thread: 2010-10-17 : Academic Juvenalia
On 2010-10-19, Joshua A.C. Newman wrote:
Chris, the question (which of course rages within the Academy) is whether it's worse to be ignorant of other societies or to risk damaging them.
The argument of the Contactors is that cultures always change, especially when they meet other ones. It's the duty of Contactors, therefore, to tread lightly.
N.B.: I only remember one colony where the Colony went unrecognized and were peripheral observers. They don't usually pull off the "treading lightly" part.
There have been many humbling moments for the Contactors, though. Usually it's when they're trying to impress the natives with cigarette lighters or doing other condescending bullshit.
