People who enjoy others misfortune.

[Cotty]

zedstar said:

I know a couple of people like this, cant stand them, inadequacy isseues... Get very happy when people fail as it makes them feel less inadequate I reckon...

I think thats Crab Mentality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality

[JamesD1]

had some nob at work like that. 50 odd whos life hadnt quite gone as well as he'd hoped, wife does better than him etc. used to deliberatley sabotage people's (including mine) work, try and get anything over you to grass you up.

i dont know why companies dont sort these idiots out but hey ho. im on to new horizons and he'll be there til retirement.

i usually would say i dont like seeing others misfortune (as my stepdad is the best / most hardworking bloke ive ever met and just gets handed ste constantly) but i would love to see this bloke go down in flames.

[Pork]

I know a couple who seemingly get pleasure from even possible misfortune. If you say something might happen, they go on and on about it as if it already has. It can be minor things to life altering things, they seem to get pleasure in being pessimistic and negative when that's the last thing you need.

I told them a story recently about mutual friends, ended the story with "but they're not too fussed, they'll move on...". It turned it to a lot of "oh no, what they going to do? Oh no..." carrying over to the next time we saw them "Hows XYZ?" to which I replied "they're fine, as I said last time, they're not too fussed...." which was met with an "Oh no.....nevermind. Oh no...."

They're lovely people and I suspect they have the best of intentions but it does come across as little like they're revelling in others misfortune.

[H22observer]

zedstar said:

I know a couple of people like this, cant stand them, inadequacy isseues... Get very happy when people fail as it makes them feel less inadequate I reckon...

Or it could be that they either don't like the people you mention or believe that in some way they deserve a bit of misfortune and need to learn a lesson in humility.

It depends what's being laughed at.

A miscarriage, motorcycle accident or serious life-changing injury. No. That's not funny at all.

Finding out a flash/boastful aquaintance who constantly posts selfies at the gym has dropped his protein shake, slipped over on the contents and twisted his ankle. That can be funny if their behaviour was annoying or obnoxious.

Finding out that a friend (who is known to be a bit flash with his money) has dumped his gold-digging girlfriend because she expected him to pay for every meal, drink, night out, clothes, jewellery, visits to the hairdresser/nail salon etc. Again, a lesson in humility will make them a better person and maybe change their behaviour..

[groucho]

My mate does stupid things on site. The other week he found an empty tobacco pouch, scooped some of his st out of the portaloo and filled up the pouch hoping somebody thought they found a windfall.

[eddy02]

bucksmanuk said:

My auntie is a bit like this, if you tell her someone is hospital for minor-ish surgery, she is in fits of giggles.
Her cousin’s husband had a serious problem with polyps in his nose and had to go into hospital for surgery a few times to sort it out. She could hardly get the story out for laughing and admitted she had nearly wet herself telling someone else the story.
Heart attacks, strokes, cancer, don’t make her laugh though.

This laughing at things gets me fuming.
Over the years I have had push bikes on and off to get a bit of excercise,I fell off one a while back (my own fault) scraped my knee and elbow quite badly (I really am not one to complain about pain,illness etc,just get on with it).The wife thought it was hilarious,still does.
Walking upstairs behind somebody today and he farted,really stunk,he thought it was really funny,I thought he was an ignorant moron and told him so.

Edited by eddy02 on Wednesday 23 July 20:00

[THX]

I picked up a puncture on the way home tonight. Four other cyclists stopped to offer help (four!!!).

One motorist pointed and laughed as he drove by...

I have to admit though, i laughed back. Such displays of utter mean spirited joy I just find really funny. I'd never do it myself, and I probably wouldn't approve of him doing the same to anyone else but... his flat out mean spirited howl just made me laugh.

[cookmysock]

Tuvra said:

The Don of Croy said:

Shirley those two alone could/would result in a prison sentence? Attempted homicide?

My late Dad would often take pleasure in others misfortune, mainly because he had a monumental chip on his shoulder and felt paranoid a lot of the time...

No, it's not as bad as it sounds

What I mean is he was known for driving his dumper where he knew there was rebar sticking out of the ground and other puncture risks. In regards to the hoses, he had done it to a few excavators, there was no risk except the machine would be immobilised and spew it's hydraulic oil.

Basically it meant taking machines out of action. He would then blame other people for it e.g. Other site workers for poor site hygiene causing the punctres, kids for vandalising the machinery etc.

When you talk to him he's nice enough. When you know what he's really like your opinion soon changes.

OP - I am fascinated with why this person has done these sorts of things. Has he ever explained to you his reasons?

I ask because when I was a construction manager at a huge job in Wales a few years ago, we suffered everything that was in your original post. It drove me nuts thinking that there were people on my site whose actions could cause a serious injury to someone else.

We even had a 60T crane tampered with - a circuit board deep in the bowels of the rig was found to have some cut wiring. Gave all sorts of wierd readings on the cranes computer in the cab. Credit to the operator who did his pre start checks and shut down immediately.

We also had a large piece of formwork (RMD type) where some one had crawled under it to loosen several tie bolts. It was lifted on a crane the next morning and started falling apart. The crew quickly placed in back down.

It just staggers me that there are people who do these sorts of things. Needless to say I had the police on site addresseing my crew and the shop stewards.

[Triumph Man]

cookmysock said:

Tuvra said:

The Don of Croy said:

Shirley those two alone could/would result in a prison sentence? Attempted homicide?

My late Dad would often take pleasure in others misfortune, mainly because he had a monumental chip on his shoulder and felt paranoid a lot of the time...

No, it's not as bad as it sounds

What I mean is he was known for driving his dumper where he knew there was rebar sticking out of the ground and other puncture risks. In regards to the hoses, he had done it to a few excavators, there was no risk except the machine would be immobilised and spew it's hydraulic oil.

Basically it meant taking machines out of action. He would then blame other people for it e.g. Other site workers for poor site hygiene causing the punctres, kids for vandalising the machinery etc.

When you talk to him he's nice enough. When you know what he's really like your opinion soon changes.

OP - I am fascinated with why this person has done these sorts of things. Has he ever explained to you his reasons?

I ask because when I was a construction manager at a huge job in Wales a few years ago, we suffered everything that was in your original post. It drove me nuts thinking that there were people on my site whose actions could cause a serious injury to someone else.

We even had a 60T crane tampered with - a circuit board deep in the bowels of the rig was found to have some cut wiring. Gave all sorts of wierd readings on the cranes computer in the cab. Credit to the operator who did his pre start checks and shut down immediately.

We also had a large piece of formwork (RMD type) where some one had crawled under it to loosen several tie bolts. It was lifted on a crane the next morning and started falling apart. The crew quickly placed in back down.

It just staggers me that there are people who do these sorts of things. Needless to say I had the police on site addresseing my crew and the shop stewards.

Christ Alive, you have to wonder about people don't you? My dad once drove into a car park with a height restriction (forgetting he had bikes on the roof rack). As dad tried to sort the bikes out and survey the damage to his car, some pathetic oik just started pointing and laughing at him.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Triumph Man said:

Christ Alive, you have to wonder about people don't you? My dad once drove into a car park with a height restriction (forgetting he had bikes on the roof rack). As dad tried to sort the bikes out and survey the damage to his car, some pathetic oik just started pointing and laughing at him.

I would have found that very funny too, but I wouldn't have pointed and laughed at him, just chuckled to myself. Maybe that makes the offender more honest than me.

It's fine to take pleasure in others misfortune, but not to actively cause the misfortune. And you have to be prepared to laugh at your own misfortune too.

I really enjoy seeing someone return to their car to find a parking ticket on it. Just love watching the horror and anger on their faces. Just my own little quirk. But I've had a few tickets myself and knowing someone may be watching me, I always laugh at my own stupidity.

[Hoofy]

OldJohnnyYen said:

Fat people trying to run, falling over, trying to get up out of a seat etc are some of the funniest things you can witness.

You don't play the tuba do you?

[Triumph Man]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Triumph Man said:

Christ Alive, you have to wonder about people don't you? My dad once drove into a car park with a height restriction (forgetting he had bikes on the roof rack). As dad tried to sort the bikes out and survey the damage to his car, some pathetic oik just started pointing and laughing at him.

I would have found that very funny too, but I wouldn't have pointed and laughed at him, just chuckled to myself. Maybe that makes the offender more honest than me.

It's fine to take pleasure in others misfortune, but not to actively cause the misfortune. And you have to be prepared to laugh at your own misfortune too.

I really enjoy seeing someone return to their car to find a parking ticket on it. Just love watching the horror and anger on their faces. Just my own little quirk. But I've had a few tickets myself and knowing someone may be watching me, I always laugh at my own stupidity.

You sound like a lovely person.

[InductionRoar]

You employed him???

[wildcat45]

My late Dad was the opposite. Infuriatingly so.

I don't think it is good to laugh at other's misfortune, but sometimes bad stuff happens to bad people - poetic justice if you like.

Not with my Dad. I could never understand his forgive and forget attitude.

An example was this guy who was an utter tt. My old man trained him, and the guy climbed the greasy poll. He was a sleazy letch of a bloke. Good at his job, but a rather unpleasant person.

His life took a nose dive. Lost his job, things went from bad to worse and he ended up in court for something really pathetic like benefit fraud after he life really hit rock bottom.

The story of the court case got some minor local media attention.

I got bked by the old man for taking joy from the situation. His attitude was that he was a tt but it was nothing more than sad that he sank so low.

[Negative Creep]

swerni said:

OldJohnnyYen said:

Fat people trying to run, falling over, trying to get up out of a seat etc are some of the funniest things you can witness.

Most aren't fat due to misfortune, so it's allowable

Fat people on mopeds are scientifically proven to be one of the funniest thing on earth

[cookmysock]

Negative Creep said:

swerni said:

OldJohnnyYen said:

Fat people trying to run, falling over, trying to get up out of a seat etc are some of the funniest things you can witness.

Most aren't fat due to misfortune, so it's allowable

Fat people on mopeds are scientifically proven to be one of the funniest thing on earth

[jonah35]

swerni said:

H22observer said:

Or it could be that they either don't like the people you mention or believe that in some way they deserve a bit of misfortune and need to learn a lesson in humility.

It depends what's being laughed at.

A miscarriage, motorcycle accident or serious life-changing injury. No. That's not funny at all.

Finding out a flash/boastful aquaintance who constantly posts selfies at the gym has dropped his protein shake, slipped over on the contents and twisted his ankle. That can be funny if their behaviour was annoying or obnoxious.

Finding out that a friend (who is known to be a bit flash with his money) has dumped his gold-digging girlfriend because she expected him to pay for every meal, drink, night out, clothes, jewellery, visits to the hairdresser/nail salon etc. Again, a lesson in humility will make them a better person and maybe change their behaviour..

I often point and laugh at poor people who reach their mid 30's and still live with mummy and daddy.

Don't know why, just amuses me

Many of my Indian friends and Muslim friends do this, its a cultural norm.

Not really funny is it?

[Mr GrimNasty]

jonah35 said:

Many of my Indian friends and Muslim friends do this, its a cultural norm.

Not really funny is it?

Well the Kumars ceratinly isn't.

[SlackBladder]

jonah35 said:

swerni said:

H22observer said:

Or it could be that they either don't like the people you mention or believe that in some way they deserve a bit of misfortune and need to learn a lesson in humility.

It depends what's being laughed at.

A miscarriage, motorcycle accident or serious life-changing injury. No. That's not funny at all.

Finding out a flash/boastful aquaintance who constantly posts selfies at the gym has dropped his protein shake, slipped over on the contents and twisted his ankle. That can be funny if their behaviour was annoying or obnoxious.

Finding out that a friend (who is known to be a bit flash with his money) has dumped his gold-digging girlfriend because she expected him to pay for every meal, drink, night out, clothes, jewellery, visits to the hairdresser/nail salon etc. Again, a lesson in humility will make them a better person and maybe change their behaviour..

I often point and laugh at poor people who reach their mid 30's and still live with mummy and daddy.

Don't know why, just amuses me

Many of my Indian friends and Muslim friends do this, its a cultural norm.

Not really funny is it?

Culture - Shared values, ideals, beliefs of a group of people regardless of race and ethnicity

So mentioning a race and a religion isn't really relevant is it?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Triumph Man said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Triumph Man said:

Christ Alive, you have to wonder about people don't you? My dad once drove into a car park with a height restriction (forgetting he had bikes on the roof rack). As dad tried to sort the bikes out and survey the damage to his car, some pathetic oik just started pointing and laughing at him.

I would have found that very funny too, but I wouldn't have pointed and laughed at him, just chuckled to myself. Maybe that makes the offender more honest than me.

It's fine to take pleasure in others misfortune, but not to actively cause the misfortune. And you have to be prepared to laugh at your own misfortune too.

I really enjoy seeing someone return to their car to find a parking ticket on it. Just love watching the horror and anger on their faces. Just my own little quirk. But I've had a few tickets myself and knowing someone may be watching me, I always laugh at my own stupidity.

You sound like a lovely person.

Maybe we should start a pole. Anyone else find the scenario of Triumph Man's dad smashing into a height restriction with bikes on the roof, causing lots of damage, very funny? I can't be the only one?