The word "hate" has kind of lost its meaning.

[finalark]

Link to original post: [drupal=2397]The word "hate" has kind of lost its meaning.[/drupal]



The other day, a few friends an I were talking about movies, then someone brings up the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The first reaction of one of my friends was something along the lines of "Lord of the Rings sucks! I hate those movies!" I was curious to know what caused such dislike of the movies so I asked her, and she really couldn't come up with any reason beyond nitpicking.

Is it just me, but has the word "hate" pretty much taken the place of "indifference," "dislike" or any other similar less harsh word? In truth, if you really can't come up with strong reason for not liking something, it probably just wasn't your cup of tea. What's wrong with saying that? Just because something isn't to your tastes doesn't instantly mean that its bad. For instance, I could never get into Star Craft, but that doesn't mean I'm instantly ready to call it a bad game. RTS games just aren't my thing, but does that mean the RTS games are bad? Not at all, Star Craft is in incredibly well thought out and well put together game, I'm just not into those kind of games.

It's rare that I hear anyone ever use the word "hate" to describe something they actually hate. Hatred and indifference are two different things, I just wish that people could get that and would stop using the word "hate" so loosely.

 

[¯\_S.(ツ).L.I.D._/¯]

People are idiots, accept it.

 

[Chronodiver Lokii]

^ Agreed.

This is exactly why i vow not to "hate" people.
Hating basically means wanting the worst to come upon someone.

...And thats just NOT cool!
Besides, the word loathe sounds much cooler.

 

[MidnightAsaph]

Meh... I want to say I'm guilty of doing it too, but I usually use other words like "stupid" or...well..."meh".

 

[GwJ]

Hate's always a word I hate to use. (wat)

I just love everything and everyone. Except hatred, I hate hatred.

 

[REL38]

It's the same deal with "love" and even "lol"

Love has lost it's meaning overall.

lol is just something you stick at the end of a sentence/text.

 

[Browny]

I dont use the word loosely

anyway its probably because its easier to say... saying dislike might come off as being pretentious or a rather weak term to describe how you feel, indifferent takes too long to type/say and loathe and detest are really strong words, what else is there you can say?

 

[Xivii]

People arn't idiots. Language evolves with culture.
Culture changes. Language changes.

I'm pretty sure the word "cool" wasn't always used to express something enjoyable.

Besides if we used every word to its exact meaning people would hardly be able to express themselves without learning a massive vocabulary. For example if I said "I have to clean my room". Do I really Have to? No, if I don't it will stay messy, but I don't have to. Same thing applies with the words "must" and "can't." Another example is the word the word "Manufactur." It used to mean 'to make by hand’. It originally signified things that were created by craftsmen. now it means the opposite, made by machines.

More example:
Tight (cool)
Sick (cool)
Sweet (Nice)
Gay (We all know how that has been changed)
Nice (Used to mean ignorant)
Awful (Used to mean something wonderful)
Brave (Used to signify cowardice)
Attitude (Now implies a negative meaning. "Whats with the attitude?")
Love ("I love those kind of movies")

 

[SkylerOcon]

Nice also used to mean ignorant.

I'm sure love and hate becoming less extreme words aren't that big of a change compared to what 'nice' has gone through.

 

[Insetick]

I think a lot of you are missing the point. Hate still has the same meaning as always.
Your friend just used it because she wanted to use a strong word to make herself sound more interesting. It's the same reasoning behind why teens swear all the time and like to add "so" to every emotion. "I was sooo bored yesterday, I ****ing read a **** book"

 

[j0s3ph]

I stopped saying hate a few years ago when I realized the same thing. Only time i say it is when I talk about haters, tellin people to quit hatin on me...but then i get told to not say that cuz Im white

 

[mzink*]

I really don't like using the word hate, I feel really guilty any time it slips out of my mouth. But for whatever reason I have no problem using the word "abhor". Its just fun to say lolz and it makes me think more of being disgusted rather than feeling hatred.

 

[¯\_S.(ツ).L.I.D._/¯]

People arn't idiots.

Well, a lot are.

What I mean to say is more that they're on the ignorant side. Everyone says hate for stupid reasons and now most people use it to say they dislike things, and are ignorant to the actual meaning.

BTW guys if you actually "hate" something just use "despise" or "loathe" they sound cooler and are better for conveying that feeling.

 

[deepseadiva]

It's the same deal with "love" and even "lol"

There's a modern classic.

"Of Love and LOL"

 

[Moblin]

I think a lot of you are missing the point. Hate still has the same meaning as always.
Your friend just used it because she wanted to use a strong word to make herself sound more interesting. It's the same reasoning behind why teens swear all the time and like to add "so" to every emotion. "I was sooo bored yesterday, I ****ing read a **** book"

this.

it's called hyperbole. People use it to make their speech more interesting.




If people used words that appropriately scaled with their actual emotions on the subject, everyday conversation would be even more boring than it already is.




Personally I use "abhor"

 

[§witch]

"I am quite indifferent in regard to that movie trilogy."

I wonder why people say hate...

Personally I use "abhor"

This.

 

[Zook]

I normally use "I can't stand" in place of "hate." Not that it's any more true or anything.