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Well it is the most important holiday of the year in North and South America, Australia, Europe, much of Africa, and for a sizable minority population of Asians

Well it is the most important holiday of the year in North and South America, Australia, Europe, much of Africa, and for a sizable minority population of Asians, and likely for people currently living in space stations or Antarctica. The community is a sum of its members, and much of the community is currently enjoying the holiday spirit. If the community should wish to indulge in non-Western and non-Christian holidays as well, I will not bah-humbug their holiday experience.

Locke1689 16y ago
Well, first you're overstating the percentage of Christians in the world. Second, you're completely missing the point. Religious holidays (or really holidays in general) have no place on HN. I will "bah-humbug their holiday experience," as you say, because I don't think this content serves an intellectually interesting purpose. There are plenty of places for people to celebrate their religion -- this does not need to be another. I really don't feel this is worthy of a big debate, though. My position is that HN is not a place for religious discussion, positive or negative, unless it has a more overreaching intellectual purpose. There's not much more to say.
- jacoblyles 16y ago
  I'm a strict atheist, but I'm also a descendant of Western civilization (formerly known as "Christendom"). As such, I spend the Christmas season as my forefathers have for the last few thousand years - enjoying the heightened good cheer of my fellow men, relishing the opportunity to spend time with my friends and family, and counting my blessings. Hacker News is a news site, but it is also a community of hackers. If a HNer needs a place to stay in Mountain View or is in trouble in some other way, I would try to help them. As such, the occasional touch of a human element is appropriate. I feel it is acceptable to send my fellow hackers the traditional good wishes and cheer as my civilization (and most of theirs) have done during this time of year for generations, while not seeking to be exclusionary or force my beliefs on anyone. I see it as the digital analogue of taking a moment of time at a technical conference to tell my colleague that I hope his family is doing well. I would hope he wouldn't snap back at me that it was off-topic. It seems that aggressive atheists are more annoying than Christians nowadays.

Locke1689 16y ago

Well, first you're overstating the percentage of Christians in the world. Second, you're completely missing the point. Religious holidays (or really holidays in general) have no place on HN. I will "bah-humbug their holiday experience," as you say, because I don't think this content serves an intellectually interesting purpose. There are plenty of places for people to celebrate their religion -- this does not need to be another. I really don't feel this is worthy of a big debate, though. My position is that HN is not a place for religious discussion, positive or negative, unless it has a more overreaching intellectual purpose. There's not much more to say.

jacoblyles 16y ago
I'm a strict atheist, but I'm also a descendant of Western civilization (formerly known as "Christendom"). As such, I spend the Christmas season as my forefathers have for the last few thousand years - enjoying the heightened good cheer of my fellow men, relishing the opportunity to spend time with my friends and family, and counting my blessings. Hacker News is a news site, but it is also a community of hackers. If a HNer needs a place to stay in Mountain View or is in trouble in some other way, I would try to help them. As such, the occasional touch of a human element is appropriate. I feel it is acceptable to send my fellow hackers the traditional good wishes and cheer as my civilization (and most of theirs) have done during this time of year for generations, while not seeking to be exclusionary or force my beliefs on anyone. I see it as the digital analogue of taking a moment of time at a technical conference to tell my colleague that I hope his family is doing well. I would hope he wouldn't snap back at me that it was off-topic. It seems that aggressive atheists are more annoying than Christians nowadays.