I think this problem is much more severe in cases where a more accurate assessment would be, "we have no idea what is going on or how to stop it, even though we

I think this problem is much more severe in cases where a more accurate assessment would be, "we have no idea what is going on or how to stop it, even though we desperately want to". People are more likely to grasp at straws if there is nothing other than straw available. This does not, of course, mean that it's not still a big problem; far from it.