I really like this question, I couldn’t possibly get to the bottom of it but here’s a couple of half-explanations/related phenomena:
The simple desire to own the libs. They understand what freedom and personal responsibility is, but also really, really want to DEBATE ME BRO with someone that they don’t like.
Legitimate paranoia that one day somebody is gonna 1984 them, so they’re morally responsible for constantly pushing social boundaries.
I really like this question, I couldn’t possibly get to the bottom of it but here’s a couple of half-explanations/related phenomena: