Why use of the Hate/Hater meme completely discredits the user.
First off, there are legitimate uses for those terms, such as in talking about the Klan, Neo-Nazis, Friends of the Family, and groups or persons like that. This isn't addressing those cases.
What I'm referring to is the catchword meme typified by usages such as "Hillary Haters", "Hillary Hate", or the recent "read first, then hate" post here. This usage is totally without substance. More to the point, it completely discredits those using it and any writing in which it occurs. It pretty much identifies a user as a troll, or at least an essay as an attempt at trolling. It also shows a lack of interest in any substantive discussion, and as a result should be completely ignored.
Another caveat - it can be like a callsign of the devotees of some person, place or thing, showing that one is a fellow aficionado. For instance, it was clearly a call-sign among the pro-Hillary cliques at a certain self-styled progressive site, indicating that the user was among the anointed. "Hey folks, looka me, I too will gleefully denigrate all who don't think in lockstep with us, etc." That, however, is obviously a special case that won't be applicable here.
So, it is an insult. Right off the bat that is trollish and indicates a complete lack of desire for any type of rational discussion. It also indicates a closed mind, which is clearly a bar to rational discussion, leaving no point or purpose except trolling. Generally, it implies that those disagreeing with the smear poster cannot think rationally, but instead react only out of emotion. That is essentially of a charge of arrested development, that one never grew intellectually beyond those children who either hate or love everything with no middle ground and no other way of viewing anything. "I love Batman and Chocopuffs, but I hate broccoli, yams, and the dentist." Those stooping to such an insult won't have much to say beyond stale talking points and further insults, so why bother reading beyond the slur. Just ignore such posts and move on.
If, somehow, the user were unaware that it is an insult, and did not intend it as such, what does that tell us?
One possibility is that they are projecting. That would mean that they have that specific type of arrested development described above. The corollary is that they couldn't have anything rational to say on any subject but would simply regurgitate the same sorry memes and talking points that we have all heard thousands of times, so, again, why bother with them. Just ignore them and move on.
There is one more possibility. There one class of people who truly believe that anybody not supporting the objects of their approval must do so out of hate -- Idolators. Their Idols are seen as perfect, and hence, those critical of them must be besotted with hate, for no decent, normal person could fail to love their idol. Their approval of this idol has become a religion and the objects of their devotion have become fetishised. Clearly they cannot have anything resembling a rational discussion, so, again why go there. Just ignore them and move on.
Comments
yeahy, well that's true!
I'm seeing it a lot today. More shaming. They don't realize it's ineffective. I must go seek them all out and let them know! Purely for the entertainment value.
Thanks for reading.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Alternatively,
we can embrace the meme with pride.
I am a Hillary hater. I accept that as a badge, a badge of honor. Like Dan Savage did, telling people writing to his advice collumn to salute by "hey faggot" . He no longer does so because it is unnecessary.
On to Biden since 1973
In so doing, you allow others to label, define, set the
narrative and framework.
Just because others can successfully use the irony of accepting a label does not mean it always works the way you want it to.
The accusation of hate, being a hater, or of hatefulness is a bit different than what Dan Savage did, so I'd avoid letting others be comfortable with assigning hatred to 'whoever disagrees with them' which is pretty much what many Clinton supporters automatically do in making excuses for their candidate.
Of course, Clinton supporters are also cry quick to play the sexism card, and label the hatred they automatically assign to those who do not like their candidate as 'misogyny'.
If and when she does win, it will be because 'she did it' and she oh so awesome.
If and when she does lose, it will be because of haters, and it will be the people, the voters, that failed her.
Socialize the loss and privatize the win. Sounds familiar…I don't have to wonder why.
I found this apt article the other day.
This looks like a relevant essay to add it to: The Tricks People Use to Avoid Debate
The article is short and to the point...only a few more paragraphs other than this one. It is worth a quick read.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass
It's tiresome dealing with
you just hate her/him or whatever. I think your idolators explanation is the main reason people use this tactic. They are fans of a persona, or a team/party. Fanatics who see any resistance, criticism or rejection as motivated by hatred, bigotry or wrong thought. I can't figure out why they get so worked up about a particular politician or a political party it's not democratic at all.
I'd say it's also because of identifying with the projected persona, believing in the performance. Anything that challenges their true belief is chalked up to ill will at the object of their fanaticism. Even some Bernie supporters seem to miss the point and hang it all on the persona. The computer adds to this as binary thinking of them against us takes over.
Maybe I do hate The Mad Bomber but that is irrelevant as it's an emotion that is a result of being aware of what she is using her power to implement and knowing what she has done to get power. Same with the Hairball he's a real asshole but if he had stuck to reality show TV it wouldn't matter if I disliked or did not respect him.
Demanding respect for those with authority is to me anyway the antithesis of democracy. Politics as theater where we boo the villains on the other side and argue over whose is the worst or best person when they all are power hungry pols who are dangerous, armed psycho's in varying degrees keeps the horror show going and is killing any chance of democratic governance.
I am the guilty party of "read then hate"
First, as I said in my update and the comments, that entire diary was ill-timed and misplaced. In that sense, it SHOULD be ignored. I decided not to unpublish it because people suggested I should preserve the huge discussion that followed.
The use of "hate" was an innocent by-product of being new to regular blogging, and having a tendency to avoid "meta" and "style" arguments over the years. For me it was not a device, or a signal, it was merely a throw away line. So I was ignorant.
I changed the title and removed "hate" at the request of one of the commenters, and I was happy to do so.
I am eager to learn more that will help me avoid writing things that will undermine my arguments and cause rancor. Live and learn, is all I can do.
GradySeasons
"The nightlife ain't no good life, but it's my life."
I am feeling a bit ignored.
I am feeling a bit ignored. That is your wish, and who am I to fight it? The real action is on the streets, anyway. I posted an intellectual argument with a few careless words and people went ballistic. Funny, in the real world, opinions, even when playing Devil's advocate, are much more varied and tolerated. So see you out there, then.
GradySeasons
"The nightlife ain't no good life, but it's my life."