I don't think there will be any kind of mass panic if a signal comes through. I think we will certainly get to know about it in the Press, but I would like to think that Seti participants would have the privilege of being given the news first. That remains to be seen. Will the champagne corks be popping at HQ? Hopefully yes. I think many people will be more curious and excited rather than scared. The world's press will have a field day. It will be the biggest news story of all time. Every telescope in the world will be turned in the direction of the sky where the signal came from. Schools will be discussing it - it will become part of the National Curriculum. Seti scientists might end up fighting over who gets the Nobel Prize. The world's religions will have to re-assess some of their fundamental beliefs, but I suspect that they will eventually accommodate the new data into their belief systems. Others will become upset and depressed. Every UFO cult will be trying to monopolize on the new discovery with, 'Well, we told you so, didn't we?'
Generally I think most people will just be interested. Very few will be running for the hills, I think. It will be a very exciting time for both science and humanity.
Susan.

There will be enough time between the first announcement of the signal and when the signal is confirmed to be coming from the heavens for people to pick it apart and cast doubt.

Idiots will also find something of "blame" in it, so that it can become partisan. Democrats will blame Bush. Republicans will blame Clinton.

Maybe we should be looking for Terrestial Intelligence...

The world's religions will have to re-assess some of their fundamental beliefs, but I suspect that they will eventually accommodate the new data into their belief systems.

Already done... Oh, you meant the people who haven't been following along in the manual... ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

It would be nice if the owner of the computer that decifered the message has something to say in (REPLY vs NO reply).

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PS. I also think that it will be impossible for anyone to cover it up.

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'No one can make you inferior without your consent.'
Eleanor Roosevelt.

I don't think there will be any kind of mass panic if a signal comes through. I think we will certainly get to know about it in the Press, but I would like to think that Seti participants would have the privilege of being given the news first. That remains to be seen. Will the champagne corks be popping at HQ? Hopefully yes. I think many people will be more curious and excited rather than scared. The world's press will have a field day. It will be the biggest news story of all time. Every telescope in the world will be turned in the direction of the sky where the signal came from. Schools will be discussing it - it will become part of the National Curriculum. Seti scientists might end up fighting over who gets the Nobel Prize. The world's religions will have to re-assess some of their fundamental beliefs, but I suspect that they will eventually accommodate the new data into their belief systems. Others will become upset and depressed. Every UFO cult will be trying to monopolize on the new discovery with, 'Well, we told you so, didn't we?'
Generally I think most people will just be interested. Very few will be running for the hills, I think. It will be a very exciting time for both science and humanity.
Susan.

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'No one can make you inferior without your consent.'
Eleanor Roosevelt.

Probably what'll happen is that (if we find anything) we'll just see a funny signal in some of our workunits that may or may not repeat. We'll study it but probably it'll be too old and from too far away for us to expect any kind of acknowledgment of receipt of reply. Of course the civilization could be so advanced that a Seti find might be unnecessary. Maybe some of its representatives will come by flying saucer just I saw in the movie "Earth Vs the Flying Saucers" on September 14, 1956.

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Thanks for posting this link, Tiare.

Personally, I have read it already, but there a large number who haven't. The number of threads that have been started asking the question show that very clearly!

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Contact: What happens if a Signal is Found, by Seth Shostak

For those who don't know what's next:

"First, the discoverers should verify that the signal is really extraterrestrial and artificial, not man-made interference or natural, cosmic static. Having done so, those who made the discovery are to notify all the other signatories to the document so that they can independently proceed to check it. They should also inform national authorities."

"Next on the list of those notified are all the world’s astronomers, so that every available telescope can be used to study the source of the signal. And then there’s this, verbatim from the protocol; namely that the detection “should be disseminated promptly, openly, and widely through scientific channels and public media…"

It is always necessary a good reading from Seth Shostak, isn't?

This isn't a person-to-person call, Mr. Kitz

Enjoy
Tiare Rivera.-

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