In fact I know a number of people who have stopped subscribing to the main skeptical publication because they resented the surly condescending tone. I've tried to encourage members of our local group to show a little more sensitivity and diplomacy. I think skeptics should see them selves as servants of mankind who battle ignorance not people. But, it may be hard not to be elitist and forthright when you've seen so much human misery inflicted as a result of belief in fallacy. Our message is not exciting and popular.
Most people have difficulty understanding science and math.
The general public would much rather be stimulated with exotic outrageous claims rather than listen to the boring truth. There are only about 100,000 world wide subscribing skeptics. I'm hoping the rare voice of reason can slowly be made more fun and more widely heard. I think mental illness is much more pervasive than people think. Often the smartest people are most whacked out.