HACKER Q&A
📣 eimrine

Suppose we have a connection with a civilization technically below us


Imagine that we have established contact with a civilization and have already found out that it is absolutely identical to ours, but younger by 50 years (basically the same planet, absolutely same Solar system and very similar people, progress at the level of the 1971 year of our civilization). There is a stable duplex communication between the two planets at an average speed of 1 byte per second, ping 1 year in one direction. Landing from one planet to another is impossible for compelling reasons, even if we have an engine with infinite acceleration. Half of the channel throughput is reserved for reacting to their messages, we will consider them fundamentally unpredictable. On the other half of the channel, you can tell them whatever you see fit. What do you want to tell them? What goals in the conversation will you pursue if they differ from the best wishes? Let's assume that we cannot influence the rewriting of history, because civilizations will not be 100% the same, but of course, we have an unprecedented influence on their scientific and technological progress and possibly on their theological trends. Funny or xenophobic ideas are also welcome if you can prove that there are resources we are competing for.

  👤 schoen Accepted Answer ✓
> Landing from one planet to another is impossible for compelling reasons, even if we have an engine with infinite acceleration.

One common (?) science fiction reason for this is that they're made out of antimatter, so we can exchange radio waves but not physical objects.

👤 mikewarot
Ok, so we discover a civilization 1 light year away. The first real task would be to figure out some form of communications, see "Arrival" for an idea of how much work has to happen before that breakthrough.

Once contact was made, it would be very likely that a lot of resources would be expended to improve the communications link.

There would be things to be learned in both directions, the future is unevenly distributed, 50 years isn't enough to wipe out the corner cases.