alien rights

I was just sitting here and all the sudden thought what happens when we find life on another planet, how intelligent must it be to have "human" rights?
If it's somewhat intelligent but clearly inferior to humans, can we eat it or make it perform circus tricks? Where is the line?

Well, I definitely think that we need to think of extraterestial life as star-people as Jim Sparks PC interview talked about. We aren't even close to giving all humans rights, much less things we have yet to understand.

We must get equality for all here on this planet.

Equallity.

After thinking some more about this question, I suggest that aliens will have one of three levels of rights.

1. None - similar to the lower level lifeforms like plants and insects

2. Minimal - similar to current (or future) levels of animal rights

3. Full - full rights as assumed for humans (in first world countries)

Which level is appropriate is dependent upon how intelligent we perceive an alien race to be.

reply to post by ice1300


I am all for identifying and documenting a bill of rights for Intelligent life, whether on this world or another, it should be done now.
It has been my belief for quite some time now that this document is key for any disclosure.
Attempt to view our culture from an outsiders perspective.

Well for me that all depends on what we find if we come across a planet with beings who are no farther advanced than modern day chimps then they should just have the best animal rights that we have today however if they are showing the slightest form of tool making and use then in that case we should back off and let them develop.

and if they are using some technology but not yet at our level then yes they should have human rights and if they are more advanced than us hopefully they will extend the rights they have for themselves and not serve us up for supper

[edit on 26-11-2008 by SLAYER69]

Originally posted by SLAYER69
and if they are more advanced than us then we should see if we are Hopefully they will extend the rights they have for themselves and not serve us up for supper

My thoughts exactly. What if we turn out to be the animals here?

"It's a cookbook!"

I think if they are more advanced than humans we will learn from them and thier rights may influence a change in ours.
If they are less 'intelligent'/advanced than humans then the powers that be will control and manipulate them just like they do to us!