Cool article.
I have often wondered about the wisdom of announcing our presence.
I mean, we could well benefit from contact with extraterrestrials, but history shows that contact with a technologically superior civilization seldom benefits the "discoverees", at least in the initial contact era.
Look at the history of the American, aboriginal peoples after contact with Europeans. The first contact initiated sweeping pandemics of diseases unknown to them, and then there was the exploitation and enslavement, manifest destiny, appropriation of territory, reservation life for those lucky enough to survive, alcoholism and more exploitation, government subsidies, but they did survive, to open tourist traps and casinos.
I suppose if we earthlings survive initial contact, perhaps we can hope to integrate into their society after a few hundred generations, and earth could become a nice resort where we can sell them beer and candy and sunscreen, while they rest and relax, recuperating for conquering the universe.
Any civilization that has mastered interplanetary travel will probably find our technology, at best, "quaint".
Or, they may find us just annoying, noisy pests, like mosquitoes at a picnic, to be removed so they can enjoy this nice little planet without interference.
Who knows? roll the dice.
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