Where is the line between

[dumbcat]

dislike and hate?

It it possible to dislike something or someone without hating it/them?

Is dislike of any group a moral failure or a dis-qualifier to be a progressive, as it is intolerant and a sign of bigotry?

Can I dislike anyone/anything and still be a respected member of DU?

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Like disliking Mitch McConell and hating Adolph Hitler ?

[IDemo]

2. Hitler changed the 20th Century and was just a man of his times

Oh, oops, Columbus Day was yesterday. Never mind!

[orpupilofnature57]

3. + 1000 !!!

Good one!!!!

[WhiteAndNerdy]

4. I think . . .

I think the difference lies in how emotionally invested you are in your dislike of something or someone. I dislike green peppers, but if I said I hated them, it would suggest that my dislike of green peppers was an important part of my life and that I reacted to them emotionally. It isn't, and I don't. I just don't eat them; I don't spend a lot of time thinking about them or getting upset about them.

I also think people misuse the word "hate" to mean ordinary dislike (or even disapproval). I remember reading an article in college about the tendency of people to use increasingly strong terms over time, so that terms originally intended to convey an extreme feeling lose meaning as they are used to describe mild feelings. For example, a person might claim they were "terrified" when someone snuck up behind them when in fact they were merely startled for a moment. Or they might say they "adore" a certain food when they just enjoy it, and probably no more than other foods they enjoy.

As for disliking groups . . . if you want to know whether your particular antipathy toward a certain group is acceptable at DU before revealing it, my advice is to keep it to yourself. I think we all dislike certain groups whether we like to admit it or not, and that it is not a great moral failure, but that it is generally unwise to disclose these things. DU is a large site with a huge membership and a wide variety of people. If you announce here that you dislike X, you're no doubt going to offend someone who does like X. In my experience, it isn't worth it. You can be more or less your authentic self without going out of your way to alienate people.

[dumbcat]

5. Thank you

For that very well reasoned response.

I wonder why more people don't respond with their thoughts?