Excellent points, Stoichastic. It is human nature to double-down to rationalize bad decisions in the face of overwhelming evidence demonstrating the contrary position.

Regarding the power of storytelling, I have had people tell me my fairy tale, The Vapor, the Hot Hat, and the Witches’ Potion (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/the-vapor-the-hot-hat-and-the-witches) successfully penetrated the programming of some who have fallen for the mainline narrative, so that was enormously encouraging.