011	#9
Alien Guy Coolio McCool Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Minnesota Age: 17 Posts: 433 Rep Power: 558	Earth like planets We humans would not wipe out another top species. Granted many would want to, and some would try. Of course it is a possibility...but I doubt it. Possibly we would rid an area but not the entire species. Also, they would probably be spread across the planet, and it would take us a long time to take control of one area, forget the entire planet. I will be making longer posts from now on, as I am getting ready for the MCA 2 test I need to take to graduate. Lol writing isn't my forte. __________________ A-G

27th January 2011	#10
Miss Deetective Believe it, or not Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 7,995 Rep Power: 5248	Earth like planets By what right would we take over like that?? If we did...then our planet is fair game too, imo. I would rather respect other life forms and hope they would do the same for us!! __________________ "Light travels faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak." Larry the Cable Guy

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