I watch “V” and I often think to myself that I’d be too skeptical to believe the aliens are benign. I’d definitely be a Fifth Column type person. I think there’s a lot in that show that isn’t portrayed as realistic. Would the entire world roll over and show their belly just because a bunch of ginormous spaceships appear all over? I think there’d be a lot more dissent. Humans are portrayed more like sheep than we really are. And those people that assume an advanced society wouldn’t have evil intent are naive.

Am I wrong to think an advanced alien species would act like humans? Humans as a group are seldom that altruistic. Sure, we’ve found less advanced societies here on earth and given them things, but what was the true intent? To buy their cooperation usually.

And then I think of all the other skeptics I know. They are all very scientific people. Would their excitement over advanced information availability over-ride their skepticism? As in don’t look a gift horse in the mouth? Would the scientists welcome an advanced alien for what they could learn without questioning the alien’s intent?

I don’t know. The whole easy healing stuff might buy me. Instantly curing my asthma and making me healthy would go a long way towards dampening my natural skepticism. But I’m pretty sure I’d still be “thank you, but…” about it.

So skeptics, which side would you lean towards? The oh-goody-lots-of-new-stuff-to-learn! side or the what-happens-when-the-other-shoe-drops? side.