This is Us

Spaceship of unknown origin hovers over the Earth; two aliens stare at a screen, watching a woman bawling in front of her television.  A man sits beside her with a twisted grimace on his face.

“See Quagnar?  This bizarre species appears to force their child bearers to watch a show called “This is Us” on the communication box.  Whatever this broadcasts, it makes these creatures leak salt water from their faces.  It is a sign of sadness to these bipedal hominids.”

“Ah, what a bizarre ritual.”

“That’s not all Quagnar, they are then forced to tell people on another public forum called Facebook.  Then people “like” their misery in a great public shaming by selecting it from a menu of choices.”

“Even more strange.  What horrible crimes did they commit?  Did they fire their quantum rays without permission from the Overlord?  Did they not replace the spectra-transport power source?”

“No Quagnar, here is the suprise.  They CHOOSE to do this to themselves!  They themselves volunteer for this torture while their non child bearers appear to suffer in silence instead!  The female units actually actively engage in this behavior.”

“They are clearly too unstable a species to share our technology with.  Let us move on and share our superior science and medicine with another planet.”

Vessel flies off to other worlds.