The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland

On April 2, 2013, the American Atheists organization published on their website an open letter to the secular community which declared:

At the same time, the fact that so much of our community is online brings with it certain challenges. Communicating primarily online can make it difficult to recognize each other’s humanity. Online we don’t have the same vocal and physical cues to tell us what another person means by his or her comments, so it’s easier for misunderstandings to develop. The instantaneous and impersonal nature of online communication also makes it much easier for these misunderstandings to escalate, or for civil arguments to turn into bitter fights. Like many online communities, our comment and forum threads all too often become places for name calling and even threats, rather than honest dialogue based on mutual respect.

Jacques Rousseau wrote  in the Daily Maverick concerning Elevatorgate, "Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently." An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of Atheist positions, but there exists an actual battle between certain Atheist factions.^"

 Blair Scott served on the American Atheists board of directors. Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the American Atheists organization in the state of Alabama. On December 1, 2012 he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheist due to infighting within the American atheist movement.  Mr. Blair wrote: "I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating..me".

Related resources 

Decline of internet atheism

Internet atheism - The thrill is gone!  

Young earth creationists are happier than atheists

Global atheism

Atheism is rudderless and unseaworthy

Thoughtful and effective Christian evangelism vs. inept atheism evangelism 

Collection of articles about Richard Dawkins