There’s a secondary effect, too, I think, where people partially optimize for preaching to the choir (probably why Christ Myth Theory arguments are as popular as they are even though they flout the mainstream secular consensus), and end up using arguments and a tone that no one could seriously think would be even a little persuasive to actual believers.
Those preach-to-the-choir arguments also contribute to this dilution effect. Even the good arguments and the tastefully presented ones pick up some Horns Effect from all the preach-to-the-choir arguments. Everywhere I look, I mostly see atheists creating content designed for atheists, rationalists creating content designed for rationalists, etc., and much less material designed to actually teach or persuade those not already persuaded.
There’s a secondary effect, too, I think, where people partially optimize for preaching to the choir (probably why Christ Myth Theory arguments are as popular as they are even though they flout the mainstream secular consensus), and end up using arguments and a tone that no one could seriously think would be even a little persuasive to actual believers.
Those preach-to-the-choir arguments also contribute to this dilution effect. Even the good arguments and the tastefully presented ones pick up some Horns Effect from all the preach-to-the-choir arguments. Everywhere I look, I mostly see atheists creating content designed for atheists, rationalists creating content designed for rationalists, etc., and much less material designed to actually teach or persuade those not already persuaded.