Since humanity first gazed up into the infinite vacuum of space and saw faraway moons and planets move, one thought has lingered in the back of our collective psyche: are we alone in the universe? And if there are more intelligent entities in the universe… Can we email them some naughty pictures?
Getting communications from humans to the Blorgons or Omicron Persei 8 has become a little more complex in recent years. We’ve broadcast professions of peace (and communism), math-based greeting cards, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony performed on a theremin over the years. Some even suggest that we spray some perfume up there. However, as welcome and natural as these options seem, have we really considered how we’d feel if we received a response?
Reddit users, notably those who frequent the r/space subreddit, have. Their assumptions, like so much on Reddit, are a little… well… dystopian. That’s because, earlier this week, the user u/Paleo dude2010 asked their online community a question: What would be the most terrifying message from aliens? While there were a few reactions along the lines of “prepare for your impending annihilation, tiny humanity,” as one might expect.
It’s difficult not to imagine what it would be like if intelligent aliens were tuned in to our planet right now, downloading the latest news and gossip in an attempt to figure out where our civilization stands. Hopefully, they will brush over a few things, such as the film Geostorm, the present federal government, and the giant penis that is now strewn across a portion of Australia. According to the Geelong Advertiser, a rather large phallic drawing has appeared in the dry lake bed in Bellarine, a rural part of Victoria’s state.
“Popular Facebook group Take the Piss Geelong uploaded photographs of the crass crop circle construction on Monday night, but it is claimed locals have been aware of it for months,” writes the author of the original piece. It’s so big, in fact, that it’s been nicknamed the “Aussie Weiner” on Google Maps.
To be honest, you can see a lot from space. Our satellites, as well as the hand-held camera equipment aboard the International Space Station, are now capable of zooming in on the smallest of details. Having said that, we think it’s amazing that someone spent the time and effort to carve out a sedimentological component large enough for satellites to see from afar.
