I've seen mentions around concerning *time* and how fast things move, 
that why couldn't great cultures have arisen in the (almost
inconceivable to us) universe back in 10^-20 sec on to when it became
ten times older -- or in any other order of magnitude aging of it?  

So seems to me, the question is larger than it at first seems.  And to
me the Fermi question seems even more important today.  

Cheers -- Martha Adams