What is waiting for us in outer space?
Do we really want to know?
I don't. But we should probably figure it out.
Just in case we are not alone.
And any missive sent from above would worry me.
But knowledge is power.
Redditor MelonExtinguisher wanted to hear what "conversations" we could have from beyond our solar system that would be too much.
They asked:
"What could be the creepiest message from space?"
I figure a nice warning would even be creepy. Kind, but creepy.
Farewell
Bye Bye Peace GIF by Cappa Video ProductionsGiphy"Don’t remember where it’s from, but there’s a book or something where humans start getting messages from everywhere that are goodbyes from other species as the universe ends."
KhaoticKrabb
Sound Off
"Audible human screams."
Uncannier
"Winner right here. Yikes."
doctora_novia
"Or your planet's extended warranty."
kooshipuff
Where is Everybody?
"What the hell did you guys do with all our dinosaurs?"
FranksRedWorkAccount
"Bonus scare if the aliens tells them that the earth is like a breeding ground for dinosaur pets like we have for cats and dogs."
skisawsome
"We thought that asteroid was you getting tired of them, so we evolved into intelligent life."
GunzAndCamo
Tick Tock
"A countdown without context."
WodkaAap
"Would be fun to project a countdown into space to just mess with however did it. But just make our countdown end before theirs."
Kelmeckis94
"If it ends with 'Happy stellar new year' I think we'd be good."
Just-Call-Me-J
YOU
Happy Penn Badgley GIF by LifetimeGiphy"One claiming to be from Earth. In English. Describing us humans but very clearly not from Earth."
TheFreshHorn
Well that is more than we need to hear?
The Voice
Hannibal Lecter Killer GIFGiphy"A voice which is almost human but just off enough to make your skin crawl, telling us to stay away."
TheChainLink2
Hush
“Be quiet or they will hear you.”
Quint89
"I reread this every time it comes up in a thread - at least a dozen or so times now. One detail just occurred to me that hadn’t before: if the message left earth 40 years ago (eg this race of aliens are relatively close), and we’ve been broadcasting for 100."
The realization that a scientist has is much more profound then 'oh crap, this is scary better stop broadcasting'… more like “oh f**k, our 100 years of broadcasts are traveling out into space already, there are millions more potential recipients, and stopping now won’t change much, we’re already f**ked”
"That first message 100 years ago could just be reaching the big bad aliens now… and they have decades worth of a radio trail to follow."
Brown_notebook
Trust Issues
"Be careful, don't trust them."
Jumpingtojupiter
"There’s actually a really good Kurzgesagt video about this concept. And how it is actually quite logical that upon detection of another intelligent species both will immediately try to annihilate each other. And for this reason we probably should not advertise our existence to the galaxy."
nick1812216
DONE!
“Exterminate. Exterminate. Exterminate.”
MomCat23
"Yeah I was surprised we hadn't gotten more of these responses. Thought it'd be a go-to for a lot of folks, given how The Stolen Earth went."
nairbeg
Owl What GIF by NickelodeonNo thanks...
"It'd probably be an unsolicited alien nude pic."
Mr_Otingocni
"What if that's what crop circles are?"
Nobody_Super_Famous
Don't be Shocked...
"'People of Earth, your attention please. ..This is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Council. As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of the Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system, and regrettably your planet is one of those scheduled for demolition. The process will take slightly less than two of your Earth minutes. Thank you.'"
"'There's no point in acting all surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display in your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years, so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it's far too late to start making a fuss about it now'"
Fragrant-Pass-3568
Strike 3
"We tried to give you a second chance. Unfortunately, you have failed us again and now we shall correct this mistake. Forgive us, goodbye."
Spidermanzinho
"Maybe the way the world's been the last few years has messed with my head but why does that scenario just seem so plausible?"
Loofs_Undead_Leftie
Just Us
Fall Scrolling GIF by Fia OrueneGiphy"We are dying. By the time you receive this, you will be the last sentient species in the universe."
peon47
Flood It
“'We’re sorry we couldn’t hold them any longer, may the cosmos protect you from the imminent horror you're going to suffer.'” And then a timer of 14 days shows up all around the globe and a blueprint of items to build something displays."
God_of_hoodies
"At this point I won't be surprised especially if it's the flood or tyrants."
variogamer
Change the Channel
"I'm getting bored of watching these. I was into for a few thousand years and they still haven't evolved past their own consciousness. Let's restart the simulation. Maybe the next ones will be interplanetary by this time."
RuneAcademy
"There’s no way for us to know for sure, but it’s theorized that there was calculus in there, among other things. Calculus wouldn’t be invented by other means until Isaac Newton in the renaissance. So yeah, it set us back at least a thousand years."
rl231661
Left Behind...
"We're sending a transport to pick you up. They will kill anyone who stays behind. The transport will arrive in 12 of your hours, and leave in 24 hours, departing for the refugee center at alpha-centauri. Don't worry, the transport has room for at least 1 million of you. And we're told the refugee center isn't so bad. Consider taking some pictures of your planet before you go, to remember it. Unfortunately we can't take cultural artifacts unless they fit in your carry-on. Please form orderly lines at the transport pickup location."
snapwillow
No One is Home!!
Season 1 Episode 3 GIF by Rick and MortyGiphy“Communication is dangerous. Stop reaching out, stop trying to find other life. We exist, we’re out here. But if they find out about you, they’ll be the first to visit.”
GunsandIndica
"What then?"
"One thing. I had a dream like this scenario once. In a voice that's just barely human, but too softly spoken to be something otherworldly, a message sent to NASA from an unknown source; saying: "'They've been giving us chances. For years now. I tried telling you guys...but my messages were never received...'"
"'It's all over. I'm sorry. All I can tell you now is that they're plotting... planning... waiting. I don't know how advanced things are on Earth now but... you NEED to come up with something to get out of Earth NOW. If not, get people underground. Deep underground, as low as possible. The world you know now? Forget it.'"
"'Everything you once knew is going to die. Prepare yourself, because if I know anything things are about to become a living hell. Good luck. And oh yeah! The most important thing you need to know is-'"
"The message cuts out."
"What then?"
sunwooosh
Let's all hope none of this can happen. My 2022 Bingo card is already full.
Want to "know" more?
Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.
