Art by javipredator666 - 2013

https://www.deviantart.com/javipredator666/art/Cthulhu-363843124

Maybe all the oil is actually their blood and we're slowly killing them while destroying our planet.

Or just their poop. Imagine they invading human dreams, corrupt minds and create obscure cults pushing the industry just because they want someone to clean their underground latrines.

It's kinda like Scientology, but with levels. And humans are the bottom level.

I heard one good take similar to this where fire is basically just oxidization from a chemistry perspective and therefor earth from the perspective of other species is a hell planet covered in fire and we're basically eternally burning demons of war and consumption.

There's this story in one mythos anthology, "Cthulhu Rising" by HEATHER GRAHAM. Where a group of people find themself suddenly alone on a cruise ship with all the crew missing and part of the docks covered in big patch of black oil fluids.

We really are. I like that.

The take, not the reality. To be clear.

We take on the dark contract with the old gods, gaining not only their power, but their damnation.

The black ichor that powers our corruption of the planet? Who could have known it was the blood of sleeping monster gods? It is also a truth that we made a sport that burns blood to go as fast as possible. Suck it gods.

It turns out that we are the “great old ones” and our planet is considered an inhospitable hell planet by the rest of the galaxy.

I think this is implied, but for those that don't know, cellular resparation is also an oxidation reaction meaning we are slowly burning every time we breathe.

Fun fact: nearly 85% of weight loss happens through respiration. We use up a little of our carbon-based body with every breath we take.

Dark Forest Theory. The latest season of Dungeons and Daddies is about this.

I thought dark forest theory was that there are more fake people than real ones on the internet

That's the dead internet theory. Dark forest theory is that we haven't had contact with alien civilizations because doing so would be suicide, as all resources are finite and highly advanced civilizations will preemptively destroy emerging civilizations before they become a threat. So there is no "noise" in the galaxy, because everyone is hiding and watching, like in a dark forest. It's based on the sequel to the 3-body problem by Cixin Liu, called The Dark Forest.

Die Erde ist ein Strafplanet.

They check in now and then.

The Police - Every Breath You Take

Muss man wissen.

Nooo, you're supposed to correct them but give another wrong answer, and then the next person corrects you but gives another wrong answer, it's a whole thing.
The Three-Body Problem was so good, I really meant to read the other books in the series too.

It reminds me of a writing prompt that I read. The story was the solar system was made as an experiment to make a super advance race of killers.

Humans finally make it beyond our solar system, but find out everything beyond it was a projection. We see the real universe after it and there are alien races locked in a war. All of our tech, strength, speed, and whatnot are so far advanced that it's easy to stop the battle. Water is deadly to them. We can breath in space. There is oxygen. Not only that, but humans consume calories with just breathing so we don't have to eat. Some humans get fat and have to get on breath machines to reduce the calorie intake.

Anyway the alien race you save realized, you are from Earth and get shocked. They thought that experiment ended thousands of years ago. They welcome us as heroes. It doesn't end that great for most people involved.

I tried to look for it and I can't find it to link.