My theory is it’s a natural first stage of grief - denial. As more news seeps slowly into even their subconscious that the jabs they so willingly embraced and have fervently defended may, in fact be dangerous, they’re choosing the ostrich-HITS (head-in-the-sand) coping method. Doing anything else would mean they have to admit that those they shunned (and worse) because they tried to warn them of the dangers were right and they, themselves, were wrong. And if they were wrong, that means they may have made one of the most colossally bad decisions of their lives. If they could just ignore the harsh reality slowly encroaching on their psyche and go back to pretending they haven’t screwed up royally, everything will work out right in the end.
My theory is it’s a natural first stage of grief - denial. As more news seeps slowly into even their subconscious that the jabs they so willingly embraced and have fervently defended may, in fact be dangerous, they’re choosing the ostrich-HITS (head-in-the-sand) coping method. Doing anything else would mean they have to admit that those they shunned (and worse) because they tried to warn them of the dangers were right and they, themselves, were wrong. And if they were wrong, that means they may have made one of the most colossally bad decisions of their lives. If they could just ignore the harsh reality slowly encroaching on their psyche and go back to pretending they haven’t screwed up royally, everything will work out right in the end.
The next stage, incidentally, is anger.
That’s my guess.
Awesome analysis, fren.
I think you are on to something here.