Joy In the Misery of Others - Schadenfreude
The Germans have this kickass word, schadenfreude. Essentially it means joy or delight in the misfortune of others. It’s a combination of two German words, schaden (damage) and freude (joy). Maybe that sounds like an inappropriate response to someone else’s hardships but face it, we all experience schadenfreude at one time or another. If you have a favorite sports team, you take great pleasure when their hated rivals lose and their fans are in misery. That’s schadenfreude. There may be someone at work who you’re competing with for a pay raise or a promotion. Even if that person is a friend, and especially if they’re not, should they stumble on the job or get dressed down by the boss, you’re going to experience a moment, maybe a lot of moments, of elation. Schadenfreude. Even something as simple as a fat guy bending over and ripping his pants is going to cause at least a little snicker on your part. Schadenfreude. That’s all slapstick comedy is. That's what YouTube videos are about. Someone slips and falls, someone kicks someone else in the nads, we laugh. Schadenfreude.
Anyone who’s a competitor, in sports, in the work place, in life, experiences schadenfreude when they overcome their adversary. When you prevail over all obstacles to defeat your opponent you are going to be elated. Of course, sometimes that elation, that schadenfreude, can be excessive to the point of being ugly taunting of a vanquished foe. The only thing worse than a poor loser is a poor winner. Schadenfreude can be excessive. Take for example this little known photo of Muhammad Ali after his defeat of Sonny Liston. Now that’s excessive delight in the misfortune of another. Regardless of my admiration of Ali, that's just not right.
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