I think also part of the problem is English semantics. The terms fact, myth, theory, evidence, research, etc., get thrown around everywhere when it comes to epistemology and peer discussion. They have different meanings in different contexts. People don't always speak with maximum precision. Take GP's comments of the form "Fact checkers said X". This is a hard stance. It also completely contradicts my experience. It would have been softened with "I remember fact checkers saying X" because that opens the door to the possibility their experience does not reflect the whole. A unique reality tunnel. But saying "X happened" opens the door for argumentative replies from anyone with a different experience.

I'm guilty of this, many people do it, maybe even most people. It's easy to lapse into the subconscious mentality that your experience reflects universal experience.