Hi Mike,
One of the basic needs of humans is to satisfy the question "Why is it so?"
Depending on the quantity of knowledge a person has will be a factor in determining the complexity of the explanation that they require.
Astronomers and people involved in sciences often have an enquiring mind. It leads to aquiring a wealth of knowledge. If the question was raised, "why does the moon not fly away into space?" To many people the explanation that it is gravity that holds the moon in orbit is usually sufficient.
To others, we may ask "What the heck is this gravity thing?" And the questions continue.
JJJ made a good point. "Interferes with TV viewing". Their level of understanding requires only small explanations to satisfy their valency for knowledge. They are then released to pursue mind numbing interests.
"Ignorance is bliss"
We reach now to my point. People have varying degrees of knowledge. The kind of decision or opinion that a person makes heavily relies on the information they have on hand in the grey matter.
I have observed that most people do not have a wealth of knowledge to make well informed opinions or decisions.
Its all too easy to fob off an issue if it disagrees with them or more importantly that they don't understand it.
Hence some become critical of the scientists. They ridicule them with the arguement that they do not know what they are doing. What complicates the issue is the alarmist strategies the media employs to gain an audience. Also the media adjusts information to be directed to the couch potatoes. Little fact content and loads of incredulism attracts an audience.
Never argue with a fool. He will degrade the discussion down to his level and beat you with experience.
Cheers