Dark Forest theory, anyone?

It was a supergiant, hence died at a young age, and unlikely to have evolved life of any kind in its system.

That’s what Singer’s civilization wants you to think before they send a Photoid or Dual-Vector foil (but later would require a supervisor’s approval which is a PITA)

  > before they send a Photoid
Plenty of services require a Photo ID nowadays.

I like to think there's a solid argument against dark forest that even if you can destroy other intelligent systems, then hidden intelligent cautious systems may exist and see evidence of what you've done, so there's a potential consequence to destroying every intelligent system you identify.

And then also (maybe this is absurd) isn't there something intrinsic in intelligence to want to avoid conflict and desire peace?

Pair-instability can only happen in low-metalicity surroundings.

The big bang created hydrogen, helium, and small amounts of lithium. Any higher elements are created by stars, and a significant presence of those "metals" will take a star down a different path than pair-instability.

Low-metalicity environments are not likely to be friendly to life.