What would live alien contact mean for humanity?

What would it mean for humanity if we had real live contact with extraterrestrial aliens here on Earth?

We've had a resurgence in alien movies, and government/military officials are veering into the subject of extraterrestrials more and more frequently. From the renaming of UFO's to "UAP's" to the sudden de-stigmatization of publicly mentioning their existence, what has shifted, and what could it mean?

The "enthusiasts" are ever more confident that we've been in contact with alien lifeforms for a long time while the cynics swear that the government suddenly going "alien-mad" signifies that they absolutely do NOT exist and that this is yet another diversion tactic.

We will engage in a dialectical guided discussion. Please see the agenda and rules of discussion below:

Agenda
Arrive & Gather (15 min)
Icebreaker Activity (10 min)
Discussion Activities (45-60 min)

• Street vibe check: Are people talking aliens? Is it the same old tropes?
• What do you think? If they exist, are they at our level of intelligence? Could they simply be microorganisms?
• Life outside of Earth: There's a growing belief even among scientists that there are indeed microbes in outer space. Thoughts?
• Aliens & Religion - Mutually exclusive?
• Overlaps between religious myth, modern alien enthusiasm and esoteric/spiritual entities...
• Pan-spermia: Did life on earth come from elsewhere?
• Would real, live contact with an intelligent alien being really change us socially?

Hard Stop on Discussion by Scheduled End Time
Hangout & Connect (Optional)

Rules of Discussion

• Listen actively.
• Speak to the whole group, not just the host.
• Economy of Words: Learn how to express one idea at a time, concisely. Avoid 10-minute monologues!
• Watch your speaking inertia. Speaking is a two-way activity; yes, you should be watching and listening to others even as you speak.
• We want organic conversational, discussion flow.
  Understand good interruptions, those that enhance points being made or seek clarity, not debunk or attack.
• If you receive a good interruption, allow it!
• You’re not here to change minds. You’re here to learn how your own mind might be changed!
• Challenge ideas, not the person. What you say can be questioned or criticized. And you have the right to do the same with anyone else. (If you don’t believe your points can withstand scrutiny, don’t offer it.)
• Beware of absolute statements: "Always, never, forever, everyone..."
• Watch for broad blame, labels or abstract assumptions: “It’s all women’s fault.” “It’s all capitalism’s fault.” "Diversity is the problem/solution." “It’s obvious we have no freedom here.” “Everyone knows illegals are using up all of our social benefits.” "They're just racists..." "Because he/she/they are stupid..."

Where to Find Us
We will set up at one or more tables inside. Look for our sign! Please be aware that parking may be a little tight due to the construction immediately next door to Civil Pour, but that has no impact on the cafe interior itself.

About the Venue
Arwa offers a full menu of coffee, tea, matcha and lemonade as well as a variety of sweet and savory pastries. I recommend the "Adeni" tea, which is like an Arab rendition of indian chai. I expect us to land a table near the front entry.

About Nuanced Discussions
See our main group page! Dialectical discussion, not debate.

DISCLAIMER
We are NOT affiliated with any business, religious, or spiritual organizations. Our objective is to facilitate quality dialectical discussion and activities with responsible adults. We do NOT support MLM, paid mentorship/life coaching, network marketing, real-estate/entrepreneurial education, or related exploitative schemes. Please respect our age boundaries (YOB 1980+).