Do you really think they recognize the risk? Again, in many of these things they face no direct risk at all (as Sowell points out is the case for intellectuals), but even in the case of one’s own nutrition, there is no mmediate consequence to be seen…but there is certainly the immediate satisfaction gained from feeling knowledgable and superior.
I think you’re making assumptions about the analytical powers of these people we are talking about that are quite a stretch…not to mention their willingness to engage in any sort of meaningful consideration (which, as I pointed out, is quite low).
Sure there is. It was mentioned earlier. It’s called “ego”.