I thought science was working on protocols? Livescience, Nov 22nd article. Of course, what does it mean by 'scientist are working on official protocols...' Shouldn't this be a world discussion, and not just scientists?

Should we put scientist at the top of the list for contact? Diplomats? Economist? Militarists? I bet no one puts a spiritual advisor up first. Did you not read Carl Sagan's Contact? Anyone we put forwards would likely be an assumption about their nature.

The fact that we don't even have a public forum that would collectively sort the values of what most humans would like to convey at the first meeting says a lot about us. We're too worried about the masses panicking, and yet- when push comes to shove it is the everyday person doing all the heavy lifting for humanity who probably should have the most say. Aliens didn't come here to take advice from the Kardashians. And they likely won't care what are physicists have to say. If they have a prime directive, they won't answer your questions, either.

Wouldn't it be funny if you asked the Non-human intelligences about the mysteries of the universe and they say, "We sent you representatives and you killed the messengers."