Hate

[JGG]

I've read a lot of posters use the phrase "I don't hate (some group of people), but..."

I research the emotion of hate, and the various dynamics of prejudice. If I'm interviewing someone and they use the phrase "I don't hate (some group of people), but..." I tend to double check that my dictaphone is recording what comes next. It's always the most interesting part of the interview. The truth is prejudice is part of hate, and everybody is prejudiced. The trick is, very few people will ever admit it.

So it occurs to me, how would people here describe/define/relate prejudice or hate?

 

[SimplyMe]

I've read a lot of posters use the phrase "I don't hate (some group of people), but..."

I research the emotion of hate, and the various dynamics of prejudice. If I'm interviewing someone and they use the phrase "I don't hate (some group of people), but..." I tend to double check that my dictaphone is recording what comes next. It's always the most interesting part of the interview. The truth is prejudice is part of hate, and everybody is prejudiced. The trick is, very few people will ever admit it.

So it occurs to me, how would people here describe/define/relate prejudice or hate?

It also seems that whenever someone says "I don't hate X" the next sentence they say something like "I even have a friend that is X" to attempt to prove they are not bigoted or lying.

 

[JGG]

It also seems that whenever someone says "I don't hate X" the next sentence they say something like "I even have a friend that is X" to attempt to prove they are not bigoted or lying.

 

[m9lc]

My definition of hate is that to hate someone, it means that if you were given the opportunity to kill that someone without any consequences or punishment, you would do so and not feel any hint of remorse. That is what "hate" means to me.

Of course, we often use "hate" in a trivial manner; "I hate traffic jams" and such.

 

[bunced]

You're right everyone is prejudiced in some way. Whether in large things like against all Jews or whether little things like whether someone has tomato sauce or tartar sauce with their chips.

I think the aim of life is to overcome the prejudices and to work beyond them.

In the mean time, we must make sure our prejudices stay at the door in the way in which we treat others

 

[JGG]

You're right everyone is prejudiced in some way. Whether in large things like against all Jews or whether little things like whether someone has tomato sauce or tartar sauce with their chips.

I think the aim of life is to overcome the prejudices and to work beyond them.

In the mean time, we must make sure our prejudices stay at the door in the way in which we treat others

Actually, I was going even deeper than that. Most people (almost 90%), unconsciously believe that Jews have an unusual love of money, even Jews. Almost everyone unconsciously believes that African Americans are unusually aggressive, even African Americans. Almost 70% of non-immigrant Americans, believe immigrants to be below average intelligence. Now clinically, none of these prejudices are actually true. However, the vast majority of people react to Jews, African Americans, and immigrants as though they were true.

 

[bunced]

Until you mentioned them, I hadn't even thought of those prejudices, and even now I don't recognise them in me

However, I know that I have my own set of people that I have irrational prejudices about (dirty laundry which I'm not about to air here).

Maybe it is something to do with which culture one is brought up in. Are prejudices to a large extent determined by your culture and the subliminal messaging contained therein?

 

[JGG]

Until you mentioned them, I hadn't even thought of those prejudices, and even now I don't recognise them in me

However, I know that I have my own set of people that I have irrational prejudices about (dirty laundry which I'm not about to air here).

Maybe it is something to do with which culture one is brought up in. Are prejudices to a large extent determined by your culture and the subliminal messaging contained therein?

It can be. I didn't think I had those prejudices, but I am/was guilty of 2 of the three of them. Of the three the only test I didn't fail was the Jew/love of money one. The reason I don't follow that one is that I was completely unaware of the stereotype until after my formative period. I failed the other two.

 

[OllieFranz]

I love the expression on the face of the guy on the right! And his body lanuage.

 

[Steezie]

I dont understand why everybody seems so SCARED of hate. They look down on people who DO hate as somehow inferior.

Hate can give you strength, make you able to do a lot of things you couldnt do before. Its not healthy to hold onto it forever, but it has its uses

 

[SimplyMe]

I dont understand why everybody seems so SCARED of hate. They look down on people who DO hate as somehow inferior.

Hate can give you strength, make you able to do a lot of things you couldnt do before. Its not healthy to hold onto it forever, but it has its uses

From my reading of the OP, it seems we are talking more about a definition of hate as it relates to prejudice against an attribute people have (religion, sexual orientation, skin color, etc.), not a hate that you can use for constructive purposes.

 

[StarCannon]

Has anyone ever read the Warhammer 40k books? They've got a religion in there that pretty much thrives on hatred. I dunno if I want to promote Hatred in this day and age... Developed/3rd world nations + hate + atomic bombs = one charred planet with everyone either dead or dying of radiation effects...

 

[ArchaicTruth]

I like to say I'm racist against racist people

I don't have anything against blacks, just blacks with stereotypical attitudes. I don't have anything against Jews, just Jews with stereotypical love of money. Unfortunately, stereotypes have a tendency to be true, though I've never met a Jew who was a penny pincher...

 

[Peach81]

I like to say I'm racist against racist people

You mean "prejudiced" against racist people.

I don't have anything against blacks, just blacks with stereotypical attitudes. I don't have anything against Jews, just Jews with stereotypical love of money. Unfortunately, stereotypes have a tendency to be true, though I've never met a Jew who was a penny pincher...

Wow... now I see how easy it is to say something extremely offensive against a whole ethnic group without even meaning to.

 

[StarCannon]

Ah, yes. Once again, the foot in mouth disease strikes again! LoL

 

[Zaac]

I've read a lot of posters use the phrase "I don't hate (some group of people), but..."

I research the emotion of hate, and the various dynamics of prejudice. If I'm interviewing someone and they use the phrase "I don't hate (some group of people), but..." I tend to double check that my dictaphone is recording what comes next. It's always the most interesting part of the interview. The truth is prejudice is part of hate, and everybody is prejudiced. The trick is, very few people will ever admit it.

So it occurs to me, how would people here describe/define/relate prejudice or hate?

I don't know where you're getting your definition of hate and what it's made of, but based upon what you said no one should really equate hate and prejudice.

 

[Bombila]

Actually, I was going even deeper than that. Most people (almost 90%), unconsciously believe that Jews have an unusual love of money, even Jews. Almost everyone unconsciously believes that African Americans are unusually aggressive, even African Americans. Almost 70% of non-immigrant Americans, believe immigrants to be below average intelligence. Now clinically, none of these prejudices are actually true. However, the vast majority of people react to Jews, African Americans, and immigrants as though they were true.

JGG, could you clarify who you mean by 'most people' , and 'the vast majority of people' in the above? Do you mean 'most people', or 'most Westerners', most North Americans', or most US Americans?

 

[JGG]

JGG, could you clarify who you mean by 'most people' , and 'the vast majority of people' in the above? Do you mean 'most people', or 'most Westerners', most North Americans', or most US Americans?

Good point. Most Westerners.

 

[JGG]

I don't know where you're getting your definition of hate and what it's made of, but based upon what you said no one should really equate hate and prejudice.

Well hate and prejudice are intrinsically linked. How and why do you think a prejudice is developed?

 

[Beanieboy]

Prejudice is based on some form of reality, and then overgeneralized.

It is more dangerous to drive on the highway than fly on a plane, but media shows plane crashes more often, and they have a stronger impact on people.

People then overgeneralize that getting on a plane is dangerous, but driving on the highway is not, even though they know better.

For me, I certainly have some prejudices, but it has more to do with those stereotypes acted out by people.
For example, I have worked in an office where women would talk about chocolate cake for literally an hour, or how they have to get their toenails done, or whine about how they want to marry a guy and sit home and do nothing. Someone will then say, "I'm getting married," and the first thing out of their mouth? "LET ME SEE THE RING!" Then they decide if he "did well", and then talk about how it is all about the bride, playing Fairy Princess for a day, rather than two people committing their lives to each other.

It's not hatred. It's total annoyance.

I also think that there is a subjectiveness from prejudice.
I grew up in a Lutheran family (the Frozen Chosen) where you are quiet at church, quiet at home, quiet at the dinner table. When I go to a Baptist Church, people are talking through the ceremony! To them, they are actively interacting. When I see Italians talking over each other at the dinner table, to me, it is rude. To them, it's conversation.

The prejudice and hatred comes when you insist that your way is the right way, and everyone else is wrong.

It is the thinking of a child.