The Middle East???

So I have been finding the reactions of people to the chosen destination for my little 'adventure' rather interesting.

What most people say is much different than the way in which they say it, and what you know they are thinking. 

What they are thinking is "Oh my god are you NUTS?? The middle EAST?? seriously are you insane?!!" but what they say out loud, is usually something along the lines of " Ohhhhh the Middle east? ummm well be careful...." 
and then they exit stage left, as quickly as possible. 

It has been my experience that people really don't know anything about the Middle east, other than what they hear on the news. They also lump the whole area in together--as if separate countries don't really exist. 

The Middle East, in the eyes of the masses is one big pot of bubbling stew that is unsafe and tormented and by going there I am taking my life in my hands.  ( Which, I am aware, may or may not be true, depending on the destination country.Ie Iraq is probably best to be avoided as of the time of this writing. )

Bear in mind the following: I am not an idiot. Read that again. I would not go to Iraq, or Afghanistan ( right now anyway--but maybe in a few years....) 

I know that the area is, in fact, rife with centuries of unrest both politically and religiously. 
I am merely pointing out that people get their information about the area solely from CNN or the most current news report--and that's not necessarily true for each country in the region. For example, Kuwait.

To give you an example of what I am talking about this was a conversation I had in an elevator recently:

Man: " so I hear you are going to the Middle East?!" ( which is obviously code for WTFudge are you thinking????!")

Me: "yep, heading out to Kuwait, August 11th"

Man: "Yeah well, be careful there."

Me: "Yep, no worries. I hear the driving is pretty chaotic!" ( this said with my most charming smile I could muster)

Man: " Well, my wife had a friend, of a friend ( or the cousin of a friend of a friend of a friend's best friend's uncle's brother's friend) who 'got out just in time!!'

Me: " oh yeah? what happened?"

Man: " well, she was in Qatar or maybe Iran? Or Oman or something, I forget... but she went to the store without a veil and she was going to be put in prison, but they let her go!" 

Me: "wow, good thing, looks like she dodged a bullet" ( yes, deliberate pun..i was chuckling inside )

Man: I'll say!!

Me: "Thanks! See ya! "

See? that's what I am talking about. 

What's up with that? Why do people feel the need to give their unresearched and uneducated opinions? Some of those people are virtual strangers, for pete's sake!! 
Also--would it be better, and more conducive to meaningful dialogue to ask questions about Kuwait, then to voice an unwarranted opinion about it?

Perhaps, if there were more dialogue, with people wanting to really know about Kuwait...that would be one baby step towards solving the Middle East Crises?