Oh, guilty pleasures of 'harm-joy'

The Germans may have given the world Beethoven and bureaucracy. But, above all, they have supplied us one of their most useful words: schadenfreude (sha-dun-froy-duh), literally 'harm-joy'. The pleasure derived from another's misfortune is among humanity's least advertised hobbies. Particularly when the unfortunate individual is considerably more fortunate than oneself. Consider Manchester Utd. The legacy club's current downward spiral - hitting a 40-yr low after dropping into relegation zone this week - is not necessarily in United's suffering per se, but in discovering that money, fame and an enormous merchandise operation cannot guarantee competent defending. Of course, there is something shameful in being tickled by someone else's worry warts. But who said humans are paragons of virtue?

Psychologists suggest schadenfreude springs partly from social comparison and perceived justice. The mighty falling reassures ordinary mortals that the universe has not entirely outsourced fairness to PR agencies, and strongmen also have feet of play dough and clay. As we keep saying - out of guilt - there is something unbecoming about celebrating failure. But schadenfreude, properly rationed, is less cruelty than inflation correction. After all, watching giants stumble is one of the few remaining entertainments that will get us neither cancelled nor hurrahed.