""Yeah, they're also really bad at hiding it. That's liable to make people more likely to panic than giving it to them straight. WHY are they keeping secrets? Having everyone work together makes more sense."
Maybe a conspiracy was more insidious than just hiding the facts. No, why have people so incompetent at lying and putting people off if there was some weird plot afoot?
"I keep thinking of something from One of Molly's movies. Tommy Lee Jones said it, I think. A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals. It's true. Mob or pack mentality means people fed off each others fears, hysteria, anger, etc. Talking to each person alone would cause less a panic than group announcements. But they weren't even attempting that. Ignorance isn't bliss. It's stupidity under another brand name."