As much as schadenfreude is enjoyable (and rightfully so in cases), it is also the kind of dopamine hit that animates fascist tendencies. Too much enjoyment of the suffering of others doesn't lead to good places.
I thought schadenfreude could be a balm against the malignancy of this regime, but no. Although it's hard to care about those who were indifferent (or gleeful) to the suffering of others, I've found that empathy isn't something that can be switched off at will. I'm not actually sorry that callous, selfish voters are facing the same consequences they assigned to "them", but I'm not gleeful either. That said, I wouldn't mind if someone punched Steven Miller in the face.
I told my middle school students that Lessons are being taught and that it was their responsibility to Learn the Lessons. Given that this was in rural Tennessee, I was probably teaching future trump voters.💔🙄
This question reminds me of Kenneth Kaunda’s 1980 book, the riddle of violence.
Kaunda was the first president of independent Zambia. He wrote about the suffering in Zambia‘s refugee camps filled with refugees from neighboring Rhodesia, still fighting for its independence.
These unprotected camps continued to be bombed by British and South African jets.
He wrote about being urged to forgive the enemies.
Kaunda was a devout Christian and his response was that forgiveness needs to happen, but not before the persecution has ended.
One can argue the fine points of that, but I think his logic centers the suffering of victims.
I am definitely not advocating for forgiveness! I think there’s a big difference between cheering on suffering and withholding forgiveness. People need to change and actually ask for forgiveness before you should even consider it, I think.
The hardest part for me with the FAFO schadenfreude is always the children; as you say, all children deserve to have healthcare, electricity, and affordable groceries, no matter who their parents voted for.
This is an excellent argument. Taking joy in someone else’s misery is exactly what the ICE-loving crowd does. But that doesn’t mean you have to validate their values that led them to vote for a fascist.
I see a lot of ‘welcome them into the tent’ but we have to acknowledge that Trump voters thought he was going to make the economy better for them by making it worse for other people. If, in your scenario, the former Trump voter is open to making sure others don’t suffer, that’s growth. Sometimes people learn through suffering but it’s not a sure thing.
I would venture to say that they don't blame trump for any of their issues at all. His supporters can twist themselves into pretzels to justify stuff that would have them screaming for impeachment if it was a Democrat, and the ones I know who are suffering from his policies are still blaming dems and liberals. Don't waste your pity or your schadenfreude.
I think you’re a better person than I am. I know that part of the evil plan is to pit us against each other, and I totally see your logic and agree with it. My emotions, however, are another story altogether.
I can't recall where I read it, but there was a study that showed the more a person engages in delight at the FAFO of others (obviously not how the study put it), the more their own capacity for empathy erodes. In a world where we need more empathy, not less, I want to hold on to mine with everything I've got.
As much as schadenfreude is enjoyable (and rightfully so in cases), it is also the kind of dopamine hit that animates fascist tendencies. Too much enjoyment of the suffering of others doesn't lead to good places.
I thought schadenfreude could be a balm against the malignancy of this regime, but no. Although it's hard to care about those who were indifferent (or gleeful) to the suffering of others, I've found that empathy isn't something that can be switched off at will. I'm not actually sorry that callous, selfish voters are facing the same consequences they assigned to "them", but I'm not gleeful either. That said, I wouldn't mind if someone punched Steven Miller in the face.
I told my middle school students that Lessons are being taught and that it was their responsibility to Learn the Lessons. Given that this was in rural Tennessee, I was probably teaching future trump voters.💔🙄
Facts are facts. And solidarity is key.
Excellent writing, Berlatsky. And as I’ve always told my students, “Clear writing is clear thinking.”
This question reminds me of Kenneth Kaunda’s 1980 book, the riddle of violence.
Kaunda was the first president of independent Zambia. He wrote about the suffering in Zambia‘s refugee camps filled with refugees from neighboring Rhodesia, still fighting for its independence.
These unprotected camps continued to be bombed by British and South African jets.
He wrote about being urged to forgive the enemies.
Kaunda was a devout Christian and his response was that forgiveness needs to happen, but not before the persecution has ended.
One can argue the fine points of that, but I think his logic centers the suffering of victims.
I am definitely not advocating for forgiveness! I think there’s a big difference between cheering on suffering and withholding forgiveness. People need to change and actually ask for forgiveness before you should even consider it, I think.
The hardest part for me with the FAFO schadenfreude is always the children; as you say, all children deserve to have healthcare, electricity, and affordable groceries, no matter who their parents voted for.
This is an excellent argument. Taking joy in someone else’s misery is exactly what the ICE-loving crowd does. But that doesn’t mean you have to validate their values that led them to vote for a fascist.
I see a lot of ‘welcome them into the tent’ but we have to acknowledge that Trump voters thought he was going to make the economy better for them by making it worse for other people. If, in your scenario, the former Trump voter is open to making sure others don’t suffer, that’s growth. Sometimes people learn through suffering but it’s not a sure thing.
I would venture to say that they don't blame trump for any of their issues at all. His supporters can twist themselves into pretzels to justify stuff that would have them screaming for impeachment if it was a Democrat, and the ones I know who are suffering from his policies are still blaming dems and liberals. Don't waste your pity or your schadenfreude.
I have seen people who voted for trump who are angry at him and blame him. it does happen!
I hope it starts to happen more often, but I've never seen anything like the amount of rope this guy's supporters give him.
I think you’re a better person than I am. I know that part of the evil plan is to pit us against each other, and I totally see your logic and agree with it. My emotions, however, are another story altogether.
I can't recall where I read it, but there was a study that showed the more a person engages in delight at the FAFO of others (obviously not how the study put it), the more their own capacity for empathy erodes. In a world where we need more empathy, not less, I want to hold on to mine with everything I've got.