Would an advanced alien civilization exterminate humanity for being too violent?

Ok, just suppose we are being watched. They see us kill each other in droves for centuries, and with each new technological development, become more adept at it. Suddenly we build the atomic bomb, then a few decades later space travel begins. As our information age begins, knowledge begins to expand rapidly. Seeing we are on the verge of interstellar travel in the not too distant future, the aliens decide that we are simply to barbaric and dangerous a species and decide to simply exterminate us rather than let us spread out into the galaxy. It actually wouldn't take a lot of effort, an engineered virus could do it, sent on a small automated probe. They could wipe us out by remote control from light years away.

Just a thought, maybe humans should learn to behave better. We don't know WHO may be watching us.

No, they're probably saying "look at those dumbasses. When they kill each other off completely we'll take all the resources."

My son and I watched a huge group of ants viciously attack a grub the other day.

I imagine aliens probably do the same to us and we're probably oblivious to their presence as the ants were to my son and I. As above so below, as they say.

a reply to: openminded2011

Did your mom spank you for disobeying?

What if these aliens live toward the center of the Earth and use humans as defense?

As long as we did not know they existed we would defend them from outside interference by defending ourselves. We are violent enough to do what is necessary and would make for a great first line of defense.

If any aliens tried to exterminate the human race for becoming too violent, I'd kill them.

I'D KILL THEM ALL!

That would mean they are much worse than us. I doubt the are sitting around just waiting for an excuse to commit mass genocide.

We don't even have the ability to travel our own solar system. It's likely they wouldn't even need to sabotage our tech to keep us here, we'll more than likely end our own species before we can even attempt to travel to a habitable world.

a reply to: openminded2011

Is humanity really violent?
We don’t exactly have any other advanced species to be compared to.

Our population went from 1.6 billion to over 7 billion in the last 120 years and that includes a couple world wars.
We might be pretty tame compared to the aliens visiting...haven’t you watched predator?
Get to da choppa!

originally posted by: DBCowboy
If any aliens tried to exterminate the human race for becoming too violent, I'd kill them.

I'D KILL THEM ALL!

The aliens probably won't mess with us because of the butterflies.

~shudder~

a reply to: openminded2011

If anything they are saying. Stay the hell away from these crazy bastards.

They know that if they attack and we get lucky just once and get our hands on their tech. They are screwed.

As humans we are willing to die to get back at someone. No one wants to go against that on their home turf.

Look up "Dark Forest" hypothesis for the lack of alien communications so far. The novels in the 3 Body Problem series feature this idea.

Basically, all the aliens get snuffed by other alien super predators when they stupidly send signals out to see if anyone's home. Those that live are quiet ... and likely hide well.

The idea is the universe is only so big, and the amount of materials is finite.

Logically, as a civilization spreads, it needs materials.

Other life competes for the resources.

So, better to snuff out less formidable life as one finds it to avoid the inevitable future fight.

Some think Mars was hit by a super nuclear weapon. If so, maybe it was a local squabble, maybe not.

And since we came up with that lovely idea, I wouldn't exactly blame another civ for preemptively snuffing humanity out, despite all the lovely humans here.

Makes one think, knowing our radio and TV broadcasts are trudging across the galaxy at light speed. Think of all the cop, cowboy and war entertainments.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
If any aliens tried to exterminate the human race for becoming too violent, I'd kill them.

I'D KILL THEM ALL!

"I would fart in their general direction as their mother was a hamster and their father smelt of elderberries "
Taking a queue from Monty Python and the "Holy Grail"

originally posted by: openminded2011
Ok, just suppose we are being watched. They see us kill each other in droves for centuries, and with each new technological development, become more adept at it. Suddenly we build the atomic bomb, then a few decades later space travel begins. As our information age begins, knowledge begins to expand rapidly. Seeing we are on the verge of interstellar travel in the not too distant future, the aliens decide that we are simply to barbaric

Wouldn’t it be more logical we wipe ourselves out?
They say about 5 or 6 thousand years ago people were so evil, no one was good, not one....well there was one Noah
God, alien to humanity decided that humanity was way to evil so he sent a flood, started again.
Watch the movie Prometheus
Aliens release the beast “the alien” because humanity is so evil.

Anyway, I read many people here think the world and it’s people are just fine and dandy with no problems at all

God I hope so.

But just in case, keep your Slim Whitman tunes handy.

Better question - Would an "advanced alien civilization" even care about us?

a reply to: openminded2011

Given what I have seen with most other species of animal and insect on this planet, I would not bet on any alien species being benevolent.

this is an interesting question.

first I am gonna limit my answer to just the concept would the or not to "wipe us out for being too violent" to stay pure to the OP original question (due to you could throw too many other concepts into this quite easily and get away from the original question ).


IMO i think the answer would depend on four situations..

One... do we pose a direct threat to their civilization...
if we did they may wipe us out to protect themselves from a direct or perceived threat to SPECIFICALLY THEMSELVES.

two.. if they were more a "galaxy police force/protector" and they feel that our violence could harm any other planet or star system they would wipe us out for others protection.

three... they have a "prime directive" that they let any planet take care of its own affairs . they would leave us to our own fate and not wipe us out.

four... they would leave us alone because the cost of attempting to wipe us out would not be worth it. Be they won , lost or we wiped them out..


If I had to answer with just one concept it would be this.

If it was to their benefit (whatever that may be) yes.
if it wasn't (or they loose / loose more than they gain)... no


scrounger

Do we seek to exterminate Chimps because they fight and kill each others babies?

Not if I shoot them in the face first.......Oh, wait.

a reply to: openminded2011

They would just put us in the equivalent of an ant farm and give us to their kids.