Hate

Why Use the Word Hate and Not Another Word? 

Image courtesy of allposters.com and the New Yorker Magazine

While at work I overheard a co-worker mention hating an inanimate object. Then that person went on to declare hatred towards a work related activity followed by a complaint about a meal that person brought to work for lunch. In the course of five minutes, I heard this person use the word hate three different times, three different ways. Why would someone say that? Why blatantly use a word that can start a conflict, big or small, and darken the soul? Hearing people around me use the word hate makes me cringe. No matter who says hate, strangers, co-workers, or family members I become irked.

I get it. Hate is an overused word. Picking on someone who freely uses the word hate like a pronoun is easier than using someone's name or saying "I will have what he's having," because you trust the other person to make the right decision, using the word hate is simple, easy, and sometimes fun. Why take the time to think of the right word to describe your displeasure like disgusted, irked, repulsed, or unpleased? That takes too much effort and with how much work and information that needs to be done and consumed in a day no one has time for something micro-anal like proper word choice. Hell, people already prevention decision fatigue with the words they choice by resorting to one's like hate while Mark Zuckerberg takes this kind of prevention to an entirely new and higher level by wearing the same t-shirt every day thus lowering his decision fatigue.

Hate is only a word after all -- a simple to say, short, and versatile word. To hate something is a bold statement of feeling. Those who abuse it misunderstand the power of the word hate. Overuse of the word will strip it of its meaning. Sapient abstainers of the word respect its impact. Ones who do so and hear its utterance in passing or conversation will receive the converse of what the nonchalant orator intended. Expressing feeling is not an easy task. Knowing the correct word, in a sea of beautiful and extravagant words that make up the English language, is tough in the moment of vehement expression. Hate is a crutch word. Like umm, anyway, like, or literally, these words are used as a pause while the speaker or writer thinks of a new idea. Pause brings no value to the conversation. Dislodging the habit of injecting pauses is hard for it's implanted in our brains. Worst of all a pause is not necessary. People who use hate, typically, do not know of a better word to use to describe how they feel, which is a shame.

Webster's Thesaurus has much better words than hate: abominate (snowman!), abhorrence, abhor, detest, despite, disfavor, loathe.

Hate is a strong, freely used word and should only be used when absolutely necessary and sparingly. Though I am no different from people who express themselves through this powerful word. You will hear me say it on occasion, admittedly. The need to declare superiority over a person, idea, or object is what hate means and it does not have to be that way. My Grandmother taught me a lesson on using this offensive word. On top of words like shut-up or using God's name in vain, upon hearing utterance, she would stop and address me as if I said it to her and remind me never to use that word unless absolutely, positively necessary.

Hating something reinforces a negative feeling held inside one's self. As a result, much energy is wasted to maintain this feeling. After a while that wasted energy cannot sustain the weight of one's conscious and, as a result, one because bogged and fatigued, which can drastically diminish one's quality of life, slowly, but surely. Not only will this word hurt you it will hurt those around you. So let it go, whatever you hate. Dwelling on hatred will only make you more upset. Forget about it. This is an ambitious goal: replace hatred with positivity. Happiness cannot be achieved if hate is the primary word to describe displeasure. Perhaps is this negative word is removed from one's vocabulary then one will become happier, uprooted from fatigue, and have more energy to live life to its fullest. THAT would be nice.

When one uses the four-letter word that does not start with F then people ought to gasp like the four-letter f-word is used. Then and only then when the word hate is used so few is when its utterance will provoke such a reaction. I mean it. Using that word is very powerful not only for the sake of other peoples' feeling, the impact on yourself is just as bad if not worse. Hating something is hating yourself. People who hate hate themselves. No one hates themselves. Hating yourself is no way to live and no one will admit it openly. So why do it?

I am not saying this word should be banned. No word should be banned. Like many other words such as very and the seven dirty words, hate should be pushed to the side for redirection of others words. No doubt will the word hate be used when there is no time for reflection like waking up the day after the 2017 presidential election or finding out those responsible for the attack on September, 11. Cleaning one's vocabulary is much easier to do than totally replacing a fundamental word like hate. Feelings need to be validated and sometimes hate is the only word to use, yet it shouldn't be the ONLY word.



-Tyler