[...] In February 2008, Douglas Vakoch, Director of Interstellar Message Composition at the SETI Institute, pointed out that sending out too much information to the stars could hurt future generations: "Before sending out even symbolic messages, we need an open discussion about the potential risks [...] It's very charitable to send out our encyclopedia, but that may short-change future generations." – Douglas Vakoch (Feb. 2008). [...]

[...] kinda makes one of my articles on the Universe Today, "Are we sending a bit too much information into the cosmos?", a bit void. Why worry about sending messages into space when were doing it by default [...]

Detection Probability of Terrestrial Radio Signals
by a Hostile Super-civilization

http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.2754

Namely, that it's first priority is survival above all.

We're the equivalent of the neighbours everyone gossips about in hushed whispers.

At the risk of sounding like some of the advanced races in much of the Sci-Fi we all know and love; we're too primitive to make contact with.

We're still bogged down by religion; with most preaching peace, but advocating and practicing violence. Our leaders are little better, tending to think in terms of the next election, and how to further enrich themselves at the expense of the public. Oh, yes; and we also still assign artificial values to material goods, as if they mean more to us than people.

If foolhardy extraterrestrials landed on the White House lawn tomorrow, they'd probably greet us with open arms, as opposed to our fake smiles, and snipers on the roof. At every turn (as many here have said), we'd be trying to figure out how best to kill them and rob them of their technology; all while trying to make it look like an accident.

Why are we worth knowing?

If I thought there was a chance that you would develop the technology to travel the distances involved before you destroy yourselves, I would have put life on other planets for you to kill.

You guys crack me up… Seriously.

God.

We expect technologically advanced aliens to give and give (whether it's tech or knowledge) but we have a history of being the most selfish and self-serving of pr*cks.

We can't be bothered to unite as a world. Our focus is capitalism and what we can do for OURSELVES – the hell with everyone else.

What if alien life needed our help? What if they needed it desperately? What would we do then…

Probably the same thing we're doing now… nothing except continued exploitation.

Until we're ready to be more than just the animals we already are, our focus should be in terraforming technology, the environment, worldwide peace (so we can focus funds on where they are needed) and other requirements for our worldwide growing population.

Day 1: The Aliens finally arrive here on earth after the beatles song is a big hit on their home planet.

Day 2: The RIAA sues alien world for illegal downloading.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/02/scientists-at-s.html

Anihilation and extermination would seem unlikely outcomes, as a symbiotic relationship benefts all and individuals within technically advanced civilizations will not be stopped in the pursuit of profit.