Raynine
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- Oct 28, 2023
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Are We an Alien Experiment Bound to Fail?
Sometimes I wonder if space aliens have landed. If they wanted to tamper with us as a species and take over the planet, it might be in their interest to make us so self-destructive that we collapse our own civilization. This idea first occurred to me years ago when I read about John B. Calhoun’s experiments with Norway rats. In these studies, rats—and later mice—were given everything they needed to survive: food, space, and protection from predators. Yet, their communities inevitably went extinct.
Humans are lifeforms like any other, and we act and react in many of the same ways. While our larger brains give us a cognitive edge, it’s increasingly apparent that they may not be enough to overcome the forces leading us toward collapse.
The Historical Cycle of Human Collapse
What’s happening today might not be new. Archaeological and anthropological evidence suggests humanity has existed far longer than we commonly recognize. It’s possible we’ve risen and fallen as a species countless times. Sites like Göbekli Tepe point to advanced civilizations predating what we consider the dawn of human history.
Why do civilizations fail?
Arnold Toynbee once suggested that societies are not murdered; they commit suicide. Something inherent in human experimentation keeps failing, forcing resets. If aliens are watching or orchestrating this, they might be trying different configurations to see how we inevitably destroy ourselves. Perhaps they view us as ants in a colony, their interest equal parts scientific curiosity and wry entertainment.
Modern American Decline
Looking at the modern era, particularly in America, a pattern of systemic self-destruction becomes clear. Take the “Great Society” initiative launched by Lyndon Johnson in the 1960s. It was meant to end poverty, crime, and inequality through central planning—a curious choice, given that central planning was synonymous with the failures of America’s Cold War adversaries.
Instead of alleviating social ills, the Great Society inadvertently created a dependent economic underclass spanning all demographics, though disproportionately affecting minorities. This “kept” class shows no signs of becoming self-sufficient, and the erosion of the traditional family structure that followed has had cascading effects, including behavioral problems in schools.
The Education System and the Drug Epidemic
Rather than abandoning central planning, Washington doubled down, using it to address school behavioral problems by introducing medication. The diagnosis of disorders like ADD (later ADHD) skyrocketed, and millions of children were placed on psychoactive drugs like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. These powerful amphetamines, once colloquially called "speed," are now routine. College campuses today are filled with addicted young adults who were taught to rely on these substances from a young age.
The long-term effects of these drugs remain poorly understood. How do they influence lifespan, mental health, or the likelihood of addiction and early dementia? The lack of substantial research is concerning. Some might argue that this pharmaceutical dependency is a way to sustain the educational system itself—a system that became more about numbers and profits than genuine learning after the 1957 Sputnik crisis.
Suddenly, sending everyone to college became a national imperative, not to foster scientific and technological talent but to inflate enrollment and revenue. Standards were lowered, and many liberal arts colleges became glorified extensions of high school. The result? Today’s campuses are often hotbeds of chaos, discord, and nihilistic ideologies that offer little hope for societal progress.
A Time to Reflect
If we are an experiment, we might be failing again. The patterns of societal collapse, both ancient and modern, seem eerily similar. Whether it’s the unintended consequences of well-meaning initiatives or the self-serving systems that prioritize profit over progress, humanity appears trapped in cycles of self-destruction.
Can this be corrected? We better hope so. Otherwise, whether by alien design or our own doing, the story of humanity might just repeat itself once more—another failed attempt in a series of experiments gone awry.
Sometimes I wonder if space aliens have landed. If they wanted to tamper with us as a species and take over the planet, it might be in their interest to make us so self-destructive that we collapse our own civilization. This idea first occurred to me years ago when I read about John B. Calhoun’s experiments with Norway rats. In these studies, rats—and later mice—were given everything they needed to survive: food, space, and protection from predators. Yet, their communities inevitably went extinct.
Humans are lifeforms like any other, and we act and react in many of the same ways. While our larger brains give us a cognitive edge, it’s increasingly apparent that they may not be enough to overcome the forces leading us toward collapse.
The Historical Cycle of Human Collapse
What’s happening today might not be new. Archaeological and anthropological evidence suggests humanity has existed far longer than we commonly recognize. It’s possible we’ve risen and fallen as a species countless times. Sites like Göbekli Tepe point to advanced civilizations predating what we consider the dawn of human history.
Why do civilizations fail?
Arnold Toynbee once suggested that societies are not murdered; they commit suicide. Something inherent in human experimentation keeps failing, forcing resets. If aliens are watching or orchestrating this, they might be trying different configurations to see how we inevitably destroy ourselves. Perhaps they view us as ants in a colony, their interest equal parts scientific curiosity and wry entertainment.
Modern American Decline
Looking at the modern era, particularly in America, a pattern of systemic self-destruction becomes clear. Take the “Great Society” initiative launched by Lyndon Johnson in the 1960s. It was meant to end poverty, crime, and inequality through central planning—a curious choice, given that central planning was synonymous with the failures of America’s Cold War adversaries.
Instead of alleviating social ills, the Great Society inadvertently created a dependent economic underclass spanning all demographics, though disproportionately affecting minorities. This “kept” class shows no signs of becoming self-sufficient, and the erosion of the traditional family structure that followed has had cascading effects, including behavioral problems in schools.
The Education System and the Drug Epidemic
Rather than abandoning central planning, Washington doubled down, using it to address school behavioral problems by introducing medication. The diagnosis of disorders like ADD (later ADHD) skyrocketed, and millions of children were placed on psychoactive drugs like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. These powerful amphetamines, once colloquially called "speed," are now routine. College campuses today are filled with addicted young adults who were taught to rely on these substances from a young age.
The long-term effects of these drugs remain poorly understood. How do they influence lifespan, mental health, or the likelihood of addiction and early dementia? The lack of substantial research is concerning. Some might argue that this pharmaceutical dependency is a way to sustain the educational system itself—a system that became more about numbers and profits than genuine learning after the 1957 Sputnik crisis.
Suddenly, sending everyone to college became a national imperative, not to foster scientific and technological talent but to inflate enrollment and revenue. Standards were lowered, and many liberal arts colleges became glorified extensions of high school. The result? Today’s campuses are often hotbeds of chaos, discord, and nihilistic ideologies that offer little hope for societal progress.
A Time to Reflect
If we are an experiment, we might be failing again. The patterns of societal collapse, both ancient and modern, seem eerily similar. Whether it’s the unintended consequences of well-meaning initiatives or the self-serving systems that prioritize profit over progress, humanity appears trapped in cycles of self-destruction.
Can this be corrected? We better hope so. Otherwise, whether by alien design or our own doing, the story of humanity might just repeat itself once more—another failed attempt in a series of experiments gone awry.
