re: #12 boxhead

I would say we are affected by tribalism. We are comfortable with what we know. That is our base. But we have the ability to go beyond those limitations. Many do. Sadly not all… But, as you mentioned above, some take advantage. That, is the human condition…

Yes, these are gut reactions built into us over thousands of years: fear and suspicion of what is different. Ideologies based on these fears are often successful because they know how to exploit them.