That's a good way to put it. I'm still reeling by what seems to me to be the most obvious idiocy in the history of my adult life. The world is so full of complication and confusion, but this has never seemed complicated in the least.

But your framing is really helpful: if you'll believe something based on some kind of authority, even if it's idiotic, you may need an authority to help you to un-believe. That's a deep observation I need to noodle on.

I always thought he was strange. Craig doesn’t strike me as someone who would use an alias for a white paper. And then bitcoin cash and BSV… big red flag.

I am not talking about hindsight. I thought he was lying from the beginning.

I also knew Jesse Smollett was lying when he claimed to be assaulted by Trump supporters. This is MAGA country! No one says this.

Covid was a big wake-up call for me. Its now much easier to accept how masses of people can commit atrocities without a second thought.