[qam1]

How about we are just in a crappy location. We are all alone (as opposed to being in a nebula) at the edge of spiral Arm, 2/3 on the way out.

Essentially, in Galactic terms, we are in the middle of nowhere in South Dakota.

The whole galaxy could be filled with life that talks to each other, but we are just so far away from it all

[Norm Lenhart]

I just can’t get past the sheer arrogance of it all. Literally 40 years ago, we could not verify the existence of a single planet outside the solar system. Not one.

Now, 40 years later, some liberal ivy tower whackjob in a lab coat/pocket protector can make a definitive statement saying we are alone? On it’s face it’s absurd.

Maybe we are. But These guys sure don’t have the evidence to prove it. We can’t even doc all the species on our planet yet. We find plants in volcanic vents where ‘life cannot exist’ almost regularly now.

[Buggman]

Actually, we're in a primo position: Close enough in to actually have the material for rocky planets, but far enough out to not be irradiated. Being between the galactic arms keeps us far enough away from potential supernovae that could likewise irradiate us. Being between the arms is likewise the only reason we're even aware of the existence of other galaxies, since it gives us a clear view.

Pretty much any alien civiliztion would need a piece of real estate like the one we have.