Write for the almost-believers

When trying to consensus- or momentum-build for an idea/meme/movement, I think most total value (i.e. for both sides) is created when we write for the portion of the approval spectrum that goes from those who are neutral-approving to those who are almost-believers.

This is the subset that offers the best EV for your effort; many people here are one thoughtful, detailed essay away from joining your movement or significantly updating towards your idea being reasonable/valuable/useful in their future.

Going further towards the approval end has diminishing value unless you're trying to convey something novel or unorthodox, while trying to convert cynics is usually low-value because (a) their actual resistance to the idea often comes from a different part of their value system (whether they're consciously aware of it or not), so addressing their conscious objections won't really change their mind, and (b) most objections are not as universal as we (or the critic) may think - people have very different priorities and preferences and lived experiences, many issues are insignificant given momentum and good pathfinding.

rough WIP related thought: with enough people clustering around an idea the overton windows gets inevitably pulled towards it; the number of proponents (and critics!) are what consistutes an idea's gravity - it inexorably applies force to the conceptual landscape around it

caveats: probably more applicable for campaigning/recruiting, less good for finding collaborators?