[null and void]

IF, and it's a big IF, our understanding of physics is correct, and FTL is impossible, then any visitors arriving en masse would have most likely got here by a multi generational star ship. Scores of generations without ever setting foot on a planet. History/racial memory of planet bound life wouldn't pique desire to to actually be on a planet, indeed, the bad parts and scary monsters would end up being the prevailing view of planet bound life.

If they've been watching our TV, they may be a little reluctant to even let us know they exist...

[realpatriot71]

If they've been watching our TV, they may be a little reluctant to even let us know they exist...

And they'd be crazy to let us exist (HA!), but that's all, again, assuming intelligent beings capable of finding this planet are (1) unable to handle the human species with their current technology and/or (2) that these being have a moral/ethic (or any at all!) that conludes wether a species should or should not live on any inhabitated planet.

[reformed_democrat]

If they've been watching our TV, they may be a little reluctant to even let us know they exist...

C.S. Lewis did a great series on just this thought. I read it years ago, and, if I remember correctly, the first in the series was Out of the Silent Planet.

Alien races had "discovered" Earth, but were waiting for us to "grow up."

[50sDad]

History/racial memory of planet bound life wouldn't pique desire to to actually be on a planet, indeed, the bad parts and scary monsters would end up being the prevailing view of planet bound life.

"Geez, look at the dirt you've got all over the place! Don't you hew-mans ever clean up out here?"