[ WP ] Mankind is basically a reality TV show for the rest of the universe . We finally make first contact , and they ca n't stop referencing popular moments from the show

Dr. Seinberg pinched the bridge of his nose. 
 
 `` Yes, yes, that was wonderful,'' he repeated. The voices coming from the computer in front of him were repeating quotes from the past - be it ten minutes or a thousand years - all in the original language. He gathered that there was a group on the other end of the link, and they were reminiscing, as though it was a comical show. 
 
 `` Perhaps we can discuss the FTL Drive, then?'' he asked, hoping to bring the conversation back around. 
 
 `` Ai n't nobody has got time for that,'' came the response, enunciating all the wrong syllables. Dr. Seinberg sighed. 
 
 `` What's up, doc?'' a voice asked. 
 
 `` Hilarious,'' he muttered under his breath. `` If we're done here -'' 
 
 `` Nein!'' came a suddenly loud response. Dr. Seinberg stood up in frustration as repeated ( and oddly humored ) echoes came from the computer. 
 
 `` Is our entire history just some sort of joke?'' he asked. 
 
 `` Et tu, Brute?'' came one response. 
 
 `` You mad?'' came another. A half dozen others were repeated, but most were outside Dr. Seinberg's grasp of the world's languages. 
 
 He decided to try once more. Perhaps they could be reasoned with. `` We have in front of us a unique opportunity to learn from one another and -'' 
 
 Out of nowhere, the communication was filled with a raspberry-like sound. Evidently, they had thought this the best thing of all, because those who were n't also doing it were apparently laughing their heads off. At least, he assumed it was laughter. 
 
 `` We did not work for decades to establish contact with an advanced extraterrestrial civilization just to be mocked!'' he shouted. The voices died down, and he second-guessed himself for a moment. 
 
 `` I apologize for being short with you,'' he said. `` We simply expected so much more than -'' 
 
 He was interrupted yet again; something in what sounded like broken Chinese. He reached forward and closed the transmission. He'd been getting nowhere fast. Without a word, he rose and left the room, meeting an expectant gathering. 
 
 `` Well?'' one man asked. `` What can we learn from them?'' 
 
 Dr. Seinberg sighed. `` Everything. But it's like squeezing water from a rock.'' 
 
 Far away, much farther than the gathering there knew, a group of creatures watched the human gathering. 
 
 `` I see how it is,'' one said in its own tongue. `` So they can make references to their history, but we ca n't?'' 
 
 `` Well, we did break the rules. We were n't supposed to communicate with them for another ten cycles.'' 
 
 The first gave a strange sort of scoff. `` In the words of the humans,'rules were made to be broken.'''
