[ExI] Cross post

[Keith Henson]

I posted this on a blog I infrequently visit and thought it might be
of interest other places.

^^^^^^

At a meta level, why are people attracted to conspiracies/predictions
of disasters?  It relates to the popularity of this and similar blogs.
OFW has (incorrectly so far) predicted collapse for ages that has not
come about.

It's not everyone, most of the people lined up and got their covid
vaccine either because they understood vaccines or they just trusted
the public health people who said it was a good idea.  I.e., they
judged the risks of taking the vaccine are lower than not taking it
and getting the disease.

Most of the time going along with the cultural norm works better.
Rebels who planted their crops in the fall starved.  But somehow
contrarians continue to be born.

The other factor is gullibility.  A certain amount of believing what
you hear is essential.  I have written about the advantage humans have
over cats and dogs of the "look both ways before you cross meme.
Memes like scientology are, of course, utter bs but there are people
with a deep belief in such nonsense.  Talking to them has convinced me
that the trait is like eye color, you are stuck with it.  One of them
talked to me a long time about their vulnerability to every MLM scheme
that came along.

It is not easy to sort out, even with such mental tools as
evolutionary psychology.

(EP says that every common psychological trait was either directly
selected or it is a side effect of some trait that was selected.)

Keith