Let's imagine advanced aliens out there have known about a civilization of hairless primates living on a blue planet orbiting a G type main sequence star, why would they give a damn about us? I know the book is an allegory on environmental concerns, optimistic about a better tomorrow but what makes us special?
shareWe are not special. We are just one of many intelligent species this has happened to. That's made clear several times.
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
+1
They do this with everyone who reaches the right stage of evolution
Death to shakeycam directors!
Nothing special about us, the Overlords take interest in all advanced species killing themselves they come across (from what I've gathered so far)
shareIt is, of course, explained thoroughly in the book. They are here to assist us to our next big leap in human evolution.
shareI know now, humanity ascends we become part of the Overmind. I'm talking about purely real life. Why would anyone out there in space want to help us?
shareIn real life there is zero chance a super advanced society has helped multiple planet dominate species. In this case from what Ive seen so far they are benevolent with endless resources even if humanity can't comprehend them so far. So we where we are now we can't comprehend it given that our resources our limited.
shareI know now, humanity ascends we become part of the Overmind. I'm talking about purely real life. Why would anyone out there in space want to help us?
I don't see much evidence that advanced societies on Earth care much about the developing world beyond cheap labour and raw a materials.
Famine in Africa hasn't been conquered, environmental pollution by oil and mining companies is rampant in Africa.The West is more interested in pooping up dictators and killing off native Africans. If they accomplish that they will clean up the continent and recolonize I suspect.
The more difficult problem isn't ending hunger or thirst in Africa, it's stopping overpopulation by giving them birth control, education and a better standard of living. You can send all the food you like, they just gonna have more babies next year.
But it's a good allegory, if you were the overmind, would you meddle and "help" humanity by making them live in harmony in the way you envision it, or let them sort it out themselves?
Imagine sending star trek replicators to africa, some warlords or dictators would hog them and sell stuff to become rich and powerful.
Why do people here on Earth want to help starving people in Africa? Why do they care?
I'm talking about purely real life. Why would anyone out there in space want to help us?
Obviously they already intervened earlier, by planting that black monolith in the middle of the anthropoid community.
shareThe overlords were taking orders from the overmind. Their ultimate goal was a selfish one, they eventually want to learn how to ascend into the overmind by observing other species ascend.
shareIt is, of course, explained thoroughly in the book. They are here to assist us to our next big leap in human evolution.
Agreed cjd and very well put mate!
If only more humans though this way and followed this approach we probably would have a better world to live in.
~What if this is as good as it gets?!~
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As others have pointed out, Arthur C Clarke often examined the super-beings of the universe having an overall compassion. Very god-like.
And he wrote in several books a common theme - that intelligence was rare in the universe and these super beings were intent on trying to save it wherever they found it.
"Can you keep a secret? Can you know something and never speak of it again?"
why do people volunteer at charities?
shareI'd feel bad for anyone who suffers, and if I could change their whole world by pushing a few buttons it wouldn't be a question. Many humans help animals after all.
shareI don't think humans or the Earth have anything that would be required by an advanced alien species.
There is an abundance of raw materials available beyond the Earth, much easier to obtain , without dealing with humankind. Hard to believe we'd have much in common with them physically, or technologically.
I have never been able to imagine anything about our planet that make sit unique enough that a civilization would travel her to meet us.
I can see them wanting to prevent us from going and messing up their corner of the universe the way we have our own. But that only requires a fence of some type.