We do it because we love Christ and love other people. We also enjoy meeting them, sharing our experiences, and so on. In this case, I saw a father writing enthusiastically about the wonders of children and fatherhood. I shared with him another perspective on it, the ability to have God in his life, and some advice from someone who thought similar to him. Just friendly discussion at that point.

Most of my work here in Mississippi is like that. I talk to a lot of people about many topics, including their faith (or atheism). While many avoid the topic, those that discuss it mostly speak their mind, we listen, share our views in love, sometimes debate, and walk away with mutual respect. Some react harshly but most are pleasant. I learn plenty from them, too.

Then, there’s other areas with a different culture. They discuss all kinds of topics, even religion, allowing many views in posts or comments. The second a Christian shows up, they’re met with dismissal, mockery, personal attacks, and censorship (eg downvotes). It’s usually multiple people showing up as a mob.

At least one always claims to speak for everyone in the place or the world or a race or gender but don’t actually represent most or all views. In some places, they try to eject opponents or get them fired. Unlike Jesus Christ and His followers, this group usually has no love for their outgroup, no forgiveness for perceived wrongs, their own beliefs are inconsistent over time, and never did miracles (no power).

(Note: The best description I have so far are Western Progressives into intersectionality. Especially who went to colleges dominated by those ideologies which passed them on. Outside this group, I basically never run into the patterns I described.)

As you pointed out, that was the case on Lobsters. It was a low-noise, tech site. The social justice crowd demanded in meta threads that they could inject politics, their agenda, into every thread. However, anything opposing their beliefs was hate speech, harassment, “exterminist,” etc. Once favored, they mobbed their opponents, downvoted them, and tried to get them banned. I was banned.

The worst part was selective deletion of civil comments, but leaving horrible accusations, that makes future readers think that’s what the deleted comment said. Progressive liberals revise history to make them look better and opponents look worse which is what they accuse others of. I do thank pushcx for otherwise being a great moderator. Also, for crediting that I was kind to the mob in the last debate.

Even there, I received private messages and emails from opponents saying what happened was unfair to me, non-Progressives thanking me for speaking up, and Christian’s saying they don’t identify as Christians there to avoid mistreatment.

Back to HN, there’s clearly some hardcore people in specific ideologies who use similar tactics. However, the majority of Hacker News are more open-minded and civil. They like learning others’ perspectives. The rare few who mob on me don’t scare me since I wear the armor of God. I just respond peacefully and helpfully. You had a question, too.

Re not my body and no hands on “her” body

That’s three misconceptions: only her body; man’s view; only woman has a right to an opinion.

First, a pregnant woman has a baby growing inside them. It’s their body and another person’s body. We respect both. We apply the right to life, to safety, and so on to the baby’s body, too. Like with adults, we’re morally consistent by not allowing people to murder inconvenient dependents.

Second, even Progressives and non-Christians often support giving the helpless a voice. Protection, too. We also do that for babies that many don’t care about.

Other ministries exist that interview or are made up of people who would’ve been aborted. They changed their mind or it failed or something. In all cases I’ve heard, they were glad their mothers didn’t or couldn’t murder them. One was my best friend, a smart guy, who doctors said would be a vegetable. I thank God his mother listened to Him, not them.

Third, there’s a myth that you might be referencing that Christianity or protecting children in the womb is men’s belief forced on women. The first witnesses to Christ’s resurrection were women, most Christians are women IIRC, they spread it the most (esp to children), and they think God’s Word is the best thing for women. I feel I must speak up for half a billion women that some segments, like Progressives or feminists, often mock or censor. We should listen to those women.

Finally, people in Life Choices Memphis discovered another lie in many scenarios: Progressives care about what women want. Women going to abortion clinics sometimes allowed interviews. The vast majority were undecided on abortion but were pressured to do it. From their boyfriend to parents to liberal media to the clinic itself, everyone was telling them killing the child was the right thing. Those women who were asked what they thought, esp if having ultrasound or hearing heartbeat, kept the baby in many cases. Pressuring women to kill a child isn't caring for the woman or the child.

I never knew any of that as a liberal atheist. I wasn’t allowed to because specific segments in control of media and college forced those beliefs out where I never heard them. Eventually, I experienced a miracle (see GetHisWord.com) with events sending me to Christ. Outside of Plato’s Cave, I learned things I never knew which make sense and actually get good results. I’m happy to share the gift with others.