"As I see it, human space colonization follows this path:

1) Skip the Moon and libration points.
2) Colonize Mars and become self sufficient there.
3) De-industrialize and depopulate the Earth turning it into a big wildlife park / museum.
3) As the resources on Mars depletes, mankind's population shifts to hollowed out asteroids.
4) From the asteroids, colonize the Saturn system.
5) Build machine intelligence starships using Saturn resources.
6) Spread human/terrestrial DNA across the galaxy."

As I see it, space development follows this path:
1) Build gas station in LEO and other place in Earth/Moon system.
2) Mine water on the Moon
3) Develop Space Power Satellites- power used it space for processing water into fuel and turning ore into metal, glass, etc.
4) Mine NEOs bringing ore (and water) to Earth/moon system.
5) Colonize Mars.
6) Big governmental backed projects used to lower cost of getting people and products off Earth- such things as Mass drivers and/or beanstalks.
7) Mercury becomes major Mining area.
8) This point generation ships might be built. Human technology would as advanced as 20th Century technology was to 18th Century and rather than stagnating, it would be rapidly advancing- faster than at any time in human history.