"Uncontacted Tribes" - What to do?

[Antares]

A new uncontacted tribe was discovered in the Amazons by a plane; and there are already debates as to what to do with them. I have little doubt that if they get in touch with us and our technology (which are probably too awesome for them to comprehend), they would one day become like us (just like the Australian aboriginal tribes; their men and women married out, their kids attending public schools; and traditional culture slowly disappearing). In my opinion, if they wish to be left alone, we should respect that. I support autonomy, and I won't destroy that for another culture if that is their wish.

[PRBori]

I would say to just let them be....

[curiousjane]

Well, traditionally contact with tribes such as this has not turned out well for the explorers. And the tribes are living their own lives in the only way they know how. My instinct would be to let them be, but science is a curious mistress, so I know they would be contacted at some point.

[Karamazov]

It's their decision. If not, leave them be. It must be nice to lead so simple a life.

[Fissiongrid]

That's AWESOME to think that there are peoples out there that still think it's like it was a few hundred years ago.

And by all means DON'T go out searching for them!

(even though they will eventually be found)

[Homini Lupus]

I would contact their leaders once understood the basics of their way of thinking and communicating, then explain them the best way possible the pros and cons of western way of life, then let them decide.

[thod]

Dont send in men. Men see other men as opponents and a threat. If you have to contact them then in in young women. Their warriors will see them as potential sex partners and bring them back to the village.

[zxctizzle]

I say leave them be. I don't see what good could come from making contact. What could we learn from contacting them that would benefit today's society, i don't think it is worth it...changing their lives that much.

[Zadoc]

Is contact a good idea? I can't really say, but I would advocate observation.

I'd really like to ask them what they think of the airplane. Maybe it's their own version of jesus.


It must be nice to lead so simple a life.

You think? No enlightenment, science, some ridiculous religion, lack of medicine, security, and all?

Ya, I do not think that's "nice."


I don't see what good could come from making contact. What could we learn from contacting them that would benefit today's society...

Are you serious? This sounds like when people say, "I don't see what good can come from sending probes to other planets, how does this benefit today's society?"

Making contact with a tribe like this, or at least observing them, is the next best thing to hopping into a time machine and traveling back to the past.

It's a rare opportunity to learn about language, religion, and human psychology, which would expand our understanding of humanity, and how our ancestors lived, which could have unquantifiable benefits to history, anthropology, and psychology.

[Mogura]

Leave them be; do not attempt to contact them; and give them special protection...

[mkay]

I'd really like to ask them what they think of the airplane. Maybe it's their own version of jesus.

There was a picture of tribe members with arrows drawn at whatever aircraft was hovering above them, so I don't think they were thinking it was friendly. The version of the story I read said experts thought such tribes had previous contact however long ago that didn't turn out well.

[Zadoc]

A new uncontacted tribe was discovered in the Amazons by a plane; and there are already debates as to what to do with them. I have little doubt that if they get in touch with us and our technology (which are probably too awesome for them to comprehend), they would one day become like us (just like the Australian aboriginal tribes; their men and women married out, their kids attending public schools; and traditional culture slowly disappearing). In my opinion, if they wish to be left alone, we should respect that. I support autonomy, and I won't destroy that for another culture if that is their wish.

There was a picture of tribe members with arrows drawn at whatever aircraft was hovering above them, so I don't think they were thinking it was friendly. The version of the story I read said experts thought such tribes had previous contact however long ago that didn't turn out well.


The story should've been linked in the original post. Now we've created a myth of a tribe that has never had any contact with civilization, which is what several people in this thread clearly believe by their responses.

Here's the link. (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

Here are some excerpts:


Anthropologists say almost all of these tribes know about western civilization and have sporadic contact with prospectors, rubber tappers and loggers, but choose to turn their backs on civilization, usually because they have been attacked.

"It's a choice they made to remain isolated or maintain only occasional contacts, but these tribes usually obtain some modern goods through trading with other Indians," said Bernardo Beronde, an anthropologist who works in the region.

Survival International estimates about 100 tribes worldwide have chosen to avoid contact, but said the only truly uncontacted tribe is the Sentinelese, who live on North Sentinel island off the coast of India and shoot arrows at anyone who comes near.


That's just in reference to the specific story at hand. Further reading shows that there is limited contact with these tribes, done mostly in a scientific manner, or through other tribes. Further, a wealth of information has been learned through studying them.

So, in the future, let's be a little more "T"and "J." :)

[thod]

It should be easy enough to make a full body armor suit out of Kevlar like an imperial storm trooper that is impervious to their weapons.

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I always fancied the idea of being worshiped as a God.

[Lights]

I would say the possibility of annihilating them all by exposure to diseases they have never encountered before is a grave enough risk that they should be left alone.

[Karamazov]

Ya, I do not think that's "nice."
Spoken by someone who was born into it, naturally you wouldn't fathom otherwise.

[jesse]

Preferrably they should be left alone if they so desire themselves. Integrating them by force into the mainstream will be a pointless exercise of cultural genocide. No culture is greater or worse than the others out there and if they enjoy their way of life, so be it.

If they want contact with the outside world, maybe they will get in touch themselves. Forced contact has tended to lead to integration and pillage with less than favorable results in the end.

[Ool]

Depends on whether they sit on top of oil…

[jesse]

Depends on whether they sit on top of oil…

Good point. Forget about preserving an isolated culture, there's profit to be made! I'm sure the governments of Brazil and Peru will take a utilitarian approach. The isolated culture is expendable because they are occupying a far more important commodity.

[sriv]

Good point. Forget about preserving an isolated culture, there's profit to be made! I'm sure the governments of Brazil and Peru will take a utilitarian approach. The isolated culture is expendable because they are occupying a far more important commodity.

They give more land for rubber production as well. There's always benefit to be made.

[thod]

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Clearly they do not have planning permission for that hut. Are we to say anyone can build a hut wherever they like. What applies to one applies to all.

Then there is the question of the offensive weapons. Aiming a bow at passing aircraft not only constitutes a threat to the person, but shows a reckless disregard to the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.

Then there is the case of public nudity. If I painted my penis red and walked around the local shopping mall with it hanging out I would be arrested. Yet here we have them doing exactly the same. A coat of red paint does not constitute clothing.

Clearly these people are in breech of numerous criminal codes and should be dealt with.

[Fissiongrid]

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My brother is absolutely POSITIVE that these pictures are fake/photoshopped. I think they're real. Any ideas?

[Karamazov]

My brother is absolutely POSITIVE that these pictures are fake/photoshopped. I think they're real. Any ideas?

I was tempted to think It was a forgotten B-movie sequel to Planet of the Apes.

[Zadoc]

My brother is absolutely POSITIVE that these pictures are fake/photoshopped. I think they're real. Any ideas?

Dude, what's wrong with you? Obviously they're real and the sources for the images are legitimate.

[Dreamer]

Good point. Forget about preserving an isolated culture, there's profit to be made! I'm sure the governments of Brazil and Peru will take a utilitarian approach. The isolated culture is expendable because they are occupying a far more important commodity. Yep, yet another nudist culture disappearing because of imperialist greed. *sigh*

I figure that the problem with stormtrooper armor if you fail to make a good first impression, the natives might just try to rush you and engage in hand-to-hand fighting(in which case you are fucked),espescially if going solo.

So pick a weapon with a LARGE muzzle flash or something akin to a flamethrower. Preferably fully-automatic and with a large magazine/belt.Add some smoke grenades and flares for effects and you should be good to go in your quest for immortality.

[Motor Jax]

It should be easy enough to make a full body armor suit out of Kevlar like an imperial storm trooper that is impervious to their weapons.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I always fancied the idea of being worshiped as a God.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Clearly they do not have planning permission for that hut. Are we to say anyone can build a hut wherever they like. What applies to one applies to all.

Then there is the question of the offensive weapons. Aiming a bow at passing aircraft not only constitutes a threat to the person, but shows a reckless disregard to the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.

Then there is the case of public nudity. If I painted my penis red and walked around the local shopping mall with it hanging out I would be arrested. Yet here we have them doing exactly the same. A coat of red paint does not constitute clothing.

Clearly these people are in breech of numerous criminal codes and should be dealt with.

ROTFLMAO!! toooo damn funny!

*still wiping tears from his face*

My brother is absolutely POSITIVE that these pictures are fake/photoshopped. I think they're real. Any ideas?

I was tempted to think It was a forgotten B-movie sequel to Planet of the Apes.

Yep, yet another nudist culture disappearing because of imperialist greed. *sigh*

I figure that the problem with stormtrooper armor if you fail to make a good first impression, the natives might just try to rush you and engage in hand-to-hand fighting(in which case you are fucked),espescially if going solo.

So pick a weapon with a LARGE muzzle flash or something akin to a flamethrower. Preferably fully-automatic and with a large magazine/belt.Add some smoke grenades and flares for effects and you should be good to go in your quest for immortality.

this has definitely lightened up my day!!!



but i also think that if they just want to be out there, then that's on them. i'm sure they know more about the 'outside world' than most people would presume, simply because modern technology and humanity spans this entire planet. i doubt that they are just left in the mental dark about what the rest of the world is like. probably not to the extent or same reasoning as our own, but to their own understanding

they've lasted this long. why capture them and cage them up so that we can "further our own understanding" of this missing link?

and what if they talk in the clicking noises like those tribes in Africa?



but now i'm curious about their personality types

*says in steve irwin voice*
maybe we can catch one of the little buggers, give 'em a test, then release it back into the wild...

[Uytuun]

I think it's awesome there are still uncontacted people in our globalised world. pwnd. Leave them be and stop cutting down trees.

[foroneonly]

I think we should give them exposure to our culture and bring them into the fold if they so wish. I don't know. Hot water would be a pretty big inducement for me. However if they wish to stay there some sort of reservation agreement could be reached.