The Drake Equation includes 7 variables. Assigning a value to any of the last 4 of them necessitates wild, mostly baseless speculation, approaching the theological. It does make things look scientific, though, being an equation, and all.
Only humans are stupid enough to send radio signals into deep space:
“Here we are. Attack us at will. Eat us for food. Steal our resources. We are stupid and defenseless against your technology.”
Homo Sapiens has a severe case of Dunning Kruger:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
The Drake equation is a big chuckle. It’s an attempt to make pure conjecture appear scientific.
“The Drake Equation includes 7 variables.”
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Does one of the variables account solely for the length of time estimate for a lifeless inorganic speck to magically become alive? That one always stumps me...