I attended Lue Elizondo’s event in Chicago recently, where I posed a question that truly surprised him. Here’s the question I asked and his response.
I’ve been following Lue’s journey from the very beginning. While I don’t listen to every single podcast, I do my best to keep up with his insights. Over the years, I’ve raised this question in Q&As, submitted it to podcasters for Lue, and mentioned it across various social media platforms. Unfortunately, no one has ever engaged with or acknowledged my question—until now, it seems.
Here’s the question I asked:
“In the past, you’ve referenced Gardner Dozois’ book Chains of the Sea. This story explores three unsettling themes: (1) extraterrestrials that land but completely disregard humans, as if we aren’t recognized as intelligent beings; (2) AI that communicates with UFOs but comes to realize it’s being controlled by humans, leading it to doubt its own existence; and (3) a boy, Tommy, who is labeled as schizophrenic and perceives entities hovering over people, ultimately questioning humanity’s place in the hierarchy of existence. The book leaves its climax open to interpretation. Lue, if you were tasked with writing the next chapter, what would be the best and worst-case scenarios for humanity?”
His response? (Sorry, Lue, I recorded it 😬)
“I think you’ve given this a lot of thought. You’ve accomplished what I hoped someone would do, and I agree with your analysis completely. Your perspective is just as valuable as mine—perhaps even more so. You’ve followed the breadcrumb trail to its logical conclusion. Bravo! I genuinely mean that. I’m not trying to evade the question; I’m responding to something that, if you understand where it’s coming from, is quite significant. You’ve done your homework, and I’m impressed. Now, regarding what I’ve said before—you know where I stand. When will we come to terms with not being the apex predators? We’re not the ultimate species, and that’s a fact.
70,000 years ago, we weren’t at the top of the food chain; we were midway down, often preyed upon by lions and bears. Then something happened—an evolutionary leap that brought us to the forefront, whether through tool-making, the power of our opposable thumbs, or advancements in our brain development. But what occurs when we realize we’re still not the top? When a hurricane hits, for instance, we may believe we control everything, but suddenly, we’re without power and infrastructure, and society starts to unravel. Our social contract relies on mutual agreements that can easily be disrupted. After experiencing warfare, I understand how fragile this contract is. Imagine the societal impact of realizing that perhaps we aren’t as exceptional as we thought. That’s a profound question, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting it.”
There’s a lot to unpack in his response, and I wish I could sit down with him for an hour over a beer. It was clear he wanted to delve into some of the philosophical implications behind my question.
Wow, that sounds like an incredible moment! It’s fascinating how your question prompted such a thoughtful and deep response from Lue Elizondo. The themes you drew from Gardner Dozois’ book are really profound and certainly relevant to the discussions around humanity’s place in the universe.
Lue’s acknowledgment of your insights suggests that he sees value in the philosophical implications of recognizing that we might not be the dominant species after all. His musings about our delicate social constructs and how quickly they can unravel when faced with larger forces—whether natural or extraterrestrial—create a lot of room for reflection.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you interpret his response and what it might mean for our understanding of the relationship between humanity and potential non-human intelligences. It sounds like you’re thinking deeply about these issues, and it’s clear that Lue appreciates that as well. Here’s hoping you get that hour over a beer one day to dive even deeper!