Drake's equation makes it seem likely that life should be abundant in the universe.

The number of observable galaxies times the average number of stars in each galaxy times the number of planets/satellites in what we call the habitable zone of each system equals an astronomical number that I couldn't possibly fathom, even if we kept the numbers that were used very very conservative. If even 1 in 1,000 of those planets harbor life of some sort there would still be millions with life. If only 1 in 1,000 of those had 'advanced' life, there world still be a shit load of them.

The Fermi paradox simply asks the question "where are they?"

One of the widely accepted answers is, "there are none" while another, my favorite, is that there are many many other life forms out there, but there is also one that attacks, kills/harvests other life for food or some type of personal gain and most of the other societies out there know about them and keep their heads down and their mouths shut... But not us. We are here screaming and waving trying to get anyone to notice us while all the others watch and wait for the horror of this planet being ravaged and killed by the murderers.

Another widely accepted answer has to do with The Great Filter, which is some event or obstacle that the life form must overcome to proceed but usually fails, resulting in extinction of said life form.

Or, again, Mayne they see us for the shit-show we are and have no time for our nonsense.