In this age of information, why do people still fall for the warning type chain letters?

Question

Recently I spotted a question asking how healthy diet soda is compared to regular soda. The best answer chosen by the asker stated some bunk scientific data linking aspartame to Lupus as well as MS like symptoms. I simply typed in the two words "aspartame" and "lupus" into an internet search returning pages listing myth-busting info citing an email fwd as the source of the myth. Are we too trusting, lazy, conspiracy theorists?

Lupus Foundation of America states:

We are aware there is an email message circulating on the Internet warning individuals with lupus about dangers associated with using the artificial sweetener aspartame. The Lupus Foundation of America consulted with the chair of the LFA Medical Council, Evelyn Hess, MD, MACP, MACR. Dr. Hess is one of the nation's leading researchers in the field of lupus specializing in environmental influences. According to Dr. Hess, there is, as of now, no specific proof of an association with aspartame as a cause or worsening of SLE.

Answer 1

Our brains are hard-wired not to trust anything that might be remotely suspicious. The trouble is, half the time we distrust the wrong information... We fall for this stuff because some of us have trained our brains to suspect any product, statement, or information coming from a large corporate entity, and to trust any such thing coming from what seems to be a scientist. The problem lies in being educated enough to know which are real and which aren't.

Answer 2

People will fall for the silliest things.It's unbelievable.

Answer 3

people seem to love to believe in conspiricy. no one really seems to trust anything, likely because we have been lied to too much.

Answer 4

whoa , you have ALOT of time on your hands