I have often thought the ever-expanding reports of exo-planets is a part of the acclimation process.
You can just about see this as a possible path when you look at the stream of data being released regarding exo-planets. It started with finding gas giants that were relatively close and is now at the point of locating rocky planets found to be orbiting stars within the habitable zone. The next logical step (if this is indeed an acclimation path we are on) will be a report of "non-natural" activity being observed from one of these rocky planets in the hospitable zone. This activity would be reported as something like radio waves or unusual visible light frequency waves which would then be attributed to evidence of civilization.
And then of course the logical conclusion - "oh, by the way, they're already here!"