Schadenfreude
A reader comment got me thinking about paddlings that we thought were fun, but some could see them as Schadenfreude – one of those $50 dollar words.
- Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.
- Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else’s misfortune.
- Delight in another person’s misfortune.
As with most things of this period, it started with my self-declared nieces. There were four of them. In simple terms, they were there to be paddled. I was appointed as the non-nonsense Uncle to lay the paddle on them.
At their whim, additional nieces could be added. Bacall was a special case, she could be a niece or their Aunt depending on the phase of the moon. She could be masterfully, but never successfully, defend herself or she could turn a nieces bottom red.
It started months before. One niece would start a story and sent along to another niece who extended the story, perhaps in a different direction. Before it was through every female in the county was accused of misdeeds.
As those charged with a crime would be paddled, they would throw others under the bus.
If only we had recorded the dialog. It was a hoot. No one laughed longer or louder then me. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Here are some examples of schadenfreude. Just imagine a few more gals watching and grinning,
