Are Love and Hate the Same Thing?
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
Molly Holzschlag asked an interesting question today over on Molly.com. My comment over there might actually be worth posting here, too. I wrote:
Let’s just say that both are so strong as emotions that we humans have been confusing the two for way too long to deny the confusion. Maybe they even grow into each other or swing back and forth. Both build a dependence relationship.
When you love you can’t stop thinking about someone. The same with hate. I mean real hate not just bitchy workplace “she stole my job” hate. Both should be pursued with passion, and I’d suggest if someone isn’t worth everything to you then abandon ship - only love the worthy and if someone’s not worth hating passionately then they’re just another ant under your everyday feet. Let go time.
You ask a really good question. Yes, babies love unconditionally. Psychopaths hate unconditionally. Neither has fully developed. And I agree the opposite of love and hate is indifference.
You can actually measure the calibre (or depth) of a person quite well by the way they conduct their passions (love or hate), and the degree of indifference that they show.
Love and hate are life’s wine, take them in moderation and don’t become their slave. Sip, enjoy and they enhance life. And it seems only when one has hated can one appreciate real love, and vice versa. Before that was a puppy love, not quite real.Steven Clark
