Word of the Day: schadenfreude

[lkroll]

Got an email today from an online acquaintance. Hate to say that I actually experienced this on more then one occasion, but I have. Very surprised that there is no English word equivalent. An example of this word is that you loose everything and the bank viciously evicts you from your home (since you can't pay the mortgage) and comphiscates it. They then try to recoup their so called loss, but the house burns to the ground so they loose most of their investment. Later, the U.S Government closes that bank down for bad dealings and the person directly responsible for evicting you from your property goes to jail. Hate to say that this would bring me joy, but it would (never said that I was perfect; lol). Anyway, definitely not a cool word, but a word that I believe many have experienced at least once in their lifetime. Sad for our humanity.

[Jujube]

Re: Word of the Day: schadenfreude

"Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies."

-Gore Vidal

[lkroll]

Re: Word of the Day: schadenfreude

Still, it's a pretty pathetic and sad word imo. Still hate that someone was actually my schadenfreude on more then one occasion and now I'm sure I am someone elses based on my pretty bloke situations since 2002 (pretty much lost everything). God will return ilk so don't wish it on anyone and you will do fine. The older I get the more I understand that. It's sad that we only learn from the pain over time. I'm so much different then I was when I was in my 20s. You all would not have liked me then. I still am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination though, but at least I, for the most part, released most of my hate and disdain and feel better about myself because of it. Anyway, back on topic. This word is such a bad concept that it is good that a word exists for it and that we can be aware of it and shun it. You can not flee from evil if you don't know what evil is. lol

[Jujube]

Re: Word of the Day: schadenfreude

On the contrary, the desire to surpass or crush others is a great tool for self improvement and not a curse. Besides the universe itself is too complex to be summarized with words like good and evil, which are so vague and relative to a particular culture and time period that they become meaningless, much like "freedom" and "liberty" for example.

The dark side is what makes life liveable, so to speak.

[clicks2]

Re: Word of the Day: schadenfreude

And here I thought it had something to do with Sigmund.

“Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes