What Does Schadenfreude Mean
What is the definition of schadenfreude ?
Don’t worry it’s not a quiz - indeed, we’ve provided a pictorial answer
Schadenfreude is a German word with no single word equivalent in English, something the Germans specialize in, a rough translation is getting enjoyment from someone else’s problems or situation.
“Laughing at their downfall” if you will
How about this for a pictorial definition …
Bugatti Veyron Gets a Ticket
Look at the crowd that has gathered round to watch the £1 million supercar get a parking ticket from the English traffic warden in Manchester city centre. There is a certain culture here that seems to think “that’ll knock him down a peg or two”
Of course, there is much joy to be had in the downfall of others, personally I find little else as entertaining as watching someone who deserves it come a cropper.
Sadly, life dictates it’s the people who deserve it least that tend to come unstuck.
Possibly that’s why, as a nation, we seem to get perverse pleasure in watching the media ‘assassinate’ people.
Whilst watching a dodgy politician slowly and ruthlessly hounded out of office is about as much fun as you can have with your trousers on - there is a side to it less pleasant.
Schadenfreude directed to those simply because you perceive them to have more than you …
Anyhoo the young man who owns the Bugatti is £30 worse off and looked distinctly sheepish as he was photographed returning to the car.
He was young and wearing a hoodie so perhaps he was actually stealing it 
I’ll bring you some more examples if I can find any
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Previous …
Aston Martin Vanquish
007 DBS
Branston Hall
Lewis Hamilton To Gear
Witches of Eastwick said,
January 29, 2008 @ 9:14 am
Rod,
We enjoyed that post… think you are finally getting the hang of this blogging lark
WoE
Rod said,
January 29, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
WoE
I had hoped to get there in the ned, let’s hope it wasn’t a one day wonder
Regards
Rod
the dinosaur said,
January 29, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
Rod, well done, you said you would bring us more examples of schadenfreude “ned”, well it made me laugh!
Witches of Eastwick said,
January 29, 2008 @ 7:55 pm
Rod,
Nipped in to our local chemist (it’ll never catch on… where’s the steaming potions?) this afternoon and tried to explain what was required… ‘what you need is Goldeneye’ he said… ‘what we need young man is Colin Firth, but that is not what we’re here for
kindly attend to the business at hand and we’ll be on our way’. We bought some Goldeneye in the end but added that we hoped it wasn’t going to a huge disappointment and just to be on the safe side could he please in future keep some Colin Firths in stock. He seemed confused, bless him, as we limped off with just the one good eye, out which we saw him hanging up the closed sign shortly before we took off on our usual mode of transportation 
WoE
Rod said,
January 30, 2008 @ 8:37 am
Dino,
I’m pleased my downfall as a tipist is of some use
Regards
Rod
Rod said,
January 30, 2008 @ 8:39 am
WoE
I should return to the chemist if I were you - keep taking the tablets
RC