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| Scheudenfreude | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 22 2007, 04:10 AM (554 Views) | |
| Ade | Mar 22 2007, 04:10 AM Post #1 |
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Beth-prophet
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German phrase "taking pleasure in other people's discomfort" Ever experienced it? Years ago, when I was still an undergrad and doing a bit of freelancing, I got a job interview at the BBC, and went through it with three interviewers, but one of the interviewers seemed to think it was underneath him that he was even interviewing me; is an honest assumption, rather than sour grapes. Anyway, I didn't get the job, and went to work for the Prince's Trust Cymru instead, which effectively got me the job I have now, because of the training aspect. The day before I got the job where I am now, I went to an interview in Fitzalan High School in Cardiff as the network admin; there were six candidates ... low and behold, I notice someone. Not quite sure it was him until we went around what we were doing ... Tim: network manager in Birmingham, Ade: St00dent, ... Gareth Blake, until recently I worked for the BBC ... queue my (very audible) laughter! Went through the day and I let him know just after lunch how I knew him, and because of my surname, I was very last to be interviewed (there were 6 interviews!!!) ... and he was STILL being the most arrogant prick ever ... Anyway, I didn't get the job, but the guy who did get it was nice. The headmaster phoned me and actually offered me a job that he would create for me, but I turned it down at the time because where I work now offered me a better package, and it didn't involve me working nights, longer hours, for about £3k less money, and the biggest part was that I would have to drive to Cardiff every morning, and so have to get up at 6am and get home at 6.30pm) ... Anyway, I was just going through various uninteresting websites, and I find his name under the technician's job, which is the guy under the job I was going to have. I almost wish I took it just to get one over! I hate people being utter twats to other people, particularly if they are nervous and unsure to start with ... this week I have spent all week getting our new HR woman up to speed with Windows and office, and I hope I did a comfortable job for her. As it costs nothing for manners, it costs nothing to be civil, and not an arsehole either! Anyway, any other good scheudenfreude stories?? |
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Went to the JobCentre today, and the Army were there going "Be the Best" ... now T-Mobile just told me I didn't have the qualifications to sell phones, Microsoft said I didn't have the qualifications to answer the phones, and the Army want to let me loose with a machine gun? | |
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| Ali | Mar 22 2007, 10:44 AM Post #2 |
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Ortonologist
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I have mixed feelings on this subject. The word itself, schadenfreude, has long been one of my favourites, for the very reason that there is no single word in English that one can use in its place. The nearest equivalent are the two words 'malicious glee'. For this reason it has become more or less incorporated into the English language over the last forty years or so, along with that other equally useful German word 'zeitgeist' ('spirit of the times'). The thing itself, however, I am not so keen on. I find myself unable to take pleasure in the downfall of knaves and prats. Nobody is perfect, and I know that I am every bit as capable of being an evil or misguided arsehole as the next man. But I do believe in karma, so I take comfort in the belief that we will all reap the rewards of our thoughts & actions in due course (in the next life if not in this!). |
| Now you're sittin' on a Paris train, laughing at your own jokes again | |
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| rc.cope | Mar 22 2007, 01:30 PM Post #3 |
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Forum HIstorian
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When my company went bancrupt, it was about the same time that I injured my back. It was a very trying time for us, but I put it all in God's hands and let Him do the dirty work. Part of the buyout involved going on unemployment...something I had never done. Although only temporary, it was still a new experience for me. Well, imagine my smile when I showed up to sign and the boss was in that same line...the Big Boss...the guy who took such enjoyment in firing others... the guy who didn't even get a buyout check from the new company. He was fired...caput... out on his ass...infinite...ba da bing, ba da boom.
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| I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy. | |
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| Ali | Mar 23 2007, 11:05 AM Post #4 |
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Ortonologist
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Hehe! Schadenfreude even has its own wikipedia page, like it's a rock star or a diva! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude |
| Now you're sittin' on a Paris train, laughing at your own jokes again | |
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| Ali | Mar 23 2007, 11:23 AM Post #5 |
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Ortonologist
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To quote that wikipedia entry:
This rather explains my dislike of schadenfreude. I find Buddhism much more sympathetic to my temperament than the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) with their aggressive attitudes and failure to integrate or give due respect to the female principle. |
| Now you're sittin' on a Paris train, laughing at your own jokes again | |
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| sandad42 | Mar 23 2007, 03:16 PM Post #6 |
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Beth-aholic
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How bout this one then. Last sat. I was backing out of my driveway and had to wait for a young woman in a very large Dodge pickup . She launched from the stop sign and was trying to set the record for a 1/4 mile run. well as I advanced up the street in the direction she was heading I notice at the next intersesction she is now stopped in the middle(4 way stop). On the street I was going to turn on is another pickup truck blocking the opposing lame. It was then that I noticed she was not running and the other truck was smashed and had actually lost a large part of its load. I was thinking to myself"great, she got what she deserved". Then I saw the other driver. He was quite old and was obviously moving. Most of his pssesions were in the road and were broken. I stopped and helped him pick some stuff up and left when the cops came. I am just glad no one was hurt. I guess if you live long enough you will pay or be rewarded depending on your karma.
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| Ali | Mar 23 2007, 03:34 PM Post #7 |
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Ortonologist
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Sometimes the reward or punishment happens in the twinkling of an eye, a la Lennon ... 'Instant karma's gonna get you ... ' What a great song that is! It's really hard not to sing along.
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| Now you're sittin' on a Paris train, laughing at your own jokes again | |
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| TJ | Mar 23 2007, 06:20 PM Post #8 |
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Beth-anorak
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Not to mention crusades, beheadings, and flying airplanes into buildings! I was reflecting on history's ironies a couple of weeks ago after taking in the History Channel's "Barbarians Week" series, and noting that many of our northern-European ancestors were converted from their "barbaric" beliefs to Christianity by the very public lopping off of heads by newly-converted Christian princes. But 1,000 years later we have "barbaric" extremist Moslems beheading captives. Do you think part of humanity is stuck in a rut? On the Buddhist side of things, as Sam Harris has pointed out, Tibetan Buddhists have as much reason to be angry (at China) as any group on earth, but you don't hear about Tibetan suicide bombers and hijackers. Back to schadenfreude: I plugged this book once before (got my eBay ID out of it), chock-full of all sorts of interesting and useful foreign words. |
| "Happy Hallucinations, Honeys!" | |
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It's really hard not to sing along.

8:20 PM Jul 11