When you read someone in R&S refer to a "hater," what does the word mean to you?

Question

It seems to me that "hater" and "hate" are either losing meaning or shifting in meaning.

The dictionary says a "Hater" is "One who hates." And "Hate" is defined as "to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest."

Yet on the Y!A Religion & Spirituality forum, it's often used to describe simple disagreement.

Does the word describe an intellectual disagreement now? Or does it still imply that someone has extreme hostility toward a person or an idea?

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Answer 1

The best way to discredit someone's comments and make your comments seem more valid is to make it seem like the other person is full of hatred.

Christians do this a lot and not just to non Christians. They label people who in their opinion are way off base cults. Non one wants to be known as being a hater or in a cult.

If you really want to demonize their beleif call them a racist, that is really a tool people use to discredit others beleifs. In thier minds if they make it apper the other person is full of hatred, this will bring more people over to their way of thinking.

I will not give any examples because this is the R&S section, but if you want to see this tool of calling someone's beliefs full of hatred to turn people away, just watch our politicians and news journalists at work during an election year.


I know Christians are not the only ones who do this, I see athiests call Christians haters also, but it seems the Christians do it more. I may be wrong, but that is what I have observed.

This is just my opinion, but I think when they deleberatly call someone a hater just to make themselves look betterig is bearing false witness. The bible forbids Christians to bear false witness.

Answer 2

Hate means dislike intensly and so on, but I will agree with you, the word hate is used so lightly on here, it has lost it's meaning, along with bigot and many other terms that are thrown around on here meant to hurt and distroy. My personal opinion about this section is it is contradictory to what it was supposed to be. This section should be called "Attack your most hated religion". People come here to relieve stress by putting others down... well, it seems that way. People say "choose reality" and then are rude to all the believers. And others say "go to hell" and are supposed to be christians. I think terms like athiest and christian are words that really lost their meaning. I think the words respect, decent, loving, kind and peace should be used more often. Blessings to you.

Answer 3

Extreme hostility

I think whats changing isnt the meaning of the word but rather how we understand the others behaviours.

Most people on here probably confuse mild disagreement or criticism or irony or even sarcasm with hatred. Simply because its easier to point a finger at and they feel its an excuse to lash back at them for disagreeing.

Answer 4

To me, the word "hater" still means "one who hates". However, far too many people in R&S assume that simply because you don't agree with something means you hate it.

I hate brocolli. I disagree with Christianity. Very different. And the people who assume disagreement equates hatred should remember that when you assume you make an a$$ out of u and me.

BB
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Answer 5

I define hate through someone's actions. When someone tells another person they're going to hell for being a different way than them, that's hate. It's the seedling of hate. And when it blossoms it could turn into a hate crime.

Answer 6

hater defined by a person who uses this term here in R&S means:
what you have to say, I don't want to hear, and the fact that I disagree with you must mean you are a hater because you have freely expressed to me your difference of opinion.

Answer 7

The term here is used very loosely. But things do seem to get intense on both sides. Sometimes it gets downright filthy.

Answer 8

I know that in the past, you and I have exchanged some less than pleasent terminology with each other. That however does not mean I hate you, nor I hope do you hate me.

Answer 9

its a childs term