So would you say an old dog can't learn new tricks?

No excuses for them, but anybody who gets in the public eye is going to experience extreme social distortion.  Group think takes over.  Combine that with the relentless expectations with no time off in the public eye, and mistakes will be made.

I have a Stoic humility, but the engine in my brain-pan does run high rpms, and really I have not met a person in my life who does not express some brain-dead bullshit which makes no sense, and which is not related to the actual material conditions of our existence even by a stretch of the imagination if I hear anyone talk for more than five minutes. 

I am forced to admit a sort of 'superiority' and I really don't like it.  But the truth is the world is filled with stupidinos, who spend most of their energy just trying to appear normal.  People who absorb much, but learn little.

It is impossible for me to 'follow' anyone, and when I have met 'guru' types in my life, they quickly identify me as competition or as an outright enemy.  If two Buddhas met each other on the road they would most certainly kill each other.  200% !

Bottom line - As everyone wears the mask of the idiot if you pay enough attention, then relying on 'reputation' to judge the quality of their truth is a fools errand. 

Pay attention to the message and ignore the messenger.

And concerning true idiots, even those motherfuckers are right twice a day.  Just like clocks.