being shown that they aren't a majority and much of their lives are a lie.

Exactly this. The world isn't what they thought it was and they absolutely cannot face that. It's sheer cowardice in the face of the unfamiliar and new.

Timid, cowardly people seek safety in the herd. They go where the herd goes and do whatever the herd does. That makes them feel protected as part of a large group - the majority - that they can trust to tell them what to do.

That's why suddenly finding out that their herd is not the majority, and there is a much larger herd out there that does NOT do what their herd does, is shocking and unthinkable.

Lots of these people are incredibly brave and heroic over a gaming table, or when writing stories about their favorite comic book heroes.

But when the world needs them in real life? No way. They scream and hide and fight and flail and try their best to somehow make it all Go Away.

This is not stupidity. It's pure cowardice. And showing what they really are: Sheep who thought they were wolves.

being shown that they aren't a majority and much of their lives are a lie.

Exactly this. The world isn't what they thought it was and they absolutely cannot face that. It's sheer cowardice in the face of the unfamiliar and new.

Lots of these people are incredibly brave and heroic over a gaming table, or when writing stories about their favorite comic book heroes.

But when the world needs them in real life? No way. They scream and hide and tell their friends and family to fuck off and try their best to somehow make it all Go Away.

This is not stupidity. It's pure cowardice. And showing what they really are: Sheep who think they are wolves. But they prove over and over again that they are really just the most timid and cowardly of sheep.