Was Goku Accepted As An Alien Solely Because He Was So Powerful?

[Sovran Nila]

Did the humans accept Goku only for the fact that he was powerful?

 

[SSJ2]

They accepted him because of his character. You would have never known that he was an alien if Raditz never showed up.

 

[Warmmedown]

If you mean after NilaRaditz arrived, no. They wouldn't reject him being an alien, even if he was weaker. They have weaker friends, like Oolong, Chazou and Yamcha. Obviously if he was very normal, he wouldn't know them all so well or if he was only as strong as Yamcha they'd all be killed by King Piccolo (maybe not Tien/Chazou, as they may've not become part of the group). There's zero indication they even care that he's an alien. They don't bring it up, except for when it's relevant to battle power. Look how affected they were by Goku's death, even before they knew Nappa and Vegeta would be on the way - it's beyond the care for someone considered an outsider.

 

[DragonBallSyndicate]

There's a dog mayor, Shiba ninja, transforming pig, talking turtle. Goku is more normal even with a tail.

 

[TheVocalsmith]

Goku was accepted as an Alien cuz Raditz yapped his ear off about it

also didn't Major Metallitron say something about Goku not being Human?

 

[Papasmurf]

Goku was accepted as an Alien cuz Raditz yapped his ear off about it

also didn't Major Metallitron say something about Goku not being Human?

He scanned him and read him as an alien in the anime only

 

[TheVocalsmith]

Ah thanks for the reminder (I didnt watch OG I only read it)

 

[Spiral-Force]

Both of those things didn't matter much in terms of accepting him, but being strong is definitely a bonus in terms of how his friends viewed him. Visible differences lightly hinted at him being different, but didn't stabilize in a way that would concern his origin in part 1. Power-related statements that suggest extraordinary power can be chalked up to being an elite fighter, much like Roshi, Tien, Tao and other outliers among earthlings at the time.