[ WP ] Humanity meets an alien race who are awed , not by our scientific or military achievements , but by the ability of humans to create fiction .

`` Uh, you wanted to see me?'' said the author as he stepped into the alien captains quarters. 
 
 `` Yes'' said the alien, his voice had a kind of talking underwater quality to it `` please, sit'' 
 
 The author looked down at the giant spike the alien had just motioned to. 
 
 `` I'm good to stand'' 
 
 `` Suit yourself'' the alien sat down on the spike. There was a suctioning sound. The author cringed. 
 
 `` So…uh'' 
 
 `` You're wondering why you are here'' 
 
 `` Yes'' 
 
 `` We've been observing your species for quite some time'' 
 
 `` So the UFO sightings are real?'' 
 
 `` No, our cloaking technology is undetectable by humans and human technology. OUr observations have led us to believe most UFO sightings are government surveillance craft'' 
 
 `` Oh ok. Wait'' 
 
 `` In our observations humans appear largely unremarkable. In fact of all species we have observed, humans are exceedingly unremarkable'' 
 
 `` Uhm thank you?'' 
 
 `` Your technology is passable but archaic, your conflicts are neither peaceful nor species ending, you have systems that involve attempting to resolve conflict through communication but are still quite terrible at talking to each other'' 
 
 `` I know it's true but it still kind of hurts'' 
 
 `` Humans are unremarkable in all areas except one'' 
 
 There was a pause, the alien readjusted on the spike. 
 
 `` Uhm…'' 
 
 `` I believe you would call it fiction'' 
 
 `` Ahh. Sorry fiction?'' 
 
 `` Yes, you are a creator of fiction, correct?'' 
 
 `` Yes'' 
 
 There was another pause. 
 
 `` Was that everything?'' said the author 
 
 `` No, I would like you to tell me about fiction'' 
 
 `` What about it?'' 
 
 `` Everything'' 
 
 `` Every…everything, right ok, sorry if we could backtrack, no one else creates fiction'' 
 
 `` The universe is a large, and even though are travels have allowed us to see more of it than humans, or any other species to our knowledge, much of it is still unmapped. 
 It is possible, perhaps even likely that many other species create fiction. But of the 556 that we have observed humans are unique in their ability and desire to create fiction'' 
 
 `` OK and so you want to know…everything, about fiction'' 
 
 `` Yes'' 
 
 `` Ok well, uhm fiction is when we make up stuff'' 
 
 `` So it is lies'' 
 
 `` No. Well yes. Not really. Kind of. Yes and No?'' 
 
 `` So it is made up but it is not lies?'' 
 
 `` Well…a lie you're trying to deceive people, you make stuff up to stop people from knowing the truth. With fiction you make stuff up to try and and help people know the truth'' 
 
 `` So fiction is truth?'' 
 
 `` Well if it's good, I guess. Depends on the type of fiction'' 
 
 `` The type of fiction?'' 
 
 `` Yes well, see sometimes people make stuff up just to entertain people, I for instance make stuff up to try and make people laugh'' 
 
 `` And when fiction makes people laugh it does not help them know the truth'' 
 
 `` Well I prefer when fiction that tries to teach me something also makes me laugh'' 
 
 `` Why?'' 
 
 `` Well some of the truths people get at are kind of harsh, so it's nice to have laughter as a counterbalance'' 
 
 `` So humans need fiction to cope with reality?'' 
 
 `` I'm not sure I would say need…'' 
 
 `` My planet also uses humour to combat harshness. It is why we teach all our warriors to laugh while they slaughter our enemies'' 
 
 `` Well that sounds…terrifying'' 
 
 `` If humans do not need fiction then why do you have it?'' 
 
 `` Well we do n't need it but I think it's maybe one level below need'' 
 
 `` Want?'' 
 
 `` Is there really no middle ground between need and want?'' 
 
 `` If you do not need something, but still seek it, you merely want it'' 
 
 `` I guess that makes sense. Yes we want fiction?'' 
 
 `` Why?'' 
 
 `` Uhm…'' 
 
 `` Would truth not be a better way of teaching truth?'' 
 
 `` Uhm…well…uhh…ok…metaphors'' 
 
 `` Pardon?'' 
 
 `` Do you have metaphors?'' 
 
 `` We have observed them in your species and are familiar with them, but we do not employ them in speech'' 
 
 `` Right but like, ok say I crash my car and the bill is really expensive instead of saying the real price for repairs I could say the repairs are costing me a million dollars, to really drive home that the repairs are expensive'' 
 
 `` Would that not be hyperbole'' 
 
 `` Oh shit'' 
 
 `` And our observations have suggested most humans do not and will never have or even see a million dollars. Would n't the actual price be a better metric for humans to judge the cost by?'' 
 
 `` Well yeah, but they do n't have a million dollars so it's a big number for them so it really drives home how expensive it is'' 
 
 `` Is n't there a chance that a human could not realize this is fiction and believe that the repairs are that much. Could that not lead to confusion, where a human believes you to be in possession of a million dollars? They could be upset when they find out it's not true'' 
 
 `` I guess it could happen but it's not likely…'' 
 
 `` Why do humans hate being deceived and yet love fiction?'' 
 
 `` Well because…uhm…ok see because they believe the lies because they want to believe the lies'' 
 
 `` Because the lies teach them truths?'' 
 
 `` Well no usually lies help them run from the truth'' 
 
 `` So humans do n't like the truth?'' 
 
 `` Uhm well yes and no'' 
 
 `` So they like the truth sometimes and not others'' 
 
 `` I guess yeah, whenever it's convenient but anyway, they want the lies to be true and then they learn that they are n't and they're upset'' 
 
 `` Because what they want to be true is n't?'' 
 
 `` Well yeah and also they might be angry for buying into it but with fiction, they maybe want to know it's not true, but they know it's not true so when they accept it as uhm…'' true'' I guess, then they get to live the lie without being deceived'' said the author, his voice rising at the end, asking a question to no one in particular. 
 
 `` And despite not being true they can learn truth from it?'' 
 
 `` Again they can if it's good and they're paying attention'' 
 
 `` So good art teaches truth?'' 
 
 `` Art's kind of subjective but yeah I think good art teaches truth'' 
 
 `` So fiction is both lies and truth?'' 
 
 `` Yes?'' 
 
 `` Thank you for your time, this has been most enlightening'' 
 
 `` It has?'' 
 
 `` Yes'' 
 
 `` Good then can you explain it back to me because I have no idea what I just said'' 
 
 `` A joke, you do know what you said, but are still kind of unclear on fiction. The idea that you would n't know is supposed to be humorous'' 
 
 There was a pause. 
 
 `` We will have someone escort you back down the the planet surface'' 
 
 The author turned to leave, then turned around. 
 
 `` Before I go…'' 
 
 `` You wish to ask about religion'' 
 
 `` Are you guys telepathic'' 
 
 `` We are neither all `` guys'' nor telepathic'' 
 
 `` Sorry guys is like…a sort of fiction. I guess. Do n't adopt that one though, it will make dealing with humans easier'' 
 
 `` Everyone we have talked to has asked about religion'' 
 
 A moment of silence. 
 
 `` Every planet observed has some form of what you would call religion, even ours. It is possible that it is true, it's possible that it is lies. It is possible that it is fiction, truth out of lies, lies that species willingly inhabit knowing they are false. There are those on every planet who believe that'' 
 
 `` I feel like there is a but coming'' 
 
 `` With each new planet we discover, with each new species we observe and with each new fact we learn, we find ourselves less and less qualified to say'' 
 
 `` oh'' 
 
 `` I see now that it is questions like this that might drive a species to create fiction'' 
 
 `` You have no idea''
