Could we be one of the OLDEST civilizations in the galaxy?

> From: joe@...
> In any significant way? I don't see how. You still have a
> civilization (no matter how many species you want to count in it)
> colonizing the whole galaxy before the #2 civilization (the one
> evolving on a completely different planet) gets off the ground, right?

Only if they co-operate. Otherwise they MAKE species #2, or rather species
#1b. If #1a and #1b chose to dislike each other, they can restrict progress
indefinitely in any number of ways. Especially if species #1c-#1z turn up
along the way.

This list exists because people think making 'worlds' is a better approach
than making do with what we find lying around. Taking that idea a step
further, it's likely a species will manufacture true aliens long before it
has to put up with any it finds. Applying the three rules from the Atomic
Rocket site and you have a recipe for conflict.

I'm also uncertain about maintaining momentum for a 100 million years. The
inner worlds will eventually have to contend with zero growth. If they do
not wish to, or fail, this can create problems for the surrounding colonies,
and potentially make such a colonisation effort rot from the inside. Or any
other number of things can go wrong. Just because it could be done
mathematically, it doesn't mean it's actually that easy or desirable in
practice.

John