That's the dilemna, earl.
I always wanted to be more than a self assured (and blissfully ignorant) average working joe. I thought I might find profound truths and contentedness through physical travel, academic study and inquiry into the world around me. Of course, the opposite actually occurred: I now feel less sure of myself and my surroundings than had I just stayed home and read comic books.
LOL. Well being a thinking person certainly makes one more interesting to talk to at cocktail parties.
I have the same experience you do. The more I know about the world as spoon fed by the media and news the less I want to be part of it.
It boils down to a matter of trust for me. I realized early in life that "truth" coming from "professionals" top down is always a bit dubious as there is always an element of bullshit in everything they espouse.
This was particularly true of my family doctor who always misdiagnosed and mis-prescribed medicines making me sicker than I had to be, the teacher who told my parents that I could not read and should go to a special school, and the media or TV documentary that only gets half of the story right that gets passed as truth.
What is reality anyways? It certainly isn't the haze of life that is painted by the TV. But many buy into that distorted version reality, lock stock and barrel as truth and never question it against their own perceptions.
Sometimes a good comic book can be more satisfying and useful than understanding the nuances of Mugabe's re-election in Zimbabwe.