Sweet Schadenfreude

Wednesday, April 20, 2011
You know how I'm supposed to be working on being a better person, and making the world a better place for everyone to live in?

Yeah. That's turning out to be a bit harder than I anticipated.

My problem, you see, is schadenfreude. Nothing gets me wrapped around the axle faster than someone attempting to pass the buck on areas for which they CLEARLY have responsibility. I understand the impulse to cover one's own ass, of course - no one likes gets called on the carpet, and the more serious the consequences of failure, the more likely someone is to prevaricate and attempt to blame others. But it really just pisses me off. I've had to fall on my sword often enough that I realize how utterly and completely it blows, but really - it's kind of an ethical imperative.

So when a fact-based discussion reveals the truth about the buck-passsers, my heart simply sings with schadenfreude. And then I feel bad, because I don't want to be the kind of person who takes pleasure in other's misfortunes - even when their misfortune is something they've brought on themselves through their own short-sightedness or incompetence.

I'm not sure how to fix this one, however. I've always been snotty in this way, even though I fully recognize that it's unkind. My long-term snottiness isn't an excuse, of course - saying "that's just the way I am" is never an acceptable excuse for bad behavior. I'm just at a loss for a strategy on how to modify my own behavior.

Snickering behind my hand is just so much more satisfying.

5 comments:

Stacey said...

I understand how you feel. My higher self wants to not be snotty but my sense of justice can't help but stand up and cheer. I don't know what the answer is either.

WendyB_09 said...

I always look at the revelation and think...this surprises us how?

AND snicker behind my hand for just a bit...

The Mechanicky Gal said...

If you guys figure something out, let me know.

Carol Elaine said...

You're not reveling in someone else's misfortune. You're simply pleased that justice has been served.

(Hey, I can rationalize almost anything. It's a scary superpower.)

The Mechanicky Gal said...

Yessss, reveling...