The Convenience of Hatred

Why do we choose to hate? Because hatred is easy. It offers a quick, convenient way to address a problem, especially a complex one. It allows us to feel as if we are dealing with our struggles, when in reality, we are simply avoiding them. When faced with difficult challenges, we often invent reasons to distract ourselves. We say, “It’s all because of this person, this event. If only I hadn’t let my mind linger on it, I wouldn’t be feeling this pain.” And just like that, we settle into a comfortable explanation. It’s so easy that it becomes a moral duty for us to hate something or someone. Failing to do so feels like a betrayal of our own emotional integrity.

Hatred, then, becomes a shortcut. It’s a road chosen by many because the real problems they face are too complex, too daunting. The path of hatred is often the easiest to walk, especially when the issues before us are too intricate or long-term to address immediately.

Hatred also arises from the difficulty of articulating and understanding the problem. Complex issues take time and effort to resolve, and we are not built to wait. When a new challenge appears, our instinct is to solve it as quickly as possible. Imagine being on the brink of a divorce—how long will it take to navigate that? Our minds are wired to seek swift resolutions. In the face of this, we exaggerate, we build problems that feel larger than they are, and we choose hatred as the quickest solution.

This is why religion and laws were created—not just to maintain order, but to remind us that we no longer live in the dangerous wilds, where immediate action was required for survival. We forget that we’ve evolved from beings who needed quick solutions to face immediate threats, and this evolutionary trait still influences how we react today.

Hatred also often emerges as a defense against love. Have you ever experienced heartbreak? In those moments, hatred becomes the only tool to stop loving the person who hurt you. For some, it extends beyond one relationship—hatred of love itself, and all who are in love, becomes the only way to shield oneself from future pain.

In essence, hatred functions as a defense mechanism. We’ve been betrayed, hurt before, and just like our ancestors who learned to avoid danger, we now see relationships as potential threats. By hating, we protect ourselves, creating distance between us and the things that might cause us pain.