How Do You Get to Be an Old Technological Civilization?

Stephen hawkins was extremely hostile towards efforts to communicate with other civilizations, arguing that we had no reason to believe they would have friendly intentions. I imagine the movie contact opened up all ss of avenues for you. And i think technology, well in advance of ours, and much older than ours, will also be kinder and gentler. But that's a think, i don't know that, neither does stephen. It's simply another ability.