[MikeGale]

There's one area where variations on Conspiratorial Thinking happens regularly and much of the population has their minds bathed in the result every day.

These ideas, conceived in the medical domain, apply, in some way, to the wider world of media reports.

Ever notice that when you really know an area, news reports about it nearly always get it wrong. Completely misunderstand what's going on. Often interpret it as one of a few stock, basely motivated, scenarios.

(You can debate whether the authors are all smart. I think that some of them are, but those still do it.)

So we have a society where the blind lead the blind down blind alleys as a matter of course.

Thank goodness that we have resources like Hacker News, to sometimes give a peek at more thorough thinking. (Chaotic though it may be!)