A little panacea

Human behaviour during both the pandemic and Trumpism confirmed to me that people aren't getting more intelligent over time. I cannot laugh at the quack theories of the past and think how much we have improved in the 21st century when we haven't. We are as susceptible to cults and strange ideas as we have ever been.

The problem is of course willful and ignorant bliss of truly wanting to believe something deeply. Even when truth butts up against that desire nothing will convince us we are wrong. It is why Trumpists, Qanon disciples and the flat earth people cannot be budged unless there is a massive intervention which results in mostly themselves coming to salvation.

Life can be painful enough without the bluntness of reality and so a little myth is often the panacea that gets us through to the next day.