No individual is going to have the resources to respond to an alien signal unless it comes from Proxima Centari (very maybe) or not much further. No current earth broad would be easily recognizable from Proxima Centari with earth technology - a factor to consider when thinking about why entities aren't being easily detected. A powerful and very carefully aimed laser might work for greater distances but that wouldn't be something that can assembled in someone's garage.
But oppositely, if naturally defusing radio waves could be somehow detected from some further away location, the aliens would know already we're here and indeed lots about us so hand wringing about responding seems dumb there too.
I'm not sure why you're being down voted. Do others not realize how loud the sun is? Even trying our hardest to send messages it is like playing a rock concert next to a rocket. Loud, but even with the amps to 11 you're gonna just drown out in the background.
Not to mention that lightspeed is slow. Even to Proxima Centari it will take several years for that signal to reach its destination.
This is also the great challenge of SETI. It's quite possible we've already received alien signals but just can't differentiate them from all the noise. I know they say that in space no one can hear you scream, but the sun is screaming at the top of its lungs and it is a thing bigger than you can imagine.
But oppositely, if naturally defusing radio waves could be somehow detected from some further away location, the aliens would know already we're here and indeed lots about us so hand wringing about responding seems dumb there too.