Its a momma duck problem. Once they've accepted something as fact, they have a hard time parting ways with it.

But if you could interject at this moment of initial assimilation and provide some legitimacy or point out the lack thereof, you could provide a very useful service.

It would also help people change their minds, although as you mentioned, that is harder to do. But at least now you have better tools to do it.

Finally, not EVERYONE is completely disinterested in having their misconceptions corrected.

Exactly.

"The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend." - Henri Bergson