Quote from: RE on Sep 11, 2026, 06:56 PMThe answer to this question probably does have something to do with Human Nature. You could ask the same thing about the idiot Germans who put Hitler in power.
Most Homo Saps are followers. When times are tough they look to leaders who seem sure of themselves and who tell them things they want to hear. Any critical thinking skills they might have go out the window even when they are bombarded with bald faced lies, as long as the lies are comforting. Even when it becomes apparent they were wrong, rather than admit error they'll double down on the lies and false promises.
Bald faced lies like peak oil? Global cooling? I agree about the followers. But the lies are not required to be comforting. Apocalypticism isn't about "comfort", it is about folks believing the opposite. For little reasons, religious reasons, or no reasons at all. Other than someone told them we were entering the next Ice Age. Or peak oil was going to kill us all. In the last century. The lies AREN'T comforting, so we can't claim that comforting is particularly valuable. For some strange reason actually....what is the psychology of those seeking out Doom and then believing...while waiting...and waiting...and waiting some more.
Been doing it for a millenia. Probably not as common as those buying into hopium, but hopium does seem easier to fall for.