Schadenfreude, I'm Guilty
It would be nice to say I came across the word while perusing a scholarly treatise or writing a sermon, but it popped up in an article in Yahoo Sports. Sean McHugh, a reserve fullback, was cut by the Detroit Lions, the worst team in professional football. Surely the guy must have figured that his future in the sport was bleak? But, four days later he was signed by the Pittsburg Steelers. Now he will be playing in the Super Bowl. And the Detroit Lions? They finished the season with the distinction of being the only team ever to lose every game, 0-16!
McHugh is candid in his assessment of the situation. “Oh, yeah,” he smiled. “You’re sitting there in warm-ups and you look at the scoreboard and see Detroit’s losing. Part of me smiled. I wouldn’t personally want those guys to do [badly], but the organization [is different].
“It’s a little I told-you-so deal. It’s a little satisfaction.”
schadenfreude
As best I can understand, it is enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others, and most specifically it is to enjoy the suffering of “bad” people. It is to sit back and quietly observe, and inwardly approve with a sense of justice, at the misfortune of someone who has previously mistreated yourself. It appears to me to be at least tacit approval of the revenge of karma. Of course, the little-preacher-inside-my -head tells me it is just a fancy word for vengeance, and further reminds me of the oft quoted scripture, “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.”
If you want to enjoy schadenfreude, it seems to me to necessitate not to think too deeply about specific ramifications. It is good that the shoddy and unprincipled business model of Circuit City has failed. But thousands of people are out of work, with bills to pay and kids to feed. I would have to be a rather cold jerk to delight in such, and thankfully I have not crossed that line.
So, it is a shallow pleasure. And I admit to its indulgence.
Larry was the High School jock, with a fluffy head of blond hair. He would flash his pearly whites and all the cute girls would trample over little-ole-me to drool in his presence. Now he is bald and pudgy. And I smile when I see him.
When reading of the demise of Circuit City, I felt not an ounce of pity. They were the ones of the ridiculous 15% restocking fee, and a few years earlier purged thousands of their loyal workers simply to save money by hiring new ones at lower pay.
Sometimes I will have a person to leave my church and ministry, feigning he “is not being fed spiritually” and has found a better pastor and church. I’ve always been skeptical of such as religious pomposity, not because I’m such a great minister, but because the tools and opportunity for spiritual growth are readily available and not really tied to any church or preacher. And, it seems almost common, if you give such a person some time- maybe six months or so, he ends up not attending any church and with a lot of problems in his life. Of course, his pride will not allow him to admit that his problems all along were not the fault of the church or the preacher, but deep inside himself. And, inevitably when I come across this person, initially I am challenged with schadenfreude. He truly was not a-cut-above the rest of us blue collar strugglers! Yes, I know I should be above such pettiness. But, it is there.
I know it is not nice. At least it is not mean…. Well, not exactly? God forgive me.
