Sometimes schadenfreude is hilarious

[Marc Chevalier]

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Case in point: the New York Times, like so many other big American newspapers, is sinking into trouble. Craigslist is chipping away at their advertising revenue. Their new headquarters building cost way too much. And so, the Times is begging us to buy their weekend editions, please (oh, please).


Maybe you've seen the TV ads: maybe you thought they were goofy. Well, the clever souls at 92YTribeca have unleashed their schadenfreude via a little parody ... and boy does it hurt so good: . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENu_...es/this-online-commercial-has-pau_050781.html


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[Paisley]

This reminds me of this blog entry (go to January 11):

http://foureyedgremlin.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html

 

[Lotta Little]

I beg to differ. I never think schadenfreude (delight in the sufferings of others) is "hilarious," and don't see how anyone can who's had troubles himself. Perhaps I have too many friends who work in journalism. (Correction: used to work in journalism...)

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I beg to differ. I never think schadenfreude (delight in the sufferings of others) is "hilarious," and don't see how anyone can who's had troubles himself. Perhaps I have too many friends who work in journalism. (Correction: used to work in journalism...)

The delight comes from seeing an annoying, ubiquitous NY Times commercial skewered. If ads could suffer, I'd be happy to see that ad squirm.


Did you watch the parody, Lotta? It really is apt.

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[Lotta Little]

I watched the parody. I love parodies, especially parodies with Paul Rudd in them. (If you know of any more he's done, please let me know.) But you could have framed it differently--more "Here's a hilarious spoof ad!" and a little less "Have fun on the unemployment line, suckers!" That's all, just my opinion.

 

[Diamondback]

Let's put it this way: I used to be a journalist myself, and I never pass up an opportunity to skewer my former occupation.

We won't even get into the details of how I regard the "Dinosaur Media" and why, other than that a lot of MSM have an "integrity gap" big enough that I could fly the Spruce Goose through blindfolded.

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Now playing: John Williams - The Well Of The Souls
via FoxyTunes

 

[dhermann1]

I certainly enjoy seeing Bernie Madoff being hounded by the reporters. Let him squirm
The point is, this is a huge event here, with infinite dimensions, some are sublime, some are ridiculous some are appalling, some are just really interesting.

 

[Diamondback]

Agreed, Dan--shish-kebabing Madoff-types is a legitimate public service, the kind of things the field is supposed to be doing. I'll grudgingly give them a little credit for that...

Trust me, journalism is like legislation and sausage--you like it more when you don't know how it's made.

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Now playing: John Williams - The Miracle Of The Ark
via FoxyTunes

 

[Undertow]

Let's put it this way: I used to be a journalist myself, and I never pass up an opportunity to skewer my former occupation.

:eusa_clap

You and I share this boat with so many others, sir!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I watched the parody. I love parodies, especially parodies with Paul Rudd in them. (If you know of any more he's done, please let me know.) But you could have framed it differently--more "Here's a hilarious spoof ad!" and a little less "Have fun on the unemployment line, suckers!" That's all, just my opinion.

You're absolutely right: I should have framed it differently. I've used the term "schadenfreude" inaccurately here. The parody skewers a commercial, not the lives and livelihoods of NY Times employees. By saying "schadenfreude", I incorrectly implied that the the fun comes from skewering those employees' misfortunes.

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[Fletch]

I'm a pirate! Shiver me timbers.

I dunno if I hate the Times ad (the real one) more because they're such hopeless yuppies, or because they actually do remind me of real New York types who are hopeless yuppies.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Bring back the Herald-Tribune, the New York paper that *should* have survived.

 

[Fletch]

You mean the paper for the New York that should have survived.

1975, the year of Drop Dead, was Year Zero for NY as it is today. The soul of the place changed. It will always be Taxi Driver, no matter how spruced and commercial it gets.

 

[katiemakeup]

I watched the parody. I love parodies, especially parodies with Paul Rudd in them.

fftopic: fftopic: I love him too! Did you ever catch him on 'Strangers With Candy'?

 

[katiemakeup]

Very funny Marc! Points for Michael Ian Black!!

 

[DeaconKC]

While I am sorry for those working there, the plight the NY Times is in strikes me as poetic justice, due to their arrogance towards the rest of the country. Their superiority complex seems to be suffering a decompression.

 

[Feraud]

While I am sorry for those working there, the plight the NY Times is in strikes me as poetic justice, due to their arrogance towards the rest of the country. Their superiority complex seems to be suffering a decompression.

What arrogance was expressed towards the rest of the country?

 

[dhermann1]

Well, you know, they don't call her the Grey Lady for nothing.
Personally, for all its faults, I'd hate to think of New York without the Times. You'll still see more useful information, and depth of coverage, than in any other paper in the country. And its alleged liberal bias, while there, is greatly exaggerated. (Oops. Did I just stray over the line? Sorry.)
I do think that sometimes the Times does reflect the natural parochiality of New York vis a vis the rest of the country. But there's no place in the world that doesn't suffer from its own little version of local bias. Can't escape from it.

 

[Fletch]

While I am sorry for those working there, the plight the NY Times is in strikes me as poetic justice, due to their arrogance towards the rest of the country. Their superiority complex seems to be suffering a decompression.

What arrogance was expressed towards the rest of the country?

If you ask some folks, their continuing to put out a daily paper is arrogance enough.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the undersigned...excuse me, the leftsigned.

 

[Feraud]

If you ask some folks, their continuing to put out a daily paper is arrogance enough.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the undersigned...excuse me, the leftsigned.

Those city slickers and their fancy paper goods..