We are biologically determined to be dicks. To delight in the misfortune of others. To gain pleasure from the displeasure of the people around us.
schadenfreude / noun
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Pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.
Yes, this actually has a name, and have no doubt that we have all been guilty of this in the past, and will be guilty of it in the future.
Funnily enough, we are more likely to experience this feeling if we ourselves suffer from low self esteem. Meaning that those of us who feel worse about ourselves, will intuitively attempt to feel better by looking for people who are worse off than us.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Someone does not need to fail for you or me to succeed. There’s more than enough to go around and the scarcity mindset will not help us move forward as a society or as individuals. We need to be acutely aware of our biological presets to do our utmost to stifle them on each and every occasion.
Be grateful, lift others up, be the example.
Wallace
