>> I sometimes wonder if HN commentors ever think that maybe their comments might leave them open to legal liability in some future case

While I agree with advising caution, and disagree with the gp sentiment, I don't think that mild gender insensitivity and poor communication skills are as of yet civil or criminal offenses on comment sections.

Bob says "hiring women is risky because they all have babies".

Bob sets up a startup and gets to the point of hiring.

Does Bob wonder whether his earlier public comments have left him open to discrimination claims?

Fair, but unless he is actually discriminating he should be able to get by with relatively few issues.

I think you misunderstood my tone, which in hindsight I should have phrased differently. I was saying

"Women aren't required to have kids... but this quote implies that all women have kids, which annoys me"

"Women aren't required to have kids..."

^^ Double edged sentence you have there ;-)

I am pretty sure they are; unless there are some serious medical advances and questionable ethical boundaries.

Downvoted? For saying women are necessary in the birth of children?

HN is weird.