Can you hate somebody you don't know?

I mean real, deep down, HATE? Not just a real dislike for somebody?

Just wondering, because I don't really think you can hate, or love, somebody you haven't physically met, and know the person/characteristics/personality of that person.

Just some posters on the board...I try not to hate anybody, or anything, but somethings just irk the **** out of me.

Let's take this in two situations.

You see someone on the street. You HATE them because of their physical attributes. Not very likely. But you have seen them, "met" them, if you will, and it's highly unlikely that you'll develop an automatic loathing for them.


You meet someone online, or on the phone. You talk to them for a while, but you haven't "met" them physically. Or in person. But you know their personality based on what they say/type. Much more likely that you develop a strong dislike this way.


But it's not possible to hate someone you don't know. Because you don't know anything about them, except maybe physical appearance.


Maybe you should rephrase your question to "Can you hate someone you haven't met?"

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I guess conversation is pointless on this site.

True. It's just I come in too late in most conversations to just jump in.

But it's just those posters that constantly hit a nerve.

I guess you could, but I personally tend to rationalize things and give people the benefit of the doubt. SURE, there are definitely people online who have irritated me to no end, but I just chalk it up to personality clashes... I don't really KNOW them, and so I can't say if they are a good person or not. WE just don't get along, and I leave it at that. I dont' HATE them, I just don't get along with them. Hate is so strong a word.. To me, it means that you wish them ill will. I may have in a split second flash of anger in the heat of the moment felt rage or loathing, but then I calm down, and get over it...

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I think that nmartin has the right idea. Most of the people on this board just want to be noticed, so they say outrageous things.

You can dislike a poster, but you can't say that you actually hate the person, but more that you hate the posts. There are several posters on here I can't stand, but i only hate their "disguise", because it is true that we do not know each other on these boards.

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There's someone that I have never met, but that I hate more than anyone in the world. This man did some inexcusably cruel and pretty much f*cked up things to my family, but I've never been allowed to meet him. I hate him, and always will.

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I just wish people wouldn't take this so seriously.

This from a person who has actually grow to HATE people here?

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The person I have never met and hate is not someone on this board.

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Please forgive me for getting all philosophical, but I think it's easier to hate someone you've never met. It's much easier to view someone you don't know as being without redeeming qualities. However, when I was younger I was quite able to hate someone I knew rather well. Then I realized that I had to get over it or he would always have control over me.