I think you&#x27;re onto something. Most people I know who want to appear smart find it necessary to be contrarian. Most of what they say is can be rephrased as &quot;ordinary people just believe everything they&#x27;re taught, but I&#x27;ve learned how to think so (9&#x2F;11, illuminati, global warming, anti-vaccine, and so on but only one madness)&quot;.