Article the before a universal group of haters

Question

Dear teachersAre we supposed to use the article the if we talk about say haters of a particular celebrity present everywhere all across the world?For example:Justin Bieber is the best. Screw the haters!Here in above sentence we talk about all haters everywhere(most of which we don't know or have never met) , but we are still referring to a particular group of haters. Are we still supposed to use the article the in sentences like these?Thanks in advance!

Philip · Accepted Answer

I believe the definite article is properly used here, for the very reason you suggest.

Dib · Answer

PhilipI believe the definite article is properly used here, for the very reason you suggest.

Thank you, sir

By using the same logic:

The people who grew up in the 90's.

is the grammatically correct version and not:

people who grew up in the 90's

Right?

Then why is the second version(without the) is seen often enough. Are those people typing casually or both are correct?

CalifJim · Answer

DibThe people who grew up in the 90's.

Typically, these people are being contrasted with others, e.g., with the people who grew up in the 80's (or 70's or 60's).
Or they may be a subset of another grouping of people, e.g., wealthy people. Among these wealthy people, the people (i.e., those in this subset) who grew up in the 90's were more likely to be wealthy through inheritance.

Dibpeople who grew up in the 90's

Just those people without reference to or contrast with anyone else. This might be called an "unqualified all" of them.
________

Even so, the two are mostly equivalent.

CJ

Dib · Answer

Thank you sir

So basically both are correct.

CalifJim · Answer

DibSo basically both are correct.

Basically they are. Yes.

CJ

Clive · Answer

A small comment on vocabulary.
'Hate' is a very strong word.
I know a lot of people who don't like Justin, but I don't know anyone who hates him.

Clive

Dib · Answer

CliveA small comment on vocabulary.'Hate' is a very strong word.I know a lot of people who don't like Justin, but I don't know anyone who hates him.Clive

I do feel people are generally filled with hate. As an instance, I know an Autistic who got bullied to the point where he attempted suicide, I doubt people just disliked him. He gets the stares every where he goes. I also know a feminist who got death threats from people. Generally people hate every one who is different. So I for one would say people don't just dislike Justin, they actually hate him.....I could be wrong though.

CalifJim · Answer

DibI do feel people are generally filled with hate.

On the other hand, we have to separate cases of true hatred from cases where young people use "hater" quite flippantly, and not at all the way the older generation would use it, that is, to indicate chronic complainers who never find anything or anyone to their liking, especially anonymously on-line. Personally, I can't quite get used to this new meaning of "hater", but I am aware that it's out there.

CJ

Philip · Answer

I know a psychologist who feels this way. Hatred is a very strong emotion, and it is also a very expensive emotion, meaning that it offers the 'hater' very little, or nothing, in return. He also sees this emotion very much as a combination of two others: love and fear. When a person says he "hates" something, or especially someone, he actually has a great deal of (love?) for the person but is also very fearful that the person is going to hurt him (emotionally). I think his analysis is really just for use in counseling, helping people deal with people who have "hang-ups" with someone. I can see this idea coming through in cases of marital problems possibly leading to divorce.

Article the before a universal group of haters

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