And The Actual Human Response To Keanu Reeve's Klaatu Would Be....

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the hypothetical response of humanity to an alien threat, specifically referencing the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Participants argue that humanity's instinctive reaction would be to unleash its entire arsenal of weapons, despite the futility of such an action against advanced extraterrestrial technology. Key points include the resilience of nanotechnology and von Neumann devices, which could survive and thrive even after a catastrophic event. The conversation also touches on the narrative elements of science fiction, emphasizing the importance of character sacrifice and moral dilemmas in storytelling.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of science fiction narrative structures
  • Familiarity with nanotechnology and von Neumann machines
  • Knowledge of the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still"
  • Basic concepts of human psychology in crisis situations
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  • Research the implications of nanotechnology in warfare
  • Explore the concept of von Neumann probes and their potential impact on society
  • Analyze character development in classic science fiction films
  • Investigate psychological responses to existential threats in literature
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Science fiction enthusiasts, writers, psychologists studying human behavior under stress, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and storytelling.

BigDon
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A six way, all out release of humanity's entire stockpile of "engineered criticality devices" and slag the planet.

The damned aliens were exterminating humanity anyway, why should they get what they want, while we go black?

I'd bet money neither the movie's writers nor the extraterrestrials thought of that one.

As that wise man Stan Lee once said, "Humans are unruly, therefore cannot be ruled."
 
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Many great Sci fi stories never consider the more psychopathic responses that are inconceivable yet possible to the ordinary mind.

The basic premise humanity’s hero is to come out alive with minimal loss of life. Its also important to save the dog. There is also a character who will sacrifice his/her life for the group. Anything else makes a story less readable or watchable.
 
Unfortunately:

- nanites don't gather in cities, so wiping them out would be virtually impossible with our weapons
- as von Neumann devices, only a single one need survive to carry on the species
- they are immune to societal collapse - they don't need any infrastructure to thrive and rebuild
- they can eat the basic elements, so even a charred planet would not stop them
- they reproduce geometrically, so the whole disaster would only set them back a few days

Sorry.

"The thing about aliens is, they're alien."
— Gregory Benford
 
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Don't you mean Michael Rennie? Oh that's right they did a bad remake...I do so love the original. It is so perfectly black and white.
 
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Klatu Barada Nikto!

My favorite scene was when Klatu solves the differential equations for Prof Barnard. I saw it on TV one evening, while studying for my DE course and recognized the technique shown.

Of course, I liked the initial landing, and when Klatu trades the boy for some money with his diamonds and the boy says okay, but my mom doesn’t like it if I cheat people, and when Klatu tells the boy about the spaceship’s propulsion...

I guess I really liked the Michael Ronnie movie.
 
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