The dude stood in front of me with an iPod in one hand and fiddled with his iPhone with the other. The subway had hit full speed again and was rhythmically swaying back and forth as usual. The dude looked around the car, probably trying to see if anyone noticed him and his fancy Apple gadgets. He messed with the touch-sensitive treasures, too cool to hold onto a handrail like the rest of the commuters.
Part of me – a strong part of me – wanted the subway car to take a sharp tilt or brake and send the dude stumbling. Give him what he deserved for thinking he was all that with his iGear.
However, the subway gentled pulled into the next station, and Steve Jobs, Jr. trotted off. Then he busted out in a breakdance right out of an iPod commercial (not really).
Looking back on that morning, why did I so badly want to see the dude fall? My memory might even be skewed – maybe he was looking for attention, maybe he wasn’t. Regardless, who am I to judge? And why the heck should I care?
There’s something inside of me that wants people who seem a little too proud to fall flat on their face (and break their iPhone, too). A popular term for it is the German word schadenfreude – finding joy in the suffering of others. What a gross attitude to have, but I bet you might feel that way, too.
It’s a common theme in society to want to see the arrogant crash and burn. Movies and TV shows often put antagonists on a pedestal to give to audiences that snarky satisfaction when they get knocked off. It’s like humans receive an innate, odd pleasure in seeing the mighty fail.
However, as good as it feels, the Christian should fight that feeling. If we love others as ourselves, even our enemies, then we shouldn’t rejoice in their humiliation. As I think about it, denying myself that joy takes a way a fair amount of joy that I look forward to. Unfortunately, that’s a shameful testament to how much I have to learn about loving others.
Please tell me I’m not just the worst person in the world. Do you sometimes take pleasure in seeing others fail?
Heya CD! Yep, you’re not alone. I especially fall victim to that line of thinking when someone speeds past me on the street (well, I did when I still drove, and had a car) anyway, I alwys think to myself that there should be a cop around that next bend… it seemed there always was for me.
I have to confess though, that often times that Steve Jobs Jr guy is me… ‘cept I’m on a different metro. If you see me, don’t trip me please… those applicances are the only thing I have left.
Nope, your not the worst person. Just about every person has those feelings. That’s why Jesus says “judge not that you be not judged”. We all want to feel better about ourselves by seeing someone else fall.
An Arkie’s Musings
You are not alone. So if you’re rotten, so am I. (Is that really consolation? I’m not so sure…)
I’ve found myself doing something similar lately – resenting my bratty 19-year-old cousin for getting a good job and nice apartment, things I don’t think she deserves and I do. Nice, right?
Amazing that God loves me, even with my ugly, ugly heart.
I have to say that I’m like that sometimes too. Sometimes I judge people and wish that bad things would happen to them instead of helping them or something.
whenever i have found myself enjoying someone elses failure, its usually because they have “failed” in an area i am coveting or want to succeed in. ugly, eh?
but, honestly, i rather enjoy seeing people fall. a safe fall, of course.
Oh, you are not alone. I’ve been fighting this feeling a lot lately. Apple jealousy rearing it’s ugly head I suppose. I find when I’m fighting off an attack of depression, and I’m having a hard time not hating myself, it makes it that much harder to love others.
Hey CD and CM!
Wow, I’ve not been around the blogosphere very much at all lately. Just thought I’d “drop in” and say hello…and that I’ve enjoyed catching up on your posts! Sounds like things in NYC are coming along. Three cheers for frugality.
My roommates tease me for keeping a minimal amount of lights on when I’m around the house, cooking, etc. Hey, they can thank me when the electric bills come.
Anyhow…in reply to the actual post:
I don’t typically want to see real-life people take a tumble, but it’s nice when justice is served in the movies like that. But, I will admit, I have some pretty awful thoughts run through my head in traffic most days. And I tend to use the word “bro” or “brew” about 31 times more often than normal when I’m addressing some (clearly) incompetent driver in front of me.
We’re getting a bunch of snow today, and my co-worker just told me about a car that was driving too fast. He said, “I thought, hey, I hope you slide sideways into a ditch.”
I laughed politely, per office protocol, and then thought of your post. I guess my co-worker was just being honest about the things so many of us think and feel!
Speaking of snow – do you have it up in NYC? How are you enjoying a northern winter??? Because I am Midwest born and raised, and it’s so cold here that I told my husband yesterday that there’s no way on earth we will ever move more north than we are now. Goodbye, Chicago and Minneapolis, goodbye. (And yes, I do realize that making such a statment is just begging for God’s sense of humor to strike…)
Stumbled on to your blog from a few other links. No, you’re not the only one. And God, in his infinite wisdom, has been letting me see just how ugly that is, and letting a little of it splash back on me. Good to know that God knows just how we are and loves us anyway.