Language Games that Routinely Supply Us with Schadenfreude
The talk of “insecurities” and “excuses” as a diversion from our basic condition in life
The words “insecurity” and “excuses” occupy central positions in the vernacular of personal relationships, particularly in instances where feelings are hurt, or behavior is perceived as improper. Yet their usage often appears as a form of diversion — an attempt to simplify or even distort complex dynamics, turning them into more convenient categories.
On the surface, these words seem to provide a framework for understanding emotional and behavioral reactions, but when we scrutinize their ordinary language semantics, it becomes clear that they operate as rhetorical devices that obscure the deeper causes and conditions underpinning human behavior.
Indeed, rather than fostering understanding, they frequently dismiss or delegitimize the experiences of others. This dismissal can itself be traced back to a form of Schadenfreude, a subtle and pervasive joy in the misfortune or emotional turmoil of others.
By invoking these words, you don’t seek to comprehend the full scope of another’s motivations; instead, you use them to draw that person into a shared vulnerability, which paradoxically elevates the speaker while ostensibly…
