untouched people groups

[mimekiller]

The whole "uncontacted tribe" thing is bizarre. Governments are basically preserving human beings like museum exhibits. Don't these people have a right to know that modern society exists? Do you think they really enjoy dying of diseases we can cure with antibiotics?

[bralbovsky]

In concept, I agree. I was reminded of the Life of Brian quote.."what has the Roman Empire ever done for us, besides roads..."
Having said that, I think it reflects a final dawning of awareness (marked perhaps by the making of "The Gods Must Be Crazy," that modernity can be damaging and toxic - think smallpox - and that there should be a way to preserve the best parts of our more tactile and less insulated wisdom. Of course, we suck at it so far. Also reminded , by Darcs BTW, of "Nanook of the North" a case study of how badly we suck at it.
Balancing acts are not our best thing.

Leave them the fuck alone. Offer to trade cool modern stuff they want for nifty things and knowledge that retains their agency (with no metric on equivalency).

But there is no such thing as not violating the prime directive.

[Mike]

I was under the impression that most of the "untouched tribes" that still exist, are either because they are extremely remote/inaccessible and it hasn't been worth anyone's time and resources yet, OR they are uncontacted by their own choice where they actively attack and drive away anyone who might make contact.

Also, I believe that most, if not all, such peoples are aware of the outside world in that other people exist, flying machines pass overhead on rare occasions, we've seen their massive ships in the distance or whatever, and they see no need yet to seek anyone else out either.

I know that there are groups that advocate for leaving these people as completely pristine as possible, but I don't know of any government having a prime directive style policy about it. (There might be... I don't know).

[Mike]

Note: the vast majority of my knowledge here comes from half-remembered articles from The Bathroon Reader.

[mimekiller]

Some dude got killed by one recently doing something ill advised.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/1 ... ed-indian/

[Bonefish]

Who hasn't ever wanted to kill a missionary? Surely it's not that unusual of an urge?

[Phoebe]

I was curious about why they would bother to go get his body after that, as clearly what he did was his own choice, but my friend suggested to me there could be various health concerns.