I'm a space guy, and you're not going to have a conversation at all with 60,000 year lag, because by the time anybody gets anybody else's second response, that anybody else will be well on their way to send probes or representatives or something. And that 60k year lag is not a far-fetched estimate, you did good, because if the only other life-bearing solar system was on the exact opposite side of the galaxy, but the same distance away from the galactic center, it'd be ~50,000 light years away.

I don't think life is that sparse, and if I were an advanced species that came across humans, I'd leave them alone on principle (please clap). No but if there were an ethical galactic order, I guarantee you that it'd afford some protections to us mudcrabs, currently reveling in our own filth and squalor, until we grow up as a species.

I'm currently considering the idea that "the great filter" may generally do a good job in snuffing out species unable to develop compassion on a planetary scale, so predominantly good guys make it to Type II or III civilizations. Not yet sure I really believe that (or doubt it), but it's still fun to entertain the notion. This "great filter" is directly related to the idea of the Fermi Paradox, which is mentioned in the jacobinmag article.

I saw Ad Astra in theaters (first time at the movies in over a year), and despite the great cinematography and Brad Pitt's typically fantastic performance, it's a no, from me. Apparently it's just really difficult to write a good sci-fi story line.

Please ask me questions to stop me from reading more Fox News articles?