It is taken for granted that humanity very much wants to learn to fly to other stars. But is it ready for contact?

This article questions the widespread belief that humanity is ready for interstellar travel and contact with other civilizations. The author traces a chain of ideas: from the hypothesis that civilization is a special form of matter (Form 3) and civilizationology as a science studying its parameters (KVDS – long‑term planning, IRP – reflexivity, among others), to the concept of a portable civilization detector – the Xenolog. However, the Xenolog is useless without a starship, and a starship does not exist because there is no engine. This leads to a deeper question: why fly to the stars if we are not internally ready? The article considers a hypothetical model in which external observers (if they exist) might actively block our attempts to leave the Solar System, judging humanity as dangerous, immature, or “sick”. This hypothesis (a “sanitary cordon”) offers one explanation for the Fermi paradox. The main conclusion is that before building starships, humanity must change – become more reflexive, cooperative, long‑term oriented, and less aggressive. Measurable indicators of progress are proposed: reduction of military spending, fulfillment of climate agreements, growth of international collaborations. The author urges independent researchers to focus not on engines but on diagnosing and “healing” their own civilization, using the idea of the Xenolog as a mirror. The article is a sketch and an invitation to discussion, aimed at a general audience.