The first rule of the Federation (in Star Trek is "non-interference." Advanced civilizations are not supposed to get involved in, and change the course of, lesser civilizations. The idea is taken directly from Dr. Margaret Mead, the great sociologist, who said that our approach to the head-hunters in Borneo, for instance, should be to observe without interfering.
So I posit the answer as this: There are tens of thousands of civilizations out there which are millions of years ahead of us in development. But, we are to them as the head-hunters of Borneo were to us. Their proper course of action is to leave us alone until we grow up. Maybe in another 10,000 years (provided we don't nuke ourselves back to the Stoe Age). we'll have playmates in our interstellar backyard.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column up -- "America's Two-Women Bobsled Gold Proves Cornel West is a Moron."