they have been conditioned to dismiss them

Folks susceptible to societal conditioning to the point that it combats their ability to think critically aren't intelligent at all. They're just "staying safe" when it comes to the opinions of their tribe members. They're cowards who find the approval of their peers to be far more important than any truth. Hiding in the crowd to stay safe is smart on a survival level but not the kind of intelligence that society needs.

Truly intelligent people eventually overcome their societal conditioning. People who can't see through it are fucking stupid, regardless of how many degrees they have.

they have been conditioned to dismiss them

Folks so susceptible to societal conditioning that it combats their ability to think critically aren't intelligent at all. They're just "staying safe" when it comes to the opinions of their tribe members. They're cowards who find the approval of their peers to be far more important than any truth. Hiding in the crowd to stay safe is smart on a survival level but not the kind of intelligence that society needs.

Truly intelligent people eventually overcome their societal conditioning.

they have been conditioned to dismiss them

Folks susceptible to societal conditioning to the point that it daily combats their ability to think critically aren't thinking at all, just trying to "stay safe" when it comes to the opinions of their tribe members. They're cowards who find the approval of their peers to be far more important than any truth. Hiding in the crowd to stay safe is smart on some levels but not the kind of intelligence this society needs.