Gransnet forums

Coronavirus

Schadenfreude

(40 Posts)
Zoejory Mon 31-Jan-22 18:14:02

One of my favourite words.

I don't wish Covid on anyone. But Lawrence Fox, who is quite odious, has got the virus despite him claiming his immune system means he doesn't need the vaccine.

www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/jan/30/laurence-fox-has-coronavirus-and-taking-ivermectin

I am also furious with him for trying to negate Nadal's victory at the Australian Open. Had he watched the match he would have seen one of the best men's finals in any slam.

I just don't like him at all.

FarNorth Tue 01-Feb-22 21:37:49

Attractive? Seriously?

lemsip Tue 01-Feb-22 21:49:57

strange he wouldnt have the vaccine but takes something first mentioned in 2021
Pharmaceutical Technology April 19, 2021
The common antiparasitic ivermectin is being touted as a miracle cure for Covid-19 by doctors and campaigners the world over. Demand for approval of the drug is growing globally – with some countries recommending ivermectin as a treatment for coronavirus patients – despite leading health authorities consistently warning against its use.

Callistemon21 Tue 01-Feb-22 22:39:04

FannyCornforth

I always thought that it meant ‘shameful joy’.
Forgive me for being extremely shallow, but I’ve always found Fox very attractive blush

Wash your mouth out with soap, FannyCornforth

I see he's smoking in your picture FarNorth
I heard a theory that smokers don't catch Covid but looks like it's disproved now!

FannyCornforth Wed 02-Feb-22 02:31:46

FarNorth I’m afraid so blush
Callistemon sorreee (hangs head in shame)

In my defence, (I feel that I’ve got my work cut out here) he has that ‘reminds me of an ex’ thing going on; ex being a thoroughly nice chap.

growstuff Wed 02-Feb-22 02:57:36

Josieann

I'm sure someone German can help JackyB?? here, but if you break Schade and Freude you do get shame and joy, a bit like an oxymoron. The shame bit means almost damage and suffering and you get it a lot in German literature, all very dark.
But I agree with Peasblossom that in this context it means that something comes back to bite you on the bum!

It's actually Schaden + Freude. Schaden means damage or harm, not shame. The German for shame is Schande, which has a different etymology.

FannyCornforth Wed 02-Feb-22 03:20:52

Thanks growstuff
Interesting. Adds more depth to the meaning

growstuff Wed 02-Feb-22 03:48:17

Wiki has a description of the driving forces behind Schadenfreude, one of which is justice-based schadenfreude, which comes from seeing that behaviour seen as immoral or "bad" is punished. It is the pleasure associated with seeing a "bad" person being harmed or receiving retribution. Schadenfreude is experienced here because it makes people feel that fairness has been restored for a previously un-punished wrong.

This definition fits well with people who see Fox as immoral and "bad", especially his pronouncements related to vaccinations.

Josieann Wed 02-Feb-22 08:55:58

growstuff

Josieann

I'm sure someone German can help JackyB?? here, but if you break Schade and Freude you do get shame and joy, a bit like an oxymoron. The shame bit means almost damage and suffering and you get it a lot in German literature, all very dark.
But I agree with Peasblossom that in this context it means that something comes back to bite you on the bum!

It's actually Schaden + Freude. Schaden means damage or harm, not shame. The German for shame is Schande, which has a different etymology.

Got it!
So in other words we enjoy the damage our fellow human being is suffering like I said above, (more than our own pleasure). I've added this last observation here because often people would rather see an opponent fall flat on her face, than actually succeed themselves, say in business or sport. So if in Bake Off a competitor's cake falls on the floor another contestant might feel joy! [grin}

So when Germans say, "wie Schade" does that not mean what a shame? Both truthfully and sarcastically?
What a shame LF is ill, NOT.

Josieann Wed 02-Feb-22 09:21:34

So when Germans say, "wie Schade" does that not mean what a shame? Both truthfully and sarcastically?

Forget that last, growstuff, I've checked with the dictionary, schade.

Josieann Wed 02-Feb-22 09:23:10

So, Nadal must have felt Schadenfreude when Djokovic was sent home?

silverlining48 Wed 02-Feb-22 10:37:50

Wie Schade means what a shame, what a pity. Freude means happiness/joy. So maybe joy in someone’s sorrow; thought but not spoken.

growstuff Wed 02-Feb-22 11:33:51

silverlining48

Wie Schade means what a shame, what a pity. Freude means happiness/joy. So maybe joy in someone’s sorrow; thought but not spoken.

"Wie schade" does indeed "What a pity", but "Schade" used as a single component of "Schadenfreude" means something else.

The word for "shame" is "Schande", which has a different etymological route.

In the case of Laurence Fox, a feeling of "Schadenfreude" would be appropriate because he has been so arrogant in promoting his anti-vacc views, which have been responsible for his illness.

Chestnut Wed 02-Feb-22 12:03:55

But he's recovered I believe, so will now be gloating that his immune system saved him, not the vaccine. Although it was probably the ivermectin that lessened his symptoms. But you have to wonder at someone who is prepared to put ivermectin into their body but not the vaccine. And you wonder whether he has taken any street drugs or indeed prescribed drugs in his life? The outcome of taking anything is unknown.

Doodledog Wed 02-Feb-22 12:11:08

I don't think Schadenfreude is usually used to mean a general glee in the discomfort of others, but more a 'serves him right' feeling as said above, and specifically to someone who has wronged us personally. So it's the sense of satisfaction when you hear about an unfaithful ex's divorce from the 'other woman', or seeing the car that cut you up five miles ago stuck in a slow moving lane - that sort of thing.

In the case of LF, it's seeing an arrogant, entitled man see that he is not immune from Covid just because he thinks he is.