Paranoid and Pronoid Visions of First Contact: Preparing for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

To the point

First contact with extraterrestrials could be dangerous or beneficial, likely beyond our current capabilities, so we should prepare prudently and stay flexible, following cautious, mentor‑like engagement and heeding warnings from Sagan, Clarke, Ryle, Wald, and Finney.

extraterrestrial intelligence, implications following first contact
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extraterrestrial intelligence, implications following first contact

Fictional portrayals of the first direct contact between an extraterrestrial civilization and our own have conditioned us to expect one of two extreme situations.