Rat Traps
The article traces the development and current state of the rationalist blogosphere, which began in the late 2000s with communities like LessWrong focusing on applied rationality and epistemic rigor. While once an intellectually vibrant subculture notable for blending science, philosophy, and self-improvement, the genre now faces challenges including stylistic stagnation, ideological insularity, and a recycling of familiar concepts that risk rendering it cliché and less engaging. The author suggests that for rationalist writing to remain relevant and persuasive, its community must diversify sources, embrace stylistic experimentation, and critically refresh its intellectual approach.