[gizmo]

Maybe it's much simpler than that. When people hear the word scientist, they think "men in white lab coats". If that's what they think scientists are, then all the responses make some sort of sense.

The depressing thing is that people who believe in conspiracy theories are generally reasonably smart people, who have nuanced opinions on a lot of topics, and are often well educated. In order to believe in a conspiracy theory you have to have at least a passing understanding of whatever accepted truth it is you don't believe in. That puts those people leagues ahead of the ignorant-and-proud-of-it.