I think it's part of being smart. If you never question and research anything, you never learn anything, hence your head is empty or full of conclusions drawn f

I think it's part of being smart. If you never question and research anything, you never learn anything, hence your head is empty or full of conclusions drawn from pure speculation. There also seems to be an emotional aspect to it - I know some pretty smart people who always trip on bullshit that evokes emotions. Looking up ADHD and going the "these people are geniuses" path (most aren't), or looking up Covid vaccine information and focusing on the negative effects (most don't have them). That kinda shit. If the idea that some people are prewired to believe conspiracy theories is true, that could explain it. There's just not as much excitement in the mundane, I guess. Of course, the government being out to get you is more interesting than them being unbelievably incompetent.