Opposite of Love

[possibletarian]

Just to respond to your points because it's rude not to:

"to be opposite the definition must work both ways" is emphatically false in your definition. The noun meaning of opposite is commonly diametrically opposed. I'm not talking about direction because we're not talking about forces. I'm talking about nature because it's subjective. I'm talking about the meaning of the word Love.

Fair enough,but then why talk about opposites to subjective emotions at all, which of course was my original point ?

"there has to be some way to define either position from the opposing position" There is . You define a hole as having dirt or not having dirt. You can not separate hole from dirt because it is the absence of dirt in an area. You can however identify dirt subjectively and a hole subjectively. I can see a hole and say, "that's a hole" (lacks dirt). I can see dirt and say "that's dirt" (has dirt).

Okay... but it's still not the opposite of dirt, which is what you are trying to affirm.

If you have a hole (lack of emotion) and you add dirt to it (more emotion) then it is less a hole (apathetic) and more filled with dirt (filled with love). You can say I'm no longer apathetic and have a surplus of Love (you filled the hole and now it's a mound).

But what has this to do with opposites? a partially filled hole is still a hole not a partial absence of a hole, it's not the opposite of a hole, or dirt it's simply a smaller hole.

Of course I started the thread with an aim in mind. I wanted to see how people explained emotions and what they thought the opposite of emotion was, hence the poll and discussion. Most people see the opposite of Love as apathy/indifference, some see it as another emotion, and you see it as it doesn't have an opposite.

Actually most don't (at least at the current count)

I concede. Love does not necessarily have to have an opposite. I feel it does have an easily describable opposite of indifference/apathy. Love could just be love and not have an opposite.

It's a rather subjective matter really, i don't have any objection per-say to love having an opposite, I just don't see any need for it.
Love has a rather beautiful description to stand or fall on its own.