Schadenfreude: A Spectator Sport

You look so nice in that pain

May I please sit for a minute?

To admire it upon you

As it looks so exquisite

Upon you in particular

Could you dear please describe it,

In detail for me please?

Your pain's, your miseries, embarrassment’s and failure’s

Show me everything, tell me everything

About all of the awful things and all of the painful things

I want to feel every bit of it

And none of the consequence's

For me what is better than Disney world

Is all of that misery

And none of the consequence

Because when I see how sad you are

It kinda makes me very happy

And there are billions just like me

Just check out the ratings

On those cable news shows

Always up when it's bad

Never not down when it's good

Author's Note

Reviews

[SweetWriter88]

That moment when you fall in love with a piece of writing because you can relate.... Honestly, this is so true, especially when it's someone who deserves it. It's kind of basic human nature, jumping towards someone to help them while ignoring the fact that something deep inside of you is enjoying the images you're getting.

And I just adore the; "Well that sucks for you, but I'm glad it's not me." vibes I get when I pair this with the song. This poem has a really nice flow, and that tell-all style I've come to know you for. You did a really good job with this poem. Definitely a new favorite of mine.

[Davidgeo]

Thanks, that was very kind of you to say.

I think the average person feels a bit of schadenfreude from time to time, I think it's normal to a limited extent. But if you ever find yourself going far out of your way to revel in another's failure you might be a little bit evil. A good analogy would be like rooting harder for your favorite teams opponent to fail miserably than you are rooting for your favorite team to succeed... like the people who prefer blowouts where one side is just awful instead of close games where both sides play wonderful.

A dude named Arthur Schopenhauer has a nice quote on this.... "To feel envy is human, to savor schadenfreude is diabolic."

[Nipplegrinder]

You do very well with this type of social indictment poetry. I find this very aware, and skillfully presented. Well done.

[Davidgeo]

Thanks nips, I'm glad you liked it. But I'd be happier if you hated it.

[H L Rose]

You've done a great job at coming across kind of menacing. Your language is delicate with "may I please" and "it kinda makes me very happy", yet obviously the meaning is very threatening. It makes it very eerie.

It reminds me of reality TV(or "cable news shows"). Like how American Idol gets bad people to come sing in the auditions so they can make fun of them and leave them crying.

I thought the line, "and non of the consequence" was provoking.

Definitely an intriguing read.

[Arya]

I get these feelings sometimes, not that we derive pleasure from their pain, just that we can relate.
Glad you understood that feeling well.Very good piece!

[Davidgeo]

Thanks Arya. It's a weird thing to think about, and not something most want to acknowledge themselves feeling. But I think we all do, occasionally, at least a little bit.

"To feel envy is human, to savor schadenfreude is diabolic." Arthur Schopenhauer