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Humans in sci-fi are often shown as a physically weak and short-lived race, impressive only for the speed of our breeding and limited years making us strive to prove ourselves.
Let's unpack this because given evolutionary paths on safer worlds, aliens would be TERRIFIED of us:
Let's unpack this because given evolutionary paths on safer worlds, aliens would be TERRIFIED of us:
You know how we breathe oxygen? You know what that does to our cells? Oxidizes them. That's one of the main reasons we age: we are, simplistically put, on fire internally at all times.
We breathe death. We LOVE it. We put it in tanks and go to places that don't have it!
We breathe death. We LOVE it. We put it in tanks and go to places that don't have it!
We, as a species, regularly eat, drink and even inhale poison. Why? Because it's fun. It makes us feel good. Even the after effects aren't enough to stop some people. We love poison, we're mad for poison, always have been since we first noticed gone-off honey made us feel weird.
We go in the sea! Salty death liquid.
To relax!
Not only is the sea filled with shit that wants us dead and has ways to make that happen, but the water itself is inhospitable to us. We shouldn't go there, by any logic, but we love it.
To relax!
Not only is the sea filled with shit that wants us dead and has ways to make that happen, but the water itself is inhospitable to us. We shouldn't go there, by any logic, but we love it.
On that note we not only like to, but HAVE TO ingest water, which kills us. Through a set of pipes that separate, for all intents and purposes, too far down in the body. We can accidentally drown on our death juice if we drink it wrong.
And we have to do it!
And we have to do it!
We regularly use violence as a form of affection. A punch on the arm, a clap on the back, a swat on the ass. All good among consenting folks.
We're so casually violent I feel like even our pacifists would terrify pacifist aliens.
We're so casually violent I feel like even our pacifists would terrify pacifist aliens.
We assail our ears with extremely loud sound waves at concerts, again for nothing but enjoyment.
We eat plants that have a compound evolved to stop things eating them by simulating extreme heat. We genetically modified them to be hotter because it wasn't enough.
We eat plants that have a compound evolved to stop things eating them by simulating extreme heat. We genetically modified them to be hotter because it wasn't enough.
In combat, as a last resort usually but sometimes not, we attack with parts of our own bodies. There are certain parts that are so well adapted for this that they're pretty much fine afterwards if we do it right. There are thousands of martial art forms based on this.
We discovered the power of splitting the atom and what did we use it for?
Bombs.
Bombs that erase cities.
How do we know they erase cities?
We fucking USED them.
Even though we thought there was a chance they might ignite the WHOLE ATMOSPHERE.
Bombs.
Bombs that erase cities.
How do we know they erase cities?
We fucking USED them.
Even though we thought there was a chance they might ignite the WHOLE ATMOSPHERE.
We have polluted our planet to the point where swift intervention will mean our extinction, let alone millions of other species, and we do it because we love convenience and going faster. We love to go faster and have a handy plastic tub of stuff with us.
Some mad bastard invented a missile that instead of explosives has about 6 massive knives that pop out and they did that because it is demonstrably SAFER than the alternative.
From our earliest days we have been ambush and pursuit predators.
We will hide and wait for you for DAYS if necessary. If one of you gets away we will follow.
We will not stop following. Ever. You can't rest.
We must have been like the Terminator to animals in our distant past.
We will hide and wait for you for DAYS if necessary. If one of you gets away we will follow.
We will not stop following. Ever. You can't rest.
We must have been like the Terminator to animals in our distant past.
Basically, I'm tired of humans being cast as this weak, dumb, mayfly-esque race of incredibly driven (and horny), hectic ape-things.
We're horrible fucking monsters, if only someone had the courage to write alien races as anything besides "Elves, dwarves and orcs IN SPAAACE".
We're horrible fucking monsters, if only someone had the courage to write alien races as anything besides "Elves, dwarves and orcs IN SPAAACE".
Much as I love you Mass Effect trilogy, I'm looking at you for that last point.
Yes the Geth are cool, and the Hanar and Elcor are weird, but everything else is an elf, a dwarf or an orc.
Or a lizardfolk type thing. Or a goblin.
Or the Rachni, which admittedly are dope.
Yes the Geth are cool, and the Hanar and Elcor are weird, but everything else is an elf, a dwarf or an orc.
Or a lizardfolk type thing. Or a goblin.
Or the Rachni, which admittedly are dope.
I should play Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3 again.
