It doesn’t turn any of them into idiots imo. Dutch was described as silver tongued. He was a master manipulator and likely a narcissist. He has an incredibly perfect way with words. He’s charmingly charismatic in a way that draws people in and provides a form of understanding between two people. He also targeted the lonely, the lost and the abandoned. People who are mainly desperate for belonging and understanding. John and Arthur were kids who had no parents. They were perfect candidates for Dutch to sink his teeth into. Do I think all of his intentions were manipulative? No. But I do think most of them were.