to think schadenfreude is a great word and should be used more often

[chomalungma]

At the weekend, I was driving along a road that had just become a dual carriageway. It was 50 then it became 70. I sped up to the limit and the person who had been right behind me decided to really go for it and overtook me - only to suddenly slow down as he saw a speed camera van.

I would admit to schadenfreude.

There are some other examples in the news at the moment. I am sure people can imagine what I am talking about.

Apparently it's become a very Googled word over the last few days.

www.merriam-webster.com/news-trend-watch/schadenfreude-20201002

It's seen a 30,500% increase in searches.
For some reason

I am enjoying work-based schadenfreude at the moment, as all the men whine about being cold WFH and having to put the heating on. TRY BEING A WOMAN AND WORKING IN OFFICES MADE COMFORTABLE FOR THE AVERAGE MAN AND BEING COLD ALL THE TIME.

I personally am looking forward to a winter of not being cold all the time!

Ha ha! We use it quite a lot in this house, mainly DD who has a dark sense of humour.

@chomalungma

www.merriam-webster.com/news-trend-watch/schadenfreude-20201002

It's seen a 30,500% increase in searches.
For some reason

Trump, Trumpety, Trump, Trump ...

You know there's an English word for schadenfreude? It's epicaricacy. It's a myth we don't have our own word for it.

As you were.

Yes! It’s such a great word. Not sure I like it as much in English but good to know justchecking.

Can I go off topic and say I also love the Japanese word “tsundoku”? I think other mumsnetters will appreciate.

I'd use it more if I was quite sure of its connotations. Can anyone explain?

I know it is taking pleasure from someone else's misfortune. But...

Is it because the person deserved their misfortune? ("karma")
Is it because we dislike this particular individual?
Is it because we ourselves are unhappy and we want to see someone else having a hard time also so we feel less alone?
Is it because we want to see someone else suffer so we can be relieved it wasn't us?
Is it pure evil intent for no good reason, because we actually enjoy the suffering of others? (sadism?)

Or is it a general purpose word which could cover any of those situations?

@chomalungma

At the weekend, I was driving along a road that had just become a dual carriageway. It was 50 then it became 70. I sped up to the limit and the person who had been right behind me decided to really go for it and overtook me - only to suddenly slow down as he saw a speed camera van.

I would admit to schadenfreude.

There are some other examples in the news at the moment. I am sure people can imagine what I am talking about.

Apparently it's become a very Googled word over the last few days.

We have a similar situation, a 30 changes to a 50 and the boy-racers love to put their little feet down! One day two cars behind me positioned themselves as I approached to 50 sign, both signalling right. The third car however misjudged it, he hit the acceleratorvery hard, not realising that the second car was indicating to turn right into his drive! The squeal of brakes was very satisfying. That's Schadenfreude.

@justchecking1

You know there's an English word for schadenfreude? It's epicaricacy. It's a myth we don't have our own word for it.

As you were.

Amazing, thank you!

You know there's an English word for schadenfreude? It's epicaricacy. It's a myth we don't have our own word for it.

But Schadenfreude sounds far better than a word that sounds like a painful procedure and you can drag it out to so many syllables! When taxi drivers used to yell in a form of Spanish when we were living in the Med my reply used to be Hey, Schleswig Holstein, it can be so multi syllabled and they hated it.

I love the word but wouldn't know how to use it in a sentence!