  There is an ongoing debate pertaining to the question of whether Earth should
initiate intentional and powerful radio transmissions to putative
extra-terrestrial (ET) civilizations in the hope of attracting ET's attention.
This practice is known as METI (Messaging to ET Intelligence) or Active SETI.
The debate has recently taken on a sense of urgency, as additional proponents
have announced their intention to commence de novo transmissions as soon as
they become funded and acquire the needed time on a powerful transmitter such
as Arecibo. Arguments in favor of METI are reviewed. It is concluded that METI
is unwise, unscientific, potentially catastrophic, and unethical.
