I think you make some good points here. There is a lot to be said for "hate" being truly undefind. It makes sense that a lot of what we categorize as "hate" is actually something else.
As Thorne said --dislike, then there is the fear mentioned, anger,and even envy.
As for getting a handle on true hate that is kind of hard. Even genocides can be attributed to causes other than hate. Although that particular foible of humanity may come the closest.
Quote Originally Posted by DowntownAmber View Post
I dunno about this one jeanne... I won't go so far as to say I'm a hate atheist because I do think it exists and I've certainly caught whiffs of it; but I cannot describe it, not really, because I personally don't think I've ever felt it. It seems such a disabling and emotionally crippling emotion, and when I say things like "I hate this brand of peanut butter" or "God, is Paris Hilton on TV again because I really hate her," let's face it, I frankly don't mean it.

The opposite of love seems an easy enough answer, but for me that would be classified as apathy, not hate.

I can imagine if someone were to hurt my family or a close friend enough I could hate them, I've just never been there yet. I've had washes of extreme disgust come over me, occasionally laced with the desire for brutal revenge, but it's never been to the point of emotional consumption that I think I personally associate with hate.

I'll be interested to follow this thread.