Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Q&A about words The complement of schadenfreude?
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
OP I do feel a bit silly for overlooking envy, jealousy; on the other hand, these words (to me, at least) also imply desire: The resentment is centred on the fact that X has what you want. But, the lines from Swift notwithstanding (that's clearly envy), isn't there also a self-sufficient resentment of others' happiness? For example, X loves his job, is happily married, fulfilled, exuberantly satisfied with life. Y would not change places with X, but finds X's happiness inexpressibly irritating. Perhaps what I am looking for is a word to describe the annoyance caused by demonstrative displays of happiness... almost the failed attempt to arouse envy. This often happens when one runs into their ex, to whom you are forced to say (through gritted teeth): "I am so happy for you." (I always think of that song by Nick Cave, with the line: "It's good to hear you're doing so well / But really can't you find somebody else that you can ring and tell?") It is not so much envy as the clash of world-weary cynicism with Pollyannaism.
Edit: I forgot to mention: Bono said, of Irish begrudgery: "An American will look up at somebody living in a big house on a hill and say, 'Someday, I'm going to be like him'. An Irishman will look up at the big house and say, 'Someday, I'm going to get that fecker!'"
Last edited by Hydra; 08/11/07 05:23 AM.
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted The complement of schadenfreude? Hydra 08/04/07 08:07 PM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? dalehileman 08/05/07 02:51 PM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? AnnaStrophic 08/05/07 06:09 PM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? themilum 08/05/07 09:29 PM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? Faldage 08/05/07 10:41 PM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? tsuwm 08/06/07 01:03 AM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? Faldage 08/06/07 11:14 AM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? AnnaStrophic 08/08/07 06:37 PM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? Jackie 08/10/07 03:28 PM Re: The complement of schadenfreude? sjmaxq 08/10/07 08:34 PM o mal eûggiō zmjezhd 08/11/07 02:10 AM Re: o mal eûggi? Hydra 08/11/07 04:38 AM
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,345Members9,182 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 1 members (A C Bowden), 765 guests, and 0 robots. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 21ddrinnan 1
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,547tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,918Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org