Haters Gonna Hate

Person 1: Hey, I can’t stop listening to Beyonce’s new track
Person 2: I can. It’s terrible.
Person 1: OMG, why are you such a hater? 

It seems these days that one cannot disagree with an opinion, openly dislike something or someone, or state a contradictory view without being labelled a ‘hater’. The term ‘hater’ has become one of the biggest cliches of our time. Every day my facebook wall is replete with messages to “all the haters”. Every one has something to say to those who ‘hate’ on others. And despite being labelled as such (don’t really care) I have often replied indirectly to these posts with PSAs; itty-bitty messages to question the use and overuse of the term.

This has led me to a bit of research (YAY! I love research).

First I sourced the original meaning of the word. If I may paraphrase, according to Merriam-Webster, a hater is someone who has a strong aversion to something or someone, or someone who expresses extreme enmity or active hostility towards someone or something.

Notice the words used: ‘strong’, ‘enmity’, ‘hostility’.

Now thanks to Urban Dictionary, I’ve found several explanations of the now popular use of the word.

A person that simply cannot be happy for another person’s success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person.  

A person that develops a strong dislike for another, solely basing their own opinion on personal judgment rather than objective merit. The formation of a hater’s contempt commonly arises from jealousy and/or resentment. Individuals that make fun of, or “hate,” others for justified reasons cannot be legitimately classified as “haters” …  

A person who feels anger and/or jealousy for someone who has succeeded in something they have worked hard for.  

Overused word that people like to use just because someone else expresses a dislike for a certain individual. 

Both sources share similarities in their definitions of the word. A ‘hater’ in both cases exhibits a strong, often irrational dislike for something/one else. In the latter definition however the ‘hate’ is rooted in jealousy, resentment or contempt, while in the former there is room for justification or a rational motive.

Urban Dictionary has a plethora of explanations of the word and individual opinions on its present use. I also noticed other related words like ‘haterade’, ‘hateration’ and ‘haterater’ … oh I almost forgot this one ‘haterazzi’. Human creativity has never ceased to amaze me.

What annoys me about this word or I should say, the present use of it, is the constant attention people pay to their ‘haters’. I have threatened to delete people who posts a barrage or messages to their non-supporters on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. Sometimes I am tempted to write, “who cares”, but know that it’ll be followed with “HATER! Expletive, expletive, expletive”, so I reserve my comment and energy. 

There’s a simple truth I’d like to share: NOT EVERYONE WILL OR IS OBLIGATED TO LIKE OR AGREE WITH YOU.

So ignore them, nothing annoys a bully or non-supporter more than silence. By letting them get a rise out of you, you are satisfying their need to be noticed. If someone doesn't like you (especially if their dislike is rooted in irrationality), who cares. That's their burden. We don’t all share the same tastes, and are free to express that sentiment. That’s what makes the world interesting. Variety is the spice of life.

Alternative solution: write a few posts directed to the people who support you, who don’t ‘hate on’ you. Positive energy attracts positive energy. All those “I hate haters” post are annoying and pushes people away. Also it’s a HUGE oxymoron.

One should also consider why it is that so many people are 'hating on' them. Maybe, just maybe it's your personality, insecurities or paranoia that is leading people to 'hate'.

Lastly, if I do have any haters out there, I’d like to extend my gratitude and let you know that “I gots love for you”. You keep me grounded and strip my world of monotony, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Peace