Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Schadenfreude, noun, delight in another’s misfortune. Fr. German Schaden harm + Freude joy. Ex: On April 18, 2011, the New York Times editorialized as follows:
Six months after voters sent Republicans in large numbers to Congress and many statehouses, it is possible to see the full landscape of destruction that their policies would cause — much of which has already begun. If it was not clear before, it is obvious now that the party is fully engaged in a project to dismantle the foundations of the New Deal and the Great Society….
On reading this, Ricochet members across America broke into grins, then read the phrase, “dismantle the New Deal and the Great Society” over and over, roaring with laughter at the discomfort of the Times editorialists.
The Ricochet members were experiencing, in a particularly intense manner, an instance of schadenfreude.
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Jan '11
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
The NYT's birthday gift to you?!
Aug '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
What's amazing to me is the blatancy with which the Times is out of the closet here. We know we are divided when the same words can be received with polar opposite reaction; but given the dire straits in which the economy finds itself, we must believe that more people see our side than before. Denial of responsibility can only go just so far. Can we find a tipping point soon please?
Jun '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Jun '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Conservative speaking to a liberal: "Schadenfreude for me, but not for thee."
May '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
I wish that I could partake in a bit of schadenfreude but it seems as if we are locked in an epic eternal battle with those that "know so much that isn't so."
To wit, I followed the link, and found this gem:
"In Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Maine and Florida, Republican governors have used the smokescreen of a poor economy to pursue a long-held conservative goal of destroying public and private unions. This has nothing to do with creating jobs, of course"
As a former corporate site selection strategist for Fortune 500 companies, I can say unequivocally that the author of that quote has no idea what they are talking about. The first cuts from any potential corporate expansion list are the unionized states. High unemployment rates in each of these states should result in higher scores on the "ability to hire" component. The obvious problem is that no Fortune 500 executive in his or her right mind (save Jeff Immelt and his heavily-subsidized Michigan effort) will choose to locate in a union state...especially when there are other options.
May '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
On the theory that anything printed in the NY Times these days is probably false or exaggerated, I'll wait before I celebrate. We are a long way from free of those great burdens. Many battles before us, alas.
Jul '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
the party is fully engaged in a project to dismantle the foundations of the New Deal and the Great Society
If only it were true. :(
Oct '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Can it really be true??? Schadenfreude is one of those unfortunate realities that we participate in against our better selves.
On the other hand, it sure feels good. Dismantling the New Deal, what a concept.
May '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Schadenfreude ist die beste freude.
Dec '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Mago: I wish that I could partake in a bit of schadenfreude but it seems as if we are locked in an epic eternal battle with those that "know so much that isn't so."
To wit, I followed the link, and found this gem:
"In Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Maine and Florida, Republican governors have used the smokescreen of a poor economy to pursue a long-held conservative goal of destroying public and private unions. This has nothing to do with creating jobs, of course"
As a former corporate site selection strategist for Fortune 500 companies, I can say unequivocally that the author of that quote has no idea what they are talking about. The first cuts from any potential corporate expansion list are the unionized states. High unemployment rates in each of these states should result in higher scores on the "ability to hire" component. The obvious problem is that no Fortune 500 executive in his or her right mind (save Jeff Immelt and his heavily-subsidized Michigan effort) will choose to locate in a union state...especially when there are other options. · Apr 18 at 2:02pm
Look what NYT Corporation did to the Boston Globe's unions.
Jan '11
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
California just sent a delegation to Texas to ask how to create a more business-friendly environment. Yesterday the Californians announced that they had discovered that the state needed to reduce the number of regulations and lower taxes.
Well, duh.
It might also help if they weren't so dumb that they had to take a 2400 mile round trip to learn things like this!
Dec '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
The New York Times editorial, April 15, 1912:
"Two hours after the great ship hit the iceberg, it is possible to see the full landscape of destruction that the Captain's new policies would cause. If it was not clear before, it is obvious now that the crew is fully engaged in a project to divert the Titanic from its course and to prevent its scheduled arrival in New York."
The Times editorialists want to blame Republicans for the reality that the New Deal and Great Society are unsustainable failures, because the Republicans have the temerity to want to change course and save the foundering state.
Jul '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
"The Ricochet members were experiencing, in a particularly intense manner, an instance of schadenfreude."
Perhaps We were experiencing something else.
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Sweet, naive, helpless California. It's as if hell sent a delegation to heaven and came back with the conclusion that they needed to invest in air conditioners.
Margaret Ball: California just sent a delegation to Texas to ask how to create a more business-friendly environment. Yesterday the Californians announced that they had discovered that the state needed to reduce the number of regulations and lower taxes.
Well, duh.
It might also help if they weren't so dumb that they had to take a 2400 mile round trip to learn things like this! · Apr 18 at 3:58pm
May '10
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Wir brauchen einen englischen Wort. Allahpundit is getting close with describing the WI supreme court result as "gloat-tastic", but that's an adjective. "Gloatitude" implies active gloating rather than the silent appreciation of misfortune that is connoted by schadenfreude.
In other news, surely Tom Jones can come up with an icon picture. Either Vegas or Fielding. I'd go with Fielding.
Apr '11
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
Mago: To wit, I followed the link, and found this gem:
"In Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Maine and Florida, Republican governors have used the smokescreen of a poor economy to pursue a long-held conservative goal of destroying public and private unions. This has nothing to do with creating jobs, of course"
Here in Ohio it is no "smokescreen"! Just ask any of the 9.6% of folks who are out of work and "forced" to take the unemployment benefit checks for the next two years (recently extended), and the babysitting, and food stamps, and job training. Oh the humanity! I just can't imagine having to put up with such dire straits!
Can't blame the governors, though! A budget shortfall is a budget shortfall no matter how you slice it. However, I suppose this particular conspiracy theory is salve to the blistered backsides of the union-hugging degenerate left!
Apr '11
Re: Word of the Day: Schadenfreude
I'm sorry! I guess my bile was surging!
It just seems odd to me that for years the "lefties" accuse us of multiple conspiracy theories...now, out of whole cloth, they come up with the most outrageous one of all...on their own...I just wish it were true!
The problem (don't they know) is that the Republicans are too busy with "internal dispute" and "party squabbling" and "internal breakdown" to work up a unified attempt to dismantle the "Great New Society Deal" or whatever.