I think DMcG was onto something. It does sometimes come down to a matter of education. I won't begin to say that people with a modicum of education cannot be duped by misinformation, but I think that the lack of education or correct information makes it easier for people to absorb odd ideas.

In an airplane on my way to boot camp I found myself seated next to a fellow recruit who gave me to realize, after very brief conversation, that he was from way back in the hill country. He also quickly demonstrated that he was probably not the brightest of his peers. As the jet made ready for takeoff I came to know he had never flown before. As a joke I offered an explanation of the takeoff process. I told him that as the plane gained enough speed the wing flaps would angle upward to aid the plane in getting off the ground. Then the wheels would retract as they were no longer needed. And then I told him that the wings would also retract because the full length of them was only necessary for takeoff. As proof I told him he would notice that the wings would appear shorter as we gained in altitude.

Convincing that young man was easy because he lacked enough information to refute that odd idea. Odd ideas are, I believe, mostly based upon lack of information or upon a store of misinformation. Imagine how easily you could convince someone who knows little of snakes that snakes can't possibly swim because they don't have any appendages to use as paddles.