Pretty much in line with comments from WaPo regulars, why am I not surprised. Some people greatly depend on the status quo for their way of life and will believe whatever they are told.
You have to believe some things you are told. Not believing anything you're told isn't really virtuous like some people make it sound. I'm not saying you're like this, but often times I hear people say things like "people just believe whatever they're told" and "the real truth is..." and similar phrases that just sound so empty. Whenever I hear it I think of a person who wants to feel superior because they somehow have learned "the secrets" and have special knowledge about how this world works. Truth and justice are things that are relative. Its often the case that these same people will buy into full-blown or quasi-conspiracy theories not because any critical thinking was done about them but because its just not what the mainstream says. It becomes this weird "us vs. them" mentality where you end up distrusting one set of facts to your own detriment and believe an entirely opposite set of facts, again, to your detriment while leaving out everything in the middle where the truth these people seek really is.
Like I said, I don't know you - I'm not saying you're one of those people I mentioned here but what you said reminds me of things I've heard them say.
Speaking from DC here, the tone of many working for the administration or on Capitol Hill in general is "daggone traitor!" It amounts to a company line that many seem to toe effortlessly: There is a strong culture of sheltering the administration which has brought a great deal of money and opportunity to this town, particularly for impressionable young people. This is why I find the editor's IP address to be sadly predictable.
Most times when someone say "people just believe whatever they're told" is referring to a specific instance of it. It's not like they won't believe when the CDC tells them to evacuate the area because of the outbreak of some unknown disease.
That depends on the source. If the source has proven to be wrong, dishonest or malicious more often than not, it would strike me as wise to believe nothing from that source until I can verify it for myself.
