"When Bad Things Happen to Other People"

It’s a wickedness that dwells in my mind. Try as I may, I have never been able to control it. Five years ago, at my 40th high school class reunion, devilish but un-verbalized thoughts flickered through my conscience. It wasn’t until several months later that I fully understood what had been going on in my brain. At the time, when I met a former high school super-sports star, I experienced either a sense of smug satisfaction or malicious glee because he was now weighing 350 pounds and could barely walk. That feeling came upon me again when I learned that the kid from the wealthiest family during my high school days was now clerking in a local department store.

Recently, this malicious joy surfaced upon learning that a preacher’s daughter was pregnant out of wedlock. Whenever I read that some burglar had died while being trapped in a chimney, that unnamed feeling erupts—too shameful to express.

I’m a fan of the “Funniest Home Movies” because of the falling, sliding, and groin-hits of the unfortunate people being filmed. I take solace in knowing that these home movie shows are popular—there must be millions of other people who also have this “sick” sense of humor.

Why else would the reality television programs such as “The Amazing Race”, “The Apprentice” or “Survivor” be so popular if it isn’t that viewers like to watch people fail---particularly if the contestants are young and beautiful. The “couch potatoes” viewers can gloat over “Miss Beautiful” or “Mr. Handsome” not making the mark, while they are doing nothing more taxing than holding a bowl of popcorn.

Why do we feel a sense of rejoicing about someone else’s misfortune? Is there a name for this “outlaw” emotion? In his recent book, “When Bad Things Happen to Other People” author, John Portman, explains that everyone experiences this emotion whether he will admit it or not.

There’s no word for the emotion in the English language, but the Germans have named it. They call it “Schadenfreude”. “Schaden” means “damage” or “harm” and “Freude” is German for “joy”. The German language even distinguishes between a secret, unspoken “Schadenfreude” and an open, celebratory type. Leave it to the Germans and their proclivity to psychoanalyze.

In this easy-to-read book, the author helps the readers take an honest look at themselves. Given the cultural premium placed on compassion and Christ’s commandment to “Love thy neighbor as thyself”, how are we to deal with this all-too-human emotion of taking pleasure at someone else’s misfortune?

In describing the emotion, Portmann distinguishes “Schadenfreude” from garden-variety malice. He challenges the proscribed philosophical and theological condemnations of “Schadenfreude” and offers an intriguing reflection on human suffering and compassion. He argues that while we can never cleanse ourselves of this emotion, we can find a greater satisfaction in expressing mercy rather than in harboring “Schadenfreude”.

The Library’s “One book, One Columbus” reading program was recently elevated to a new level with the workshop on the value of school athletics. Three area football coaches—Kurt Frenzen from Lakeview, Roger Krienke from Scotus Central Catholic, and Dick Luebbe from Columbus High –participated in a panel discussion regarding the book, “Goodnight, Nebraska” and the role football coaches played in the life of Randall, the book’s protagonist. The next discussion will occur on Wednesday, April 26th at 7:00 PM at the Public Library. Copies of the book are again available for check out. Phone 564 7116 to reserve a copy.