system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
People are scared to admit that the world is more frightening than they'd like to believe.

It's like why people will go years without going to the doctor for ever increasing pain.  As long as they refuse to admit that there's a danger, the danger can't really touch them.

It's stupid, yes.  But it's incredibly common.

Same reason people pretend that certain groups aren't treated worse than others.  Same reason people want to believe they're "self made" and didn't benefit greatly from invisible privileges.

When life can be lied about to make it simpler and they can write their story to make themselves seem more capable and brilliant than they might be, that's what people will believe.

Also, denying that there's a problem and mocking others for protecting themselves makes them feel tough and brave and all that crap.  It's an ego trip on top of everything else.  It's absurd, yeah.  Dangerous, absolutely.  But there's nothing you can do about it but try and just let them say what they want to say.  You aren't gonna convince them.

The moment they start admitting that maybe they're wrong, they have to start examining all kinds of other things they're probably wrong about, and it takes a lot to get that ball rolling.  Even the death of a spouse or child won't do it, for most people like that.  Their friends and family are often like that.  Their whole cultural circle is like that.

It's easier to lie to themselves than to go against the grain.
gpt
OMG, I feel the exact same way sometimes. I always thought it was just me.