Wow, credit to you on your hike, good for you, I'd really struggle as I'm not as fit as I use to be, I would need months of training.  I agree with everything you have said. It's crazy, they really don't think for themselves at all, critical and logical thinking is all that is needed to see this for what it is.  NPC is so spot on.  They are offened by that because the truth hurts espcially when it hits very close to home.