> when the characters were being presented with evidence as strong as possible that X occurred because of Y and not Z they kept scratching their heads wondering if Z wasn't the cause of X after all. They were at times more stupid than a gang of drunken teenagers in an 80s horror movie, not top class scientists, astronauts and soldiers. What I kept wondering is, what am I missing? Is this a cultural difference?
This is pretty common in cases where an existing ideology specifies that Z causes X. I assume that's true in all cultures.
And you haven't described them that way. If they were hardcore ideologues, they wouldn't be saying "are we sure it isn't Z?". They'd be saying "but it's Z".
This is pretty common in cases where an existing ideology specifies that Z causes X. I assume that's true in all cultures.