I think Ballard's thing is not about people's tendency to underestimate the weirdness of the universe, but about the universe being far weirder than we think.

I think Ballard's thing is not about people's tendency to underestimate the weirdness of the universe, but about the universe being far weirder than we think. Which is very close to being a distinction without a difference, i know. But i think it's rare that Ballard frames this as a flaw in people; rather, it's a terrifying fact about the universe.