They don't want to talk to me, because I'm one of them thar skeptic folks.

The thing is, a skeptic is EXACTLY what's needed. Skepticism, critical thinking, scientific processes - these are the tools to winnow the wheat from the chaff.

So instead, what happens is they proverbially shoot themselves in the foot.

Interestingly, I have sought and found studies about why people do this. For example the Annenberg video I posted reference to here recently, and other concepts such as metacognition and the Dunning-Kruger effect. Epistemology is another. There are folks who study why we think the way we do.

But, when I try to point this out, that just seems to piss people off.

I have been pondering the hypothesis lately that there may actually be another cognitive disorder, one that makes people NOT want to learn or try to be smarter. I have run into many people that actually seem to abhor intelligence and knowledge. In extreme case I have encountered people who almost get violent in their reaction when faced with information and concepts provably contrary to those they already hold. They quite literally WANT to be stupid. I struggle to accept such a concept, but it's hard to deny the evidence.

Brian