# Jonathan Chance, where IS that list of things I'm supposed to remain silent on?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 10, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147 "2014-05-10T21:08:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/61 "2014-05-11T14:46:45Z")

</div>

> [@magellan01](#):
>
> [QUOTE= JKellyMap]  
> It’s even funnier because the correct answer (IMHO) was provided in two words, in first post replying to the OP (“Because Jesus”).

That’s not true for all who oppose abortion. The position that life begins prior to birth is not held only by people due to religious belief.  
[/QUOTE]

In fact, I am not Christian. Never have been. So “because Jesus” can’t apply.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/62 "2014-05-11T14:49:50Z")

</div>

> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#):
>
> I think there is a good reason why \*\*Trihs \*\*hasn’t been banned. I believe he hasn’t ever (that I know of) crossed the line into “banned-dom”.
> 
> Ooooh, he seems pretty close so often, especially if you aren’t aligned with his world-view. But his opinions have always seemed to me to be honestly held and forthright. Because of that, I don’t think that his thoughts can be viewed as trolling and I suspect the moderators have a similar opinion

You can be banned for trolling even if you believe what are posting. And you can be banned for lots of other things besides trolling, so I don’t think you’ve hit on anything particularly enlightening there. Rack up enough warnings, and you get banned.

> [@](#):
>
> An intellectually all-encompassing message board like the SDMB is at its best with the input of posters like **Trihs**. Indeed it’s at it best with strident voices from all corners of the marketplace of ideas.

GD is at it’s best when people don’t make claims that can’t be supported with facts.

> [@](#):
>
> I do have one particular bone to pick with the popular pastime of shitting on **Der Trihs’** posts… that is, while I agree that sometimes, on some subjects, he gets a little too worked up and abrasive, I have never agreed with the criticism of his views on theism.
> 
> On that subject (and also others) he is, apparently, a person who is not afraid to call a spade a spade. I often think of him as the boy who baldly stated that the Emperor was naked even as the other citizens maintained the polite fiction that he was wearing beautiful new garments. IOW, he is making the argument that religion and theism do not deserve special coddling of their unsupported beliefs.
> 
> Well, this has become long-winded. In essence I am only saying that we all benefit from an unafraid voice willing to boldly state that which others don’t find politic to opine. He bellies right up to the line of overt insult on some things, but his opinions are true, however undigestable they may be to certain parties.

Meh. There are lots of atheists on this board, and we don’t need a lecture from **DT** to tell us that adding God into the equation makes things more, not less, complicated. However, it’s not “special coddling” to treat other people with respect.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/63 "2014-05-11T15:16:13Z")

</div>

> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Two examples:
> 
> No it wouldn’t because it doesn’t fit the behavior of pro-choice people, while my accusations do fit the behavior of anti-choice people.

Thanks for your cites. More cites will ALWAYS improve your posts.

That said, I see a ginormous difference between your rhetoric and the ugly rhetoric of the anti-choicers. The anti-choicers are using ugly words to describe the indisputable **behavior** of folks who have abortions (i.e., women who have abortions are indisputable terminating a fetus; the anti-choicers describe that behavior as murdering a baby). You, however, are using ugly words to describe what you imagine to be the **motives** of anti-choices (i.e., they indisputably want to make abortion illegal; you describe their MOTIVES as being a hatred of women). Not only are you using ugly language, but you’re also using it to describe motives that are nowhere near universally acknowledged as real motives.

If instead you stayed away from describing motives and stuck to describing actions, your behavior would be equivalent. Leave off the reason why anti-choicers are waging a war on women, just talk about a war on women, and I suspect you’re on some firmer ground, although not yet rising to the level of genuine discourse any more than the “babykiller” anti-choicers are engaging in genuine discourse.

My opinion, anyway.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/64 "2014-05-11T15:51:11Z")

</div>

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> As has been pointed out in every one of these threads, St\*rmfronters’ views are “honestly held”. Yes, they really do believe it. So, saying that someone’s views are “honestly held” means nothing.

And they’ve come here specifically to troll us. Even said so on their own board.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/65 "2014-05-11T16:56:20Z")

</div>

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> As has been pointed out in every one of these threads, St\*rmfronters’ views are “honestly held”. Yes, they really do believe it. So, saying that someone’s views are “honestly held” means nothing.

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying about abortions. People have honestly held beliefs about it - that it’s killing a child. But those beliefs are inaccurate and not based on anything rational. Therefore it’s unreasonable to allow those beliefs to frame the discussion.

It’s also unreasonable to pretend that calling a woman a murderer and a baby killer is not just as inflammatory as calling anti-abortion foes, woman-haters.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/66 "2014-05-11T16:59:16Z")

</div>

> [@Malacandra](#):
>
> tl;dr: While she wants it, it’s a kid if she wants it to be. The moment she doesn’t, it’s a clump of cells. This is scientific, objective truth and not to be questioned.

Oh, I really would recommend that you give reading a try. Who knows - you might even find that it’s useful.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/67 "2014-05-11T17:05:12Z")

</div>

> [@Merneith](#):
>
> Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying about abortions. People have honestly held beliefs about it - that it’s killing a child. But those beliefs are inaccurate and not based on anything rational.

There is no accurate answer to the question: when does a fetus become a human, and so no answer can be called “inaccurate”. The term isn’t even applicable. The answer depends on how one defines “human”, which depends on one’s belief system, and since it’s perfectly rational to oppose murder, the pro-life position is perfectly rational, within that belief system.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/68 "2014-05-11T17:12:47Z")

</div>

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> There is no accurate answer to the question: when does a fetus become a human, and so no answer can be called “inaccurate”. The term isn’t even applicable. The answer depends on how one defines “human”, which depends on one’s belief system, and since it’s perfectly rational to oppose murder, the pro-life position is perfectly rational, within that belief system.

Regardless, you probably won’t get into trouble for holding that ‘inaccurate’ belief, despite the fact that a majority of Mods AND posters on this board are pro-choice to one degree or another, as long as you don’t flame and use abusive language or explosive rhetoric. While, ironically, even if you hold what is the majority viewpoint here, and even if the Mod or Mods in question agree with your basic opinion, if you flame you will get a warning.

Which is as it should be. I hope DT learns the lesson, but based on this thread and his past actions I’m guessing he won’t and will be banned fairly soon, as it’s obvious that the Mods here aren’t screwing around anymore, no matter what your position is.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/69 "2014-05-11T17:21:11Z")

</div>

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> There is no accurate answer to the question: when does a fetus become a human, and so no answer can be called “inaccurate”. The term isn’t even applicable. The answer depends on how one defines “human”, which depends on one’s belief system, and since it’s perfectly rational to oppose murder, the pro-life position is perfectly rational, within that belief system.

The fetus is always human. What it’s _not_ is a child. Therefore calling woman who get abortions, “child-killers”, or referring to an abortion as “killing a child”, is inaccurate and inflammatory.

Furthermore, murder is a specific legal term, even if, in casual conversation, it’s used to mean killing, generically. Not every killing of a human is murder. There are different legal penalties for different types of killing. Sometimes, there are no penalties at all - and rightly so. Abortion is one of those times.

Just because a human gets killed doesn’t make it murder. Beliefs and the imprecisions of casual conversation have nothing to do with it. Deliberately saying murder to refer to an abortion is inflammatory and, yes, inaccurate.  
And for the record, I oppose the death penalty in all cases, but it’s not murder, either, and the people who carry it out are not murderers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/70 "2014-05-11T17:26:56Z")

</div>

> [@magellan01](#):
>
> Dude, I’m pro-choice myself, but don’t you understand that the other side views abortion as the ending of a life? That it is killing an innocent?

So what? By that token, DT thinks conservatives hate and want to oppress women, and he should be allowed to express that opinion.

I know DT’s posting well enough to be sure that Terr’s statements were not what prompted him to spew bile all over that thread, but I certainly agree with other posters who think that they are inflammatory and also deserve to be modded.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/71 "2014-05-11T17:32:24Z")

</div>

> [@Merneith](#):
>
> The fetus is always human. What it’s _not_ is a child.

Not going to debate you here. I’ll just say that what you stated is not objectively true-- it depends on your definition of “child” and [you don’t get to own the definition.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/child)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/72 "2014-05-11T18:04:46Z")

</div>

> [@XT](#):
>
> Regardless, you probably won’t get into trouble for holding that ‘inaccurate’ belief, despite the fact that a majority of Mods AND posters on this board are pro-choice to one degree or another, as long as you don’t flame and use abusive language or explosive rhetoric. While, ironically, even if you hold what is the majority viewpoint here, and even if the Mod or Mods in question agree with your basic opinion, if you flame you will get a warning.
> 
> Which is as it should be. I hope DT learns the lesson, but based on this thread and his past actions I’m guessing he won’t and will be banned fairly soon, as it’s obvious that the Mods here aren’t screwing around anymore, no matter what your position is.

The reason I’ve been stressing the inaccuracy of the term “child-killer” is that it highlights the inflammatory nature of the term. That term is used, not because it’s correct, but because it’s designed to inflame emotion and prejudice the argument.

I do, in fact, think the mods of Great Debates should forbid using inflammatory language, especially when it’s not even correct.

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Not going to debate you here. I’ll just say that what you stated is not objectively true-- it depends on your definition of “child” and [you don’t get to own the definition.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/child)

We don’t have to debate this, but if you want to play dictionary tag off that statement of mine, we should start with [the definition of fetus.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fetus)

It’s not _my_ definition. “Fetus” is a medical term to describe a stage of pre-natal development. Children are post-natal fetuses. Therefore, whatever terms casual conversation might use, it is inaccurate to call women who get abortions, “child-killers”.

As I said above, deliberately choosing the most inflammatory language should be discouraged in Great Debates, I think.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/73 "2014-05-11T18:09:53Z")

</div>

Well, let’s be realistic. You said

[QUOTE=Der Trihs]  
Because they hate women, and wish to oppress and torment them. Forbidding abortion is just a useful club for them to beat on women with.

They don’t care at all about the “unborn”; their behavior simply does not fit their claimed motivation. They show no concern at all for the health of the fetus, and none for the baby they’ve forced to be born. Nor do they care if the fetus is doomed to die, or already dead, so long as they can force the woman to birth it. Nor in places where they can get away with it have they hesitated to condemn women to a slow death by forbidding them an abortion to save their life. Nor have they showed any great interest in actually doing anything that reduces the number of abortions; only in making them less safe and more degrading.

The so-called anti-abortion movement is a hate movement directed at women, nothing more. A more successful, gender targeted equivalent of the KKK.

[/QUOTE]

It was total bullshit and lies when you said and you knew it was. But you said it anyway, simply because you wanted to bray like a jackass. JC was right in warning you and frankly I hope it’s the last warning you get.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/74 "2014-05-11T18:15:37Z")

</div>

> [@Merneith](#):
>
> The reason I’ve been stressing the inaccuracy of the term “child-killer” is that it highlights the inflammatory nature of the term. That term is used, not because it’s correct, but because it’s designed to inflame emotion and prejudice the argument.

Perhaps, sometimes. Not always.

> [@](#):
>
> We don’t have to debate this, but if you want to play dictionary tag off that statement of mine, we should start with [the definition of fetus.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fetus)
> 
> It’s not _my_ definition. “Fetus” is a medical term to describe a stage of pre-natal development. Children are post-natal fetuses. Therefore, whatever terms casual conversation might use, it is inaccurate to call women who get abortions, “child-killers”.

Words can have more than one meaning, you know. You don’t get to pick the only meaning people can use. That is all.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/75 "2014-05-11T18:16:28Z")

</div>

> [@Merneith](#):
>
> The reason I’ve been stressing the inaccuracy of the term “child-killer” is that it highlights the inflammatory nature of the term. That term is used, not because it’s correct, but because it’s designed to inflame emotion and prejudice the argument.
> 
> I do, in fact, think the mods of Great Debates should forbid using inflammatory language, especially when it’s not even correct.
> 
> We don’t have to debate this, but if you want to play dictionary tag off that statement of mine, we should start with [the definition of fetus.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fetus)
> 
> It’s not _my_ definition. “Fetus” is a medical term to describe a stage of pre-natal development. Children are post-natal fetuses. Therefore, whatever terms casual conversation might use, it is inaccurate to call women who get abortions, “child-killers”.
> 
> As I said above, deliberately choosing the most inflammatory language should be discouraged in Great Debates, I think.

Language doesn’t neatly classify things into one thing or the other. There are often overlaps… Surely the main reason “child-killer” is offensive is that word “killer” at the end.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/76 "2014-05-11T18:46:15Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=Merneith]  
The reason I’ve been stressing the inaccuracy of the term “child-killer” is that it highlights the inflammatory nature of the term. That term is used, not because it’s correct, but because it’s designed to inflame emotion and prejudice the argument.

I do, in fact, think the mods of Great Debates should forbid using inflammatory language, especially when it’s not even correct.  
[/QUOTE]

I’m not a Mod, but my guess is that the statement ‘child killer’ is ambiguous. I mean, to someone who is pro-life and thinks a fetus actually IS a ‘child’, then it’s a fairly accurate statement. They think the fetus is a child, and it’s obviously being ‘killed’…thus ‘child killer’ is an accurate term, FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. I’m actually on the fence on this one…it’s really skating close to the edge of the ice, and I’m not sure the Mod(s) shouldn’t have at least pointed it out and said something along the lines of ‘back off…you are getting close to the edge of insult. No warning issued…THIS time’.

However, saying that the pro-life crowd are all in it to torture women, have them die and are the equivalent of a modern and successful KKK is…well, hardly ambiguous. Even if one assumes DT actually believes that (and I believe he does), it’s still over the top inflammatory…and deliberately so. DT COULD have said pretty much exactly the same thing and stayed within the bounds of civil discussion dictated by the rules of this board. He CHOSE not too. Why? Because he’s gotten away with it in the past.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/77 "2014-05-11T18:59:19Z")

</div>

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Not going to debate you here. I’ll just say that what you stated is not objectively true-- it depends on your definition of “child” and [you don’t get to own the definition.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/child)

She does if she is the one who is pregnant.

To imply a woman who has evaluated her situation, abilities, and options, and decided that it would not be advisable to have a child a killer or murderer is inflammatory.

ETA: I certainly don’t find “child-killer” ambiguous.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/78 "2014-05-11T19:27:32Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Because they hate women, and wish to oppress and torment them. Forbidding abortion is just a useful club for them to beat on women with.
> 
> They don’t care at all about the “unborn”; their behavior simply does not fit their claimed motivation. They show no concern at all for the health of the fetus, and none for the baby they’ve forced to be born. Nor do they care if the fetus is doomed to die, or already dead, so long as they can force the woman to birth it. Nor in places where they can get away with it have they hesitated to condemn women to a slow death by forbidding them an abortion to save their life. Nor have they showed any great interest in actually doing anything that reduces the number of abortions; only in making them less safe and more degrading.
> 
> The so-called anti-abortion movement is a hate movement directed at women, nothing more. A more successful, gender targeted equivalent of the KKK.

Trihs got a mod note for this? Did he get mod notes for each of the roughly 3000 near-identical expressions of the same rhetoric? His private message inbox must be nothing but mod notes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/79 "2014-05-11T19:30:25Z")

</div>

> [@Merneith](#):
>
> The reason I’ve been stressing the inaccuracy of the term “child-killer” is that it highlights the inflammatory nature of the term. That term is used, not because it’s correct, but because it’s designed to inflame emotion and prejudice the argument.

> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Perhaps, sometimes. Not always.

Right. I’m sure there are many occasions when it’s not meant in a shrill, inflammatory way and rather is a sober appeal to reason. I just can’t recall any.

There’s a difference between tossing the “child-killer” grenade into a debate, and going completely over the top by saying something like “Pro-choicers hate children and want to harm women, and push abortion because it gratifies their blood-lust” (which would sort of be an anti-abortion rights mirror-image of DT’s posting style). Just not as big a difference as some appear to think.

In my opinion neither sort of comment belongs in GD.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147/80 "2014-05-11T19:32:40Z")

</div>

> [@magellan01](#):
>
> That’s not true for all who oppose abortion. The position that life begins prior to birth is not held only by people due to religious belief.

Right, magellan01 (and Terr). That’s why I qualified the correlation as a very imperfect one. This was well expressed by several posters in the original thread.

But I’m pretty sure it’s a good explanation for how the two positions came to be associated with each other strongly enough that politicians and political parties have tended to exploit and encourage the link beyond the purely religious.

But enough of this hijack.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147.md?page=3)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonathan-chance-where-is-that-list-of-things-im-supposed-to-remain-silent-on/688147.md?page=5)
