The human brain can imagine and speak many more word combinations representing reality than exist in reality.  As such, the virtual world in our minds seems more real to us even in the face of science, logic and common sense. And since we construct our own individual virtual worlds, we prefer them over the virtual worlds in others’ minds. Which is why ‘beliefs’ are far more powerful than facts. Beliefs usually precede the reasons used to explain them.  Which is why fake news works and why we find it extremely difficult to convince people about climate change, energy descent, the limits of technology, etc.