Most of us have that one person who – for one reason or another – we love to hate on.
“Hating” on someone involves feeling “anger and/or jealousy for someone who has succeeded in something they have worked hard for.” So says Urban Dictionary.
But even if jealousy isn’t part of your life, sometimes you just don’t like or respect that one (see: anyone you perceive to be doing a better job than you) annoying person in your city.
Either way, hating on others isn’t a good look. And here are eight reasons it’s actually making you look worse…
1. It Makes You Look Jealous… and There’s Nothing Cute About That
Even if you actually just have zero respect for a person for what you consider very valid reasons, your dislike for them could come across as jealousy. This is especially true if you make it a “thing” (aka: you perpetually bash them) and if they have achieved some degree of success.
2. You Have Better Ways to Spend Your Time
Think all the other things that you could talk and think about that would better your own life – both personally and professionally – instead of wasting it bashing other people. Instead of focusing on someone else’s life and journey (especially someone you don’t like), save the energy for yourself and your own life. Focus on your own end goals.
3. It Doesn’t Make You Sound Intelligent
Bashing or “hating on” others can be reduced to good, old-fashioned gossip in many cases. Though we’re all guilty of it on occasion, gossip is the lowest form of conversation. You have way more thought-provoking things to discuss at dinner than other people.
4. Enemies Don’t Help Your Cause
Making your hatred for another person known isn’t going to make your life any easier. If he or she becomes aware that you’re hating on them, it will only make it more awkward than it needs to be when you both show up at the same event or house party. Not to mention, once their friends get wind, they’re not going to be your biggest fans either – and having enemies is such an unnecessary source of drama.
5. You Don’t Need That Negative Energy
Not to get all hippy-dippy, but you really don’t need that type of negative energy in your life, or to put it out into the universe (what’s that they say about karma, right?). People like to be around positive people, not ones who spend their time bitching. It’s boring, And draining. And again – it’s not a good look.
6. It Causes Unnecessary Frustration
If you preoccupy yourself with a hatred for someone else, it’s only going to create frustration in your own life. You’ll be frustrated by everything from their success, to your growing number of mutual friends (the city’s small, after all).
7. It’s Immature
Talking bad about others is a little too high school and not enough young professional. Did you hear your parents sitting around bitching about others at their dinner parties growing up? Of course not. It’s one thing to have an unfavourable opinion about someone, but another to sit around bashing others – you should have grown out of it by now.
8. You Don’t Care What Your Haters Think
You probably don’t have any haters. But if you did, we’re pretty sure you wouldn’t lose any sleep over them at this point in your life. And the same can be said for the person you’re hating on – odds are, they could care less what you think. So really, why bother?
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