I wouldn't call myself a hater as such, but I didn't understand the show or the fandom in the way I do now.
I've never actually hated the show, I just took the piss a little (Never thins such as "MLP is gay", I don't see how ponys make somebody gay...) but now I understand the show, the fandom & why people don't understand it. I can be a very accepting person, I just have to give things a chance first I guess, and others should too.