[digging]

You seriously don't understand the difference between finding alien microbes vs finding aliens that can build guns and point them at us? Or for that matter, aliens that can actively teach us new things. I just... no, I don't think you're the only one who has this position, but it's the kind of wanton ignorance that doesn't need to be shared.

[SnazzyJeff]

I mean, I'd also like to find elves. I don't see any reason to suspect either exists. There's an assumption that intelligence is a natural progression for evolution of life, which seems irrational. Why is intelligence so special compared to other mechanisms of self-organization?

[digging]

That's not an answer to my question, it's just different a wrong assertion.

To answer your new point,

Life has never once failed to become self-aware and capable of space travel in the entire history of the universe, as far as we know. What could possibly make you think it's irrational to expect it could happen again?

[AnimalMuppet]

There are quite a few clades here on earth that failed to become self-aware, still less capable of space travel.

[digging]

I didn't say every living thing became technologically advanced, but that life on earth did. It only takes one species for a planet like our to be screaming at full volume in every direction simultaneously.