Apr25 |
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How Shameful Joy Can Help You Get A Life, Get Kissed, And Give You A Nice Easy Blog Entry Topic You see, this morning we’re feeling so much schadenfreude we’re speaking in the third person and we’ve copied the word “schadenfreude” so we can keep using it over and over without accidentally spelling it wrong. Schadenfreude, schadenfreude, schadenfreude. See how fun it is? Oh, so why are we feeling this way? Two things, mainly. First is a national story, one you may have heard about. Harvard sophomore — and we’re going to have to be copying and pasting this too — Kaavya Viswanathan’s first novel, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life (which she got a $500,000 advance for), happened to not be entirely her work. Specifically, she seemed to have copied passages from two works, Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, by Megan Of course, then she came out and said she merely “internalized” the earlier novels. Oh, sure. That’s it. After that lame-o non-apology, she can only get into more trouble now. Hence the extreme schadenfreude we’re feeling today. The other story we’re feeling kind of happy about today is that of Devonzo Dawson, who was arrested yesterday. He was arrested for, oh, telling his daughter that she didn’t see anything right before she went to the witness stand. And not only is that witness intimidation, that’s bold witness intimidation. And really effing stupid witness intimidation. And we happen to think it’s kind of funny he got arrested. And we’re feeling a lot of schadenfreude today. Ahh, that felt good. Student’s Novel Faces Plagiarism Controversy [Harvard Crimson] |
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Yesterday, I noted that I wasn’t feeling much, if any, schadenfreude over the 
Hmmm somebody didn’t have enough coffee this morning…..
A little song that makes me kind of happy in moments like this:
Schadenfreude
[from Avenue Q]
Right now you are down and out and feeling really crappy
And when I see how sad you are
It sort of makes me…
Happy!
Sorry, Nicky, human nature-
Nothing I can do!
It’s…
Schadenfreude!
Making me feel glad that I’m not you.
D’ja ever clap when a waitress falls and drops a tray of glasses?
And ain’t it fun to watch figure skaters falling on their asses?
And don’tcha feel all warm and cozy,
Watching people out in the rain!
That’s…
Schadenfreude!
People taking pleasure in your pain!
[Interlude]
Oh, Schadenfreude, huh?
What’s that, some kinda Nazi word?
Yup! It’s German for “happiness at the misfortune of others!”
“Happiness at the misfortune of others.” That is German!
[end interlude]
Watching a vegetarian being told she just ate chicken
Or watching a frat boy realize just what he put his dick in!
Being on the elevator when somebody shouts “Hold the door!”
“No!!!”
Schadenfreude!
“Fuck you lady, that’s what stairs are for!”
Ooh, how about…
Straight-A students getting Bs?
Exes getting STDs!
Waking doormen from their naps!
Watching tourists reading maps!
Football players getting tackled!
CEOs getting shackled!
Watching actors never reach
The ending of their oscar speech!
Schadenfreude!
Schadenfreude!
Schadenfreude!
Schadenfreude!
The world needs people like you and me who’ve been knocked around by fate.
‘Cause when people see us, they don’t want to be us, and that makes them feel great.
Sure!
We provide a vital service to society!
You and me!
Schadenfreude!
Making the world a better place…
Making the world a better place…
Making the world a better place…
To be!
S-C-H-A-D-E-N-F-R-E-U-D-E!
This seems very similar to the Brad Vice case:
http://www.nypress.com/18/48/news&columns/RobertClarkYoung.cfm
Vice was denied tenure and fired. I wonder what recourse Harvard has.
it’s spelled “McCafferty”…no love for a fellow Mc?
Whoops! I, uh, copied her name from something Viswanathan wrote. It’s been fixed.