so let's assume SETI is mostly looking for electromagnetic emissions as a trace for aliens. let's also assume that exchanging information via e.e. happens only

so let's assume SETI is mostly looking for electromagnetic emissions as a trace for aliens. let's also assume that exchanging information via e.e. happens only during a very short timeframe for any given civilization (eg. ~200 years), because soon more advance communication methods arise (eg. quantum teleportation) and the communication via e.e. is left to a few nostalgic nerds (via transmitors far too weak to reach our galaxy). on a timeline of several billion years, this means that the chance that two civiliations are per chance roughly in the same state of development (eg. 200 years window of e.e. + the delay in lightyears for the emissions to reach our planet), is probably close to zero. (and this is probably true for any given technology). at least that's my take on it. i'm pretty darn sure we're not the only ones out there.