Do you hate?

[Bertha Venation]

Poll question: Do you hate?

I don't mean, do you hate someone who hurt you horribly.

I mean: Do you hate religious fundamentalists? Do you hate the Bush administration (the individuals who make it up; not the governmental entity)? Do you hate Republicans?

In other words, do you throw a blanket over a group of people and say to yourself, every individual in this group is worthy of my hatred?

This is strictly a yes or no question. Feel free to post your thoughts, but don't look for an "other" option.

[dolo amber]

1. Oh yes

I do it often, and well. :D

[gpandas]

2. imho no good comes from hate...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. yes. i see no reason to not hate bigots.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. This is hard to answer because I don't want to come off as having

an "I am a loving..I cannot hate" holier than thou sort of attitude. I really do try to tell myself every time I think of hate, that it is an extremely strong word. I ask myself, if I met that person, persons, group on the street, would I be able to speak with them in a calm, collected manner. Most times the answer is yes, so I put them in the dislike/distrust category.

[JohnKleeb]

5. Yeah I do

There are some groups I just cant stand.

[ZenLefty]

6. I hate polls without an 'other' option!

Grumpy Smurf, role-model of my youth

[AlabamaYankee]

7. Hatred is counterproductive

It may be satisfying in the short run, but it's been my experience that by hating, you permit that particular person, movement, or whatever to control you and shape your thoughts and actions. I would rather oppose what I think is wrong, but keep my own sense of balance.

[redqueen]

8. No

It's easy to say I hate someone, but when I think about it, I can usually think of examples of people who posessed some trait that I would think makesb me 'hate' them, who came around to the light - so I can't hate them because they may someday evolve.

And as for someone who hurt me, no... I don't hate them either. I think hating is counterproductive, because it only affects the hater, and not in a good way.

[brainshrub]

9. I hate health-insurance companies & Wal-Mart.

I know it's counter-productive, but I do.

If I didn't believe whole-heartedly in non-violence as the only way to cause positive social change, I would beat health-insurance executives with a baseball bat at the first opportunity.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. Amen amen amen!

I hate ALL insurance companies! They are flat-out evil, reporting record profits year after year after year, while gouging you on every little issue that you might need to make a claim on and simultaenously increasing rates each year. Ridiculous. They need to be regulated, ASAP.

[brainshrub]

15. Screw regulated, we need a single-payer national healthcare plan.

Someday.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. I wish.

Speaking as one of those millions of un-insured Americans, on the grounds that I am slightly overweight, have asthma, and some arthritis. Yeah, they rejected me for that. :nuke:

[DemWitch]

10. You can't generalize groups of people...

saying you hate all (fill in the blank) robs you of your own humanity. Hating an entire group is exactly how some of the worse things in history happened. The Holocaust, The Crusades, The Witch Trials, etc.

Every person, deserves to be rated on thier own merit, and not the merit of the people they choose to associate with.

As my Mom, the wisest woman on Earth puts it... I may not like what you do, but that doesn't mean I don't love you.

[cprise]

22. Oh yes you can

Your response shows were liberalism becomes stupid when it is spread through simple slogans.

A religious fundamentalist believes in the absolute truth of a supernatural story. That is a valid generalization of a self-selecting group and a fact that can be used to judge the content of a person's character.

Its the kind of generalization that matters. Saying that fundamentalists dress in white robes is inappropriate because the type of fundamentalist wasn't considered; I have taken something too specific and made a broad generalization with it.

Broad generalizations are used in stereotyping, which is when you expect certain things from people that are only incidental to the group they are part of.

[Bertha Venation]

26. "A religious fundamentalist believes in . . . "

"A religious fundamentalist believes in the absolute truth of a supernatural story. That is a valid generalization of a self-selecting group and a fact that can be used to judge the content of a person's character."

I disagree. My in-laws are religious fundamentalists. If I judged the content of their character by this fact, I'd have to write them off. There would be no room whatsoever for the fact that they accept their lesbian daughter (and me) without qualification; they feed and clothe thousands of non-church members through the church ministries they run without ever requiring those needy folks to listen to a sermon or go to Sunday school or even accept a bible verse written on a scrap of paper; that they are extraordinary individuals whose humanity transcends their belief in the supernatural.

"It's the kind of generalization that matters." As you see, I couldn't disagree more.

[cprise]

35. That doesn't change the fact of their belief

I also have Christian fundamentalist parents. They happen to have had former marriages and tend to move from church to church looking for a fundamentalist one that will accept them. That they insist on making an exception for themselves and not for others' situations only proves that they are human. I, on the other hand not being a fundamentalist, KNOW there is no single way to interpret the bible and so expect these personal variations.

The church and belief system our parents support still assert the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, despite their selectivity in how they read the bible. Also, if you press your mother on the issue of inerrancy she will either stand by it ...or back off (in which case she is a moderate who worships at fundamentalist church).

[Bertha Venation]

37. You appear to see things in terms as black and white as do

many religious fundamentalists. :shrug:

Thanks for answering.

[cprise]

44. I am capable of seeing the black and white

...colors that some people paint themselves with. I don't reduce everything to grey so I can stake a claim on open-mindedness.

Its true that not all Nazis were genocidal. Do I avoid all other generalizations for the group, including the ones they use to define themselves?

[Guy_Montag]

12. I hate everyone,

equally & without prejudice.

But most of all I hate myself.

(Sorry in a very bitter mood, after a good night's sleep I'll feel better)

[cprise]

13. Do you hate Neo-Nazis, or Saddam Hussein, or Al-Queda?

Does providing non-American examples of these self-selecting groups make you more likely to say 'yes'?

I hate all of the above (your list and mine), but I keep that emotion on s short leash.

[jukes]

14. you've covered

my top 3 groups in your post.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Shrek]

18. These voting results are depressing me

How can anyone condemn the far right for their hatred when it's being endorsed here by a 3-to-2 margin?

:shrug:

I really hope a lot of those votes are lurking trolls.

[redqueen]

20. I fear they're not

Never assume 'US' is that much different from 'THEM'.

[EstimatedProphet]

39. For me it's less about them hating that what they hate

Hate is an emotion. It's part of the human experience. It's legitimate. But:
1) reflexively acting on hate is not appropriate;
2) Hatred of positive things (racial equality, egalitarianism vs. elitism, etc.) is what separates us from the far right. The far right believe these things are bad, that if someone does not fit into their idea of appropriate conformity, then they are not worthy of consideration. that's why the poor, gays, foreign nationals, etc. all get their derision.

[Mara Steele]

19. No, I don't

I don't hate anyone.

Hate is a self-destructive emotion, and I won't let ANYONE cause me to destroy myself.

[Mara Steele]

21. People have varying definitions of the word "hate"

And some people take it a lot more "lightly" than others. It's a common word to hear used so I am not surprised by the votes in this poll.

[Breezy du Nord]

23. I would say I hate racists...

But that seems kind of...well, sinking to their level. Or saying I hate all Republicans, because I don't. I think they're heavily misguided in a great number of their notions, but hate? Nah, the world's got enough of it already.

[JohnKleeb]

27. breezy hey how you been?

hah you remember me right?

[Breezy du Nord]

28. Voyage of self-discovery

Just kidding. I've been up north by Lak Superior most of this summer. In Duluth and at my aunt's house even more up North. Sorry I haven't seen you in awhile. I'll email you.

[JohnKleeb]

30. nah its ok

Good to see you again. Yeah email me, I am at work now though. Its ok, glad you plan to email me. Have a good freshman year?

[LWolf]

24. Absolutely not.

I can't say I love unconditionally, but I don't hate.

Not that I can't be tempted; I just choose not to. Hate is a destructive force, and I'm not turning it on anyone. It sows the seeds for more hate down the road, and it ensures that hate will always be a viable choice for humanity.

You can dislike, oppose, etc. without hating.

[Lavender Brown]

25. I just don't have the energy to hate an entire group of people

But yeah, they fill me with so much anger that I think I'll explode sometimes.

[arwalden]

29. Yes Yes and YES! Absofuckinglutely!

Yes... ALL people in a certain group are worthy of my hatred. There are no two ways about it. If a person belongs to a certain group (particularly fundies and homo-haters) then that person is as good as DEAD to me. DEAD I tell ya!

I can imagine NO redeeming qualities that person might pretend to have that could make me not hate them. I loathe them. I despise them. They are foul wretched boils. I have no more regard for these folks than a bloated disease ridden carcass lying on the side of the road.

I hate religious nuts.
I hate hypocrites.
I hate Pat Robertson.
I hate Jerry Falwell.
I hate fundamentalists.
I hate creationists.
I hate psychics.
I hate televangelists.
I hate Ann Coulter.
I hate Hannity.
I hate Scarborough.
I hate Limbaugh.
I hate O'Reilly.
I hate bigots.
I hate racists.
I hate kooks.
I hate frauds.
I hate loons.
I hate Bush.
I hate Republicans.
I hate Stepford wives.
I hate Laura Bush.
I hate FOX News.
I hate media whores.
I hate John Edward.
I hate Uri Geller.
I hate Sylvia Browne.
I hate idiots.
I hate morons.
I hate pedophile priests.
I hate child abusers.
I hate animial abusers.
I hate PETA.
I hate charlatans.

Really... I hate them all. If I saw one of them drowning, I wouldn't bother to throw them a rope. I'd laugh and wave and torment them during their last few moments of life... before they go bubbling down to their death.

[Bertha Venation]

32. "Truth. Beauty. Freedom. Love."

*quizzical, non-judgemental grin*

[arwalden]

33. What Confuses You?

[Bertha Venation]

38. I don't know if I can answer that without

alienating you as a friend. Shall I try, or would you prefer I dropped it?

[arwalden]

40. Well... Here's What I Think...

If you have something that you want to say, then you'll say it.

Or you could continue to coy and drop hints that you might risk alienating me if you were to be honest with me and say what you really think.

I already told you that I don't understand why you're being vague or what you're hinting. I asked if you could elaborate. Beyond that, I'm not going to plead with you to be more clear.

You do what you want to do. It's up to you.

-- Allen

edit: clarity/afterthought

[Bertha Venation]

41. I haven't intended to be vague.

Here's as plain as I can be: I couldn't reconcile a long list of groups that I hate with the philosophy stated in your sig line.

That's just me. I don't understand how others can do it, but it's not up to me to decide what others do.

I haven't intended to be vague -- or to piss you off, and I'm not looking for you to plead with me for anything.

[arwalden]

42. Welllll... Why Didn't You Just Say So In The First Place???

... instead of being all ominous and coy and (oooo!) 'it might alienate you' (ooooo!) and asking if we drop it (oooo!) and suggesting that we proceed at my own risk (oooo!).

LOL... That was just silly, Kim. You know you can be honest with me. If you piss me off, then you piss me off. So what? Big deal. --- I much prefer someone to be direct with me than to be vague and to play guessing games... now that's something that pisses me off.

Now that you've better explained what you were thinking, I'm not at all sure why you think something like that would alienate me. I may be a 'sensitive' type of guy... but I'm not that sensitive.

Anyway...

The philosophy in my sig line is not incompatible with hating people and finding them to be totally worthless bits of human garbage with no redeeming qualities because they belong to a certain group.

My love is not free. People must first deserve it before I give it.

I have no respect and no regard for those people and those groups. The entire world would be a better place if they would simply disappear and vanish forever. They are truly evil, vile, and loathsome pathetic wastes of flesh. (But I digress.)

-- Allen

edit: clarity/afterthoughts

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[arwalden]

47. Thanks For Your Concern About My Mental Health, "Carson"

You're new around these parts, I see. May I suggest that you visit the DU rules page.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

[EstimatedProphet]

31. Afraid so

Even though I'd rather not, I can't help myself. There is a certain category of Bush supporter that I literally despise-not the ones that are uninformed, or the rich ones, but the true freeper types. the ones who know exactly what Bush did in Iraq, and want him to do much more of the same. the ones that say things like "all !@$!@#$ ragheads should be killed anyway", and think it's admirable that we have a president who does whatever he wants because it shows what a big man he is, and love * because he's killing inferior brown people.
Please, give me a reason not to hate people like that, and a way not to. I don't know how.

[terrya]

34. I hate religious fundementalists. I hate the Bush administration.

All and equally. No distinctions.

[niceperson]

36. sadly yes

and passionately, often with violent imagery in my head.

[PatriotGames]

43. I hate people or groups who try to push their beliefs on you.

.

[Don_G]

46. I know a group of people that hate

This is my take on hate. I know a group of people that hate and that group of people consists of 4 or 5 people that have the nerve to say that they are democrats but hide behind hate. (One)doesn't like message threads that clutter up a message board so she wants to make sure that certain people are banned from boards, another one can't make friends and holds free parties so that people will show up and that will give him the feeling of being popular, another one just hates people because she feels like she is above others, another one hates because she wants everyone for herself and feels threatened by someone that has more friends then she has and another one is just going along with all of the rest of the people because she is a joiner and it makes her feel better about herself.

I know one person that doesn't hate anyone and forgives everyone that has done wrong to her and she is what the democratic party was founded on. The others are a bunch of freepers that come to a web board to harass others that they feel are below them. People tend to attack the good hearted honest people because they feel threatened by them.

People are filled with hate it's the very few that are filled with love that keeps this world together.

[Swede]

48. How can you not hate something that is grinding up people.

People are dieing because these loathsome cowards are running the show.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

49. I hate to say it,

but I do.

When I look at everything this misadministration has done to screw up the environment and show unabashed disrespect for non-Christians, GLBTs, the poor, minorities, children...I'm more than angry. I hate.

[AmandaRuth]

50. hmmmmm maybe

why do you ask?

no seriously, when i first came to DU i was so angry from the constant right wing media assault, but being around others with similar views and being able to read and discuss issues without a bunch of freeper nonsense has done a lot to relax me. I would change my DU name in a heartbeat if i could keep my post count. I probably will after the election, if the election's honest.

I thought about changing it to Luvamericapitybush, but i don't think I want to waste anymore energy on that vet hating AWOL wretched middle class destroying fake texan. So at some point in the future I will become just Luvamerica, because i really really do love this country.

[DemWitch]

51. Hate just takes to much of my energy...

when it is well spent on making things better, for myself, for others, for the country, for the world. Don't get me wrong, I do get pissed off... but being pissed is a lot different than hating something/someone.

BTW... beautiful cats Bertha... what you really need are some doggies to balance everything out :)

[wickerwoman]

52. I hate bullies and excessively selfish people.

It takes a long damn time and a lot of effort to make me hate you, but once you're on the shit list you're never coming off.

But I don't let it eat me up inside.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, as they say.

[Behind the Aegis]

53. hate to hate

My mother taught me that to "hate" was wrong. As a counselor, I know hate is a "wasted" emotion, most of the time. I have learned that hate means many things. Do I hate any group of people? No. To blanket everyone into a group that I hate, I will always find at least one who I love.

However, hate, like any emotion, serves a purpose. It depends on how one uses that hate. I hate bigotry!! I hate bigots, in general! But, I know some bigots have not received the proper education or attention; therefore, I have a choice...let the hate of the group win and ignore the person..OR...see the PERSON and try to make a difference.

The above moralization being made, I do hate those who harm my family or are intentionally cruel to animals! I try not to let it eat me up...hate will eat you up and leave you a shell! But, love will not!

Brightest Blessings!

[MFUSA]

54. Hate is a waste of valuable energy, and

Leaves so little room for love.

[achtung_circus]

55. I don't thiink it's hate, but

I've got a little list,
Of those who won't be missed.

[LynneSin]

56. Hate is a republican value

something I can't be bothered with. Hate is the reason why repukes want stupidass ideas like the Federal Marriage Amendment. Maybe if they didn't hate so much their blinders would fall off and realize what a hateful amendment that bill is.