Exactly right. What are the factors causing people to embrace this stuff?

I think its not a matter of stupid, its a matter of loneliness and lack of social support. If a group offers a lonely person a chance to feel accepted and validated, offers sine kind of security (real or imaginary) thats enough for a lot of people smart or no.

I mean, look at cults. Cults often recruit pretty intelligent, open minded people, but they’re people who are vulnerable for whatever reason.