I agree with your former statement, to the effect that being an intelligent person requires some modicum of skepticism and investigation. People should not just fall blindly in line with whatever they’re being fed - especially by the media and the government.My advice would be to take everything you hear with a super large grain of salt, because there is not a lack of people making claims without any actual knowledge on the subject. Media, Politicians, random people on the internet, etc.
As the saying goes, People should really stay in their own lane.
As to the latter statement, I refer to the feminist bumper sticker: “Well behaved women rarely make history” or Achilles’ famous reply to the messenger boy:
“The Thessalonian you're fighting, he's the biggest man I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him.”
“That is why no one will remember your name.”
Folks who stay in their lane tend to end up in cattle cars.