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Aliens: Good or Bad?

So, we were hanging out watching V the other day (not so much watching as mocking) and the subject of aliens came up. Qualler questioned why aliens are always evil, and this sparked an interesting debate. Chris and I pointed out that not all aliens are evil, but our only real examples were E.T. and Stitch and Mac (of Mac and Me. If you haven't seen it...well...you must).



Chris made an interesting point, saying that aliens who come to earth alone or as a family unit seem to be good, and aliens who come as a group are generally evil.
I tried to make the point that the aliens on Star Trek and Star Wars are not just good or just evil--there are plenty of good aliens just as there are plenty of bad ones. Of course Qualler had to jump in at this point and say that there are no "aliens" in Star Wars because it takes place in some alternate galaxy. I thought that would mean that everyone in Star Wars is an alien since no one is from Earth. So this brings us to our question: how does one define "alien"?

Lady Amy then pointed out that there are plenty of good aliens in Men in Black.
Then we all remember the Coneheads and felt silly for not thinking of them sooner.
I'm opening this up to the floor: is Chris's rule generally accurate? Aliens who come to earth alone or in a family-type-group are good and aliens who come as a large group are generally bad?

This would have made an amazing podcast. Sorry folks.

Happy April Fools day!

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This entry was posted by Brigitte, on Thursday, April 01, 2010. You can leave your response.

  1. Blogger chris | 10:28 AM |  

    On Facebook, my college church friend Jay recommended Alien Nation, which sounds awesome! Movie party?

  2. Blogger Papa Thor | 10:47 AM |  

    Chris is usually correct about such things ...
    A horde of ants is deadly evil, a la "Naked Jungle", a single ant is cute, a la "Honey I Shrunk the Kids".
    The Borg collective is communist evil, a single Borg inspires sympathy, e.g. "Hugh" or "7 of 9".
    Even "Iron Giant", a deadly alien killing machine, ends up being good since he is by himself, mentored by a human kid.

  3. Blogger Unspar! | 11:14 AM |  

    There's a very interesting Sci-Fi short story I've heard of (but never read) that seems very apt to this discussion.

    It's about someone who goes to another planet, and I think he's part of an observation or invasion force. As he goes around, you read his thoughts about the alien race he encounters and how evil they are. They're depraved, brutal, war-mongering, that kind of thing. And then it turns out the narrator is the alien, and he's talking about humans.

    Zing! Now who's evil?

  4. Blogger DoktorPeace | 7:42 PM |  

    I don't think anyone in Hollywood knows what they're talking about when it comes to non-humans. I tried watching Aliens in America, and I didn't see one tentacle.

    And Ghost World? What the hell is that shit?

  5. Blogger Unknown | 11:18 AM |  

    I want to read that short story, Unspar.

    And as far as aliens in Star Wars -- IT'S TRUE! THERE ARE NO ALIENS IN STAR WARS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE OTHER TYPE OF LIVING SPECIES!!!!! NO ALIENS!!!!!!!!

  6. Blogger Unknown | 11:19 AM |  

    ALSO STAR WARS TAKES PLACE IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY, NOT IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

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