WTF is wrong with this country?

Lately, there have been several threads/posts about people hating on certain groups, “communities”, religions, etc… It always seems to be the case where one person says they hate this or that about fat people, muslims, gays, etc. or just poke a bit of fun at them; then there’s a week long flame war about how such person is so full of hate, and it makes him an ignorant bigot, racist, homophobe, [enter cliché defensive name here].

 

What I don’t get is that the same people, who stand up for the rights of whatever victim’s been made fun of, are basically saying that they are incapable of hate. “I don’t personally agree with it, but I give them their right to it” is the most common answer given. So in this defense, such person is a better human being for not hating, giving the less fortunate/moral/thin people their piece of the pie.

 

This is where I call the bullshit card. NO ONE is incapable of hate. If you’re human, you hate something. There’s always something on this Earth that is annoying, disgusting, or what have you that makes one writhe in discomfort. Weather it be the annoying kid in school that picks you out of a crowd to hang with, and can’t take the hint that you don’t  want to be his friend (women, or I should say, attractive women will know all about this) and they just don’t go away; or be it the loud stinky guy in the Theater that never showers, and has a hacking smoker’s cough that distracts you from the movie as he rambles on and on into his cell phone. Or, more commonly, let’s say it’s a greasy guy that’s accused of beating/molesting his own step child.

 

Now, multiply one from each group into 5, to create a “community” so to speak.  Make a public statement that you hate one or all of those groups, and there you have it: You are now an ignorant bigot who hates based on one’s habits, lifestyle, and should quit picking on those less fortunate.

 

I hate you.

You ignorant racist bigot!

In my belief system, it's impossible to love if you cannot hate, and vice versa. Just like if you believe in the christian god, you by default, believe in the debil. Opposites are all over the place.

Also, I practically gag whenever I see people say that hate's too strong of a word and then imply that they'd never have the nerve to use such abhorrence.  

Oh play me some mountain music, like grandma and grandpa used to play

Anybody have a problem with ALABAMA? If so, I'm cracking skulls!

I hate anyone that is a babbling pile of shit....regardless of race, sex, or religious preference...

Thanks for shopping.

Oh...I have some hate in me.  There's a couple people on this board that come to mind....and I haven't even met them.

Why is it that people don't understand that hate is NOT the opposite of love?

Love's antithesis is INDIFFERENCE people.

If you "hate" someone or something that means that the thought of it plagues your mind endlessly... that you can't help thinking negatively about the person/thing.  If this person/thing were to die/disappear... it would cause some sort of reaction... be that relief or "missing" that which you once hated.  Not to mention the fact that hate has a profound effect on the hater's health and well-being.

Indifference on the other hand is much more powerful... it makes no difference to you if this person/thing lives or dies... you'll have no inclination to help or harm said person/thing... furthermore you refuse to acknowledge the existance of that which could be hated (the simplest gesture of kindness is the acknowledgement of existance)... whereby allowing for your own peace of mind in spite of that which you'd care not to agree or disagree with.

So... instead of saying "wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone hated eachother a little more openly"... I'd like to suggest the change in perspective of "wouldn't the world be a better place if none of us cared if the other existed"?

It seems to make more sense in the whole personal well-being / world peace sense of "better place". 

Love/Hate!

Blackout in the Red Room!

Folkerts:

Love's antithesis is INDIFFERENCE people.

Well, how the hell am I supposed to fit an "indifference" tattoo on my left-hand knuckles?

Justin:

Love/Hate!

Blackout in the Red Room!

 

Sing along with Jizzy, girls!!!!

 

 

El Vieño:

In my belief system, it's impossible to love if you cannot hate, and vice versa. Just like if you believe in the christian god, you by default, believe in the debil. Opposites are all over the place.

Also, I practically gag whenever I see people say that hate's too strong of a word and then imply that they'd never have the nerve to use such abhorrence.  

I agree. Hate, believe it or not, makes the world go round. For example, I had a job once that was in a retail store. I worked in the warehouse, busted ass bigtime, got paid shit and was treated like shit. The only thing that kept me there, is that I needed a second job at the time, and I loved working with the other guys in the warehouse - we gave new definition to the word "slack", and I touched up on my baseball skills. Other than the laid back enviornment, it was hell. I was constantly busting back and forth, breaking my back lifting product and unloading trucks, and every 15 minutes one manager or another would come back asking why we're not working harder, faster, getting them "outta here on time" when said individuals wouldn't dirty their blue button up shirts to help the process. ONE time, the GM helped out by taking product out of the boxes, and stocking them.

The GM was the biggest prick I've ever met, and once he transferred I hear that he learned what "discrimination" really meant. I was constantly yelled at over the pettiest of shit. "You left the power lift on, and you walked away? Do you have any ideas the dangers of this?" Referring to walking 10 feet away, still in line of site of said equipment with no one around it, to grab a 2 wheel dolly. "You don't greet the customers when they come in." I said in response, "Well, actually I have be..." "NO YOU HAVEN'T, YOU JUST MISSED THAT LAST ONE, DON'T TELL ME YOU'VE BEEN DOING YOUR JOB THIS WHOLE TIME!" Referring to a time when I filled in at Loss Prevention, which it turns out, isn't supposed to watch for potential theives, but greet them as they come in, and say goodbye as they leave.

Oh I could go on. But the GM was a GIGANTIC prick to those who worked for him, even those who kissed his ass in an effort to avoid an ass chewing. I noticed that they were more likely to get an ass chewing, because they'd take whatever he'd dish out. I wasn't his favorite to say the least, and I found that barking back reveals a false threat. So, I was left alone and from then on, I sat back and watched. I did see a method to that madness. Not one person failed to show up for a shift without calling in 2 hours ahead of time, and it was rare that they even called in. No one questioned his authority, tried to undermine it, or go over his head like I've seen at my other job so many times. Things were, sad to say, in order. Shit got done in a timely fashioned, and although we screwed around by playing football in the warehouse, it was a smooth operation. And, in more lax situations that I've seen (i.e. GM goes on vacation) things tend to slip. Then he has back logged bitching to catch up on.

But myself as a supervisor, I see no need to be a dick. I can be if I need to be, but if you have the respect of your workers - which some you'll never gain just because you're above them - you can make the world turn without putting the hammer down. The overall point I guess, is that I see necessity in Hate. The world isn't peaceful. You'll never convice everyone to get along. You wouldn't have comedy without hate or conflict. There'll always be those who can only hate, love, and hate those who hate.

 

So, bring it on Music Scene. Hate away!

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JOE REPUBLICAN"

Joe gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards. With his first swallow of water, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to ensure their safety and that they work as advertised.

All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance - now Joe gets it too.

He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Joe's bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

In the morning shower, Joe reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained.

Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for the laws to stop industries from polluting our air.

He walks on the government-provided sidewalk to subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe's employer pays these standards because Joe's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union.

If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he'll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn't think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

It is noontime and Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe's deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some godless liberal wanted to protect Joe's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression.

Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime. Joe also forgets that his in addition to his federally subsidized student loans, he attended a state funded university.

Joe is home from work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards to go along with the tax-payer funded roads.

He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers' Home Administration because bankers didn't want to make rural loans.

The house didn't have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification.

He is happy to see his father, who is now retired. His father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn't have to.

Joe gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn't mention that the beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees: "We don't need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I'm a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have."

Justin:

Love/Hate!

Blackout in the Red Room!

 

HAH! Atta boy. 

Ummmm.... Capn? Hasn't that been done? Like, I don't know.... In another thread?

I am a connoisseur of hate.  Just ask my bandmates.

Folkerts, I guess I don't really see your point. Wait...amend that to "I don't agree with your point" about indifference being the opposite of love.

AntiLiberalSociety:

I agree. Hate, believe it or not, makes the world go round. For example, I had a job once that was in a retail store. I worked in the warehouse, busted ass bigtime, got paid shit and was treated like shit. The only thing that kept me there, is that I needed a second job at the time, and I loved working with the other guys in the warehouse - we gave new definition to the word "slack", and I touched up on my baseball skills. Other than the laid back enviornment, it was hell. I was constantly busting back and forth, breaking my back lifting product and unloading trucks, and every 15 minutes one manager or another would come back asking why we're not working harder, faster, getting them "outta here on time" when said individuals wouldn't dirty their blue button up shirts to help the process. ONE time, the GM helped out by taking product out of the boxes, and stocking them.

The GM was the biggest prick I've ever met, and once he transferred I hear that he learned what "discrimination" really meant. I was constantly yelled at over the pettiest of shit. "You left the power lift on, and you walked away? Do you have any ideas the dangers of this?" Referring to walking 10 feet away, still in line of site of said equipment with no one around it, to grab a 2 wheel dolly. "You don't greet the customers when they come in." I said in response, "Well, actually I have be..." "NO YOU HAVEN'T, YOU JUST MISSED THAT LAST ONE, DON'T TELL ME YOU'VE BEEN DOING YOUR JOB THIS WHOLE TIME!" Referring to a time when I filled in at Loss Prevention, which it turns out, isn't supposed to watch for potential theives, but greet them as they come in, and say goodbye as they leave.

Oh I could go on. But the GM was a GIGANTIC prick to those who worked for him, even those who kissed his ass in an effort to avoid an ass chewing. I noticed that they were more likely to get an ass chewing, because they'd take whatever he'd dish out. I wasn't his favorite to say the least, and I found that barking back reveals a false threat. So, I was left alone and from then on, I sat back and watched. I did see a method to that madness. Not one person failed to show up for a shift without calling in 2 hours ahead of time, and it was rare that they even called in. No one questioned his authority, tried to undermine it, or go over his head like I've seen at my other job so many times. Things were, sad to say, in order. Shit got done in a timely fashioned, and although we screwed around by playing football in the warehouse, it was a smooth operation. And, in more lax situations that I've seen (i.e. GM goes on vacation) things tend to slip. Then he has back logged bitching to catch up on.

But myself as a supervisor, I see no need to be a dick. I can be if I need to be, but if you have the respect of your workers - which some you'll never gain just because you're above them - you can make the world turn without putting the hammer down. The overall point I guess, is that I see necessity in Hate. The world isn't peaceful. You'll never convice everyone to get along. You wouldn't have comedy without hate or conflict. There'll always be those who can only hate, love, and hate those who hate.

Alright... in regards to this post:

1) Is there a difference between hate and general assholery?

2) Are there more emotions in the human emotional spectrum than love & hate? 

3) Was it people's hatred for their boss that got them into work on time or their fear of him?

4) Did said boss truly "hate" his employees or did he feel like his dick-headish instructions / demeaning attacks were in fact valid attempts at coaching? 

 

I ask these questions as in your story, the only hate that I saw in any of the characters was your hatred for the job / boss at the time you were there (which changed to admiration after the fact). 

I'm also starting to think that I may have had you pinned incorrectly from the beginning... that you're not really someone who "hates" as much as you are someone who gets aggrivated easilly and just happens to have a quick temper about that which annoys you.

In which case, I'll ask: Could you tell me your thoughts about the difference between aggrivated anger and hatred?

You know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna get myself a 1967 Cadillac El Dorado convertible, hot pink with whaleskin hub caps and all leather cow interior and big brown baby seal eyes for headlights, yeah! And I'm gonna drive around in that baby at 115mph getting one mile per gallon, sucking down quarter pounder cheese burgers from McDonald's in the old-fashioned non-biodegradable styrofoam containers and when I'm done sucking down those grease ball burgers, I'm gonna wipe my mouth with the American flag and then I'm gonna toss the styrofoam container right out the side and there ain't a God damned thing anybody can do about it. You know why? Because we got the bombs, that's why.

Two words. Nuclear fucking weapons, okay?! Russia, Germany, Romania - they can have all the Democracy they want. They can have a big democracy cake-walk right through the middle of Tiananmen square and it won't make a lick of difference because we've got the bombs, okay?!

El Vieño:

Folkerts, I guess I don't really see your point. Wait...amend that to "I don't agree with your point" about indifference being the opposite of love.

It's all based on the principle that the acnowledgement of existence is the most basic form of interpersonal respect.  Also... it has to do with the technical criteria of an actual antithesis or "opposite".  To be completely opposite of something, the "antithesis" can not hold any of the attributes of the "thesis".  Because hate carries with it 1) an acknowlegement of existance, 2) an emotional and/or physical attachment to that which is hated, and 3) is also coupled with an emotional reaction relating to the disappearance / death of that which is hated (which has the possibility of being the same emotional reaction one receives when something someone loves disappears - missing it)... hate is therefore not entirely the opposite of love.

Indifference on the other-hand... is not only the opposite of love... but also the opposite of hate using the "opposites / antithesis" criteria. 

If you don't agree with that... then there's not much more I can say about it.