I think the big question is this:
Should we be trying to find intelligent extraterrestrial life AT ALL?
Chances are any intelligent beings we find will be far more advanced than we are, and they are more likely to view us as either nothing important or as something to be destroyed than to be kindred spirits searching for other life as we purport to be.
Even Stephen Hawking agrees with this when he said:
If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn’t turn out well for the Native Americans.
We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet.
So while Hawking is in favor of space exploration in general (obviously), he is not in favor of seeking out intelligent extraterrestrial life, and I'm inclined to agree it probably isn't a good idea.