# What is the point of abolishing abortion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 30, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471 "2024-08-30T16:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/521 "2024-09-11T02:14:37Z")
And yet somehow I can’t recall any time I’ve seen/heard ‘I’m anti-baby killer’ but I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve seen/heard ‘I’m pro-life’. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/522 "2024-09-11T02:15:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If I were to use their terminology it would be anti-baby killer. Pro-life is their terminology. Anti-abortion is the neutral term and you’ve been shown that. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/523 "2024-09-11T02:21:54Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > And yet somehow I can’t recall any time I’ve seen/heard ‘I’m anti-baby killer’ but I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve seen/heard ‘I’m pro-life’. Just pretend you’ve never seen signs that say “abortion is murder”. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/524 "2024-09-11T02:24:12Z")
Which also is not the way the movement identifies the movement. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/525 "2024-09-11T02:24:59Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Pro-life is their terminology. Anti-abortion is the neutral term and you’ve been shown that. That’s like saying “pro choice” is the left’s terminology and “pro-abortion” is neutral term. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/526 "2024-09-11T02:27:19Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Which also is not the way the movement identifies the movement. So what you’re saying is that “pro choice” and “pro life” are the preferred terminology used by both sides. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/527 "2024-09-11T02:28:50Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That’s like saying “pro choice” is the left’s terminology and “pro-abortion” is neutral term. Nope. Because “life” is a much more general term. We had that discussion already in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/528 "2024-09-11T02:35:57Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Nope. Because “life” is a much more general term. We had that discussion already in the thread. Pro Choice is used because it sanitizes abortion. We’re not for killing fetuses, were just pro-choice. You’re just going to have to deal with the fact that both sides have chosen how they wish to be referred to. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/529 "2024-09-11T02:38:54Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You’re just going to have to deal with the fact that both sides have chosen how they wish to be referred to. I’ve got no problem with that. I’ve got a problem with you using one side’s terminology while claiming you don’t agree with them. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/530 "2024-09-11T02:46:17Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I’ve got a problem with you using one side’s terminology while claiming you don’t agree with them. I don’t wholly agree with either side which is why I presented the legal side of it. It’s going to end up back in court and they will have to rule on what constitutes human life. Your problems are your own. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/531 "2024-09-11T02:57:03Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > They’re pretty up-front about their cause. No, they are highly dishonest, hypocritical, and malignant. They care nothing for “life”, fetal or otherwise; only hurting women. They are murderous and sadistic, not “pro-life”. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/532 "2024-09-11T04:04:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It’s going to end up back in court and they will have to rule on what constitutes human life. Annnd then what? Even if the SCotUS rules that fertilized eggs are human life that in no way addresses the question of bodily autonomy. As far as I know there is no legal requirement on a parent to even do something as minimally invasive as giving a pint of blood to save the life of their, post birth, child. And we’re back to the violinist, if human life trumps bodily autonomy then why _can’t_ the state require a parent to be a living dialysis machine for their child for nine months? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/533 "2024-09-11T04:13:10Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That’s like saying “pro choice” is the left’s terminology and “pro-abortion” is neutral term. No, “pro abortion rights” might be a neutral term. “Pro abortion” is a false description. There is no political movement in favor of abortions in the US. Back when China was enforcing their “one child” policy, they were pro abortion. Literally no one in the US is pushing women to get abortions. I’m okay if you describe my position as pro-abortion-rights. I’m not trying to sanitize anything. But I think abortions are unpleasant and unfortunate, and I am not in favor of abortions. I just think they can be less bad than the alternative, so I want abortion to be an option for women when the alternative is worse. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/534 "2024-09-11T19:42:52Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > If they don’t exist, why is it that the people who are against abortion that I know personally do not appear to have any malice or evil intent? They certainly do not consider all the facts, or maybe very many facts at all, but that does not equate to malice. They are moved by pure emotion generated by the image of beautiful living babies being wantonly murdered. The women are not their main concern, the unborn babies are. Anything one can do to save more of those darling little babies is worth doing. > > Please don’t ask me any questions that begin “don’t they realize?” Because they don’t. > > The parallel with same sex marriage is only that it, too, at heart, is a gut level emotional reaction, no real reasoning is involved. I’d say that’s consistently true of a lot of right wing hills they choose to die on. Have you (or they) ever heard the saying “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/535 "2024-09-11T19:45:45Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Have you (or they) ever heard the saying “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”? Where did you read that I thought they are justified or right? I was only pushing back on the idea they are evil, malign people who want to grind (other) women under their heel and cackle at their screams. But no one wants to figure out why people do things they wouldn’t do themselves. They’d rather believe them to be monsters. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/536 "2024-09-11T19:48:29Z")
The point of that saying is that good, conscientious, well-meaning people can make decisions that have horrific consequences. You don’t need malice to perform an action with negative consequences. I do agree with you that many people who vote against any and all forms of pregnancy termination are not malicious, evil people. Nor are they all identical in their motivations and what they will and won’t approve of. Nonetheless, their votes have consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/537 "2024-09-11T19:49:45Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Nonetheless, their votes have consequences. they sure as hell do. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/538 "2024-09-13T00:04:46Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Where did you read that I thought they are justified or right? I was only pushing back on the idea they are evil, malign people who want to grind (other) women under their heel and cackle at their screams. Again, _so what_ if they aren’t? They _act_ exactly like that, so what does it matter if they secretly feel otherwise? Why should the people they torment and kill care if their tormentors “meant well”? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/539 "2024-09-13T00:27:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Again, _so what_ if they aren’t? They _act_ exactly like that, so what does it matter if they secretly feel otherwise? Why should the people they torment and kill care if their tormentors “meant well”? Again, we are talking past each other, and there is no point continuing. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/540 "2024-09-13T02:01:05Z")
[sarcasm] Because of infinite social responsibility, there’s no such thing as having a personal belief about anything. If you oppose legal abortion, every death due to a botched back-alley abortion is _ **YOUR FAULT!!!** _ just as much as if you’d personally cut their throats. [/sarcasm] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471.md?page=28)