The sin of Schadenfreude
18 Feb 2013
MARK KEOHANE, in Business Day Newspaper, writes South African rugby should be about hope and not hatred.
In Canberra a South African rugby celebration continues to grow in excess. In Port Elizabeth this Saturday a celebration unrivalled in the unified history of South African rugby should also be about excess.
But individual and team triumph will be torture to a resentful audience. The freedom fighters are apparently the terrorists and Schadenfreude will be the champagne of choice when the Southern Kings play the Western Force in their Super Rugby debut.
The majority of South African rugby supporters have expressed their hatred for the Kings. Hate is the word that has constantly been emphasized, with bloggers delighting in supporting anyone who will be playing against the Kings. There is so much hatred, in especially the perceived failure of Luke Watson, who will captain the Kings this season.
It is a hatred so many white South Africans in the rugby community felt – and feel – towards former SA under 21 captain Clyde Rathbone when he moved to Australia and played for the Wallabies.
This hatred was extended to 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White when he left South Africa last year to coach the Brumbies.
Watson’s crime was to criticize Afrikaners in 2007 and to say they controlled South African rugby. The blasphemy was to say he never grew up in a household that celebrated the Springbok jersey, and it was seen as a symbol of oppression. He told a group in informal discussion he loved the idea of playing for his country, but the Springbok jersey, in its traditional guise, was something he could vomit on given the historical association it held from his up bringing.
He was subsequently trialed, condemned, convicted and sentenced within sectors of South African media and society, as the sinner without a soul.
These same individuals also prayed to God for their own redemption for being vulnerable to daily mistakes in life choices. These same people are oblivious to the contradiction and hypocrisy.
Watson has publicly apologized to Afrikaners for his words. He has said he would have articulated his thoughts differently had he been more mature. He has said he wants to be a part of all that is good about rugby and South Africa. He said he was used as a political pawn and his move to England, where he captained Bath for two seasons, made him realize just how much he was used by politicians and how he allowed himself to be used.
He has said that in hindsight he would have done so many things differently. He has said sorry.
Watson has spoken of the privilege and responsibility to live in South Africa and to be leading the pioneers of Kings rugby.
The young Watson, schooled to oppose the Springbok jersey, is very different to the Watson of today who makes his own choices and wants to make a contribution to the life South African rugby and South African society as it is, and not to helping end what once was.
Apparently youngsters can’t make mistakes, can’t admit to them and can’t expect any forgiveness if they happen to be Luke Watson. They can only expect continued hatred from those whose joy is defined by another’s perceived failure.
In a unified South African rugby community, the division has never been stronger. How sad for those unwilling to forgive and incapable of celebrating change, be it in a view or in an action.
How sad for our rugby that so many have voiced their pleasure at the prospect of foreign team stuffing up the Kings. What betrayal to a young group of South African rugby players.
Port Elizabeth, this weekend is the greatest story in South African rugby’s youthful unity, but when the parents (SARU) can’t celebrate the first steps of the child they bought into this world, it can’t be expected of the haters not to indulge in Schadenfreude.
Clyde Rathbone’s comeback from injury, depression and a dark place in his life is a celebration, as is White’s wonderful influence as coach of the Brumbies.
They are South Africans, as is Watson and the Kings, but those unaffected by their respective choices, triumphs and mistakes, detest them for these choices, triumphs and mistakes.
Euphoria for so many within South African rugby is proportionate to the relative failure of others.
It is as if they can only be successful if another fails.
Resentment ravages redemption and Schadenfreude is the stimulant when it is the sin in our rugby – and society.
905 Comments
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18 Feb 2013, 22:46 pm
@skopdiekan-746: These are just symptoms Skop. The cause has been there all along……but in the world of fairytales and adoration for those who happen to run fast, it’s easier to ignore said cause. (A personality disorder to start off with)
18 Feb 2013, 22:46 pm
@stormersboy-742: getting too low? hahaha funny, many of your countryman made some pretty crass jokes about Oscar just after initial news broke, but that was okay?
and look at RL, calling people “Monekey” yet nary a whisper on that?
another hypocrite I see, if I had done either of those things an army of “keorights” would have beset me from all sides..
18 Feb 2013, 22:51 pm
Women don’t care who they go out with nowadays.with all these money going around in high profile sports they love the attention and to be seen with these sports stars. They don’t care about inner quality or substance anymore.Look at Hougaardt .He is nothing but a mullet ,midget boy ,but his fame and money attracts beautiful women.Hell,ffs,look at Peter Crouch,ugly as hell.!he bedded a prosti ,but his partner decided to stay with him .
18 Feb 2013, 22:52 pm
Skop.
Poppa.
Ruck.
Transie.
Capo.
All together in one room.
Yuk.
No thanks.
18 Feb 2013, 22:54 pm
@ShaunB-754: another animal that returned?
18 Feb 2013, 22:54 pm
@ShaunB-754: dont let the door hit you on the way out, we may not be able to get your stink off of it
18 Feb 2013, 22:57 pm
‘Blade Runner’ in love
ruckus – report
21-NOV-2012 | SAPA | 29 COMMENTS
Oscar Pistorius reportedly threatened to
break Marc Batchelor’s legs, and
Batchelor made threats in return.
Olympian and double amputee Oscar
Pistorius has not opened a case of
intimidation or defamation, the Hawks said
on Wednesday.
“Pistorius hasn’t opened a case with us [the
Hawks],” spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko
said.
However, he said: “I can confirm that he
has had some challenges and that he came
to the Johannesburg organised crime unit
on Wednesday and we managed to resolve
the situation”.
Ramaloko was responding to a report in
The Star newspaper on Wednesday that a
case of defamation was opened against
Pistorius after he opened a case of
intimidation against former soccer player
Marc Batchelor.
The newspaper reported that when
Pistorius returned from the London Olympic
games in September he found out his
girlfriend had cheated on him with
Batchelor’s friend, coal mining millionaire
and TV producer Quinton van der Burgh.
He confronted Van der Burgh and swore at
him, an unnamed source told the
newspaper.
Batchelor found out about the
confrontation and came to Van der Burgh’s
defence.
Pistorius and Batchelor then exchanged
threatening SMSes.
Pistorius reportedly threatened to break
Batchelor’s legs, and Batchelor made
threats in return.
Both parties laid charges.
However Ramaloko said the Hawks were not
investigating a case against the athlete or
the other two men.
“We are not investigating any case, or
anyone.”
Batchelor denied making threats while
Pistorius declined to comment, The Star
reported.
18 Feb 2013, 22:58 pm
@skopdiekan-746: Jissee….your post brought a tear to my eye. (Not my brown eye skop – dont get excited)
18 Feb 2013, 22:59 pm
So the Stormers team has been announced.
With 7 mercenaries in the starting team alone!
Taute
Jantjes
Habana
Vermeulen
Kolisi
Cilliers
Fourie
Skop must be cursing his own team.
18 Feb 2013, 23:01 pm
Oscar should have moered all these okes trying to bang his chick.
18 Feb 2013, 23:02 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-553:
Bakkies.
Please show us every game where we have won and tell us where we cheated?
If you are saying offsides, forward passes and tackling without the ball……ALL TEAMS DO THIS. Fact is if the Boks or any team were not penalised then you could say either the ref was rubbish and picked nothing up or the Boks didnt cheat at all, cos lets face it a penalty is due to cheating or playing against the rules. You show us where the Kiwis do it and we will show you where the boks do the same thing. What you are showing is sour grapes and no class what so ever.
Whenever we win you say we have cheated yet the time we bought up all the cheating the boks got away with in a game you went silent. Really odd.
18 Feb 2013, 23:03 pm
@Transformation-757:
1. How do you fire a shot at someone, hit them in the hip then follow them to the bathroom where they lock themselves inside and fire another 3 shots through the door – and throughout this whole process, there are no screams, sounds, movements etc. to make you aware that the person you are shooting is your girlfriend ?
2. Serious question: Does Oscar sleep with this legs on ? The bed was in a condition which shows that they may have been asleep. So did he first sit and put on his legs ? This could explain the time before the shot through the hip in the bedroom (he could have fired from the bed) and him getting to the bathroom but again – all through this he didn’t realise Reeva was not beside him – she didn’t scream out to him that he shot her ?
There are too many unanswered questions. We should let Oscar have a fair trial but I am afraid from what I have heard, I think he is in big trouble. It just does not add up in his favor.
18 Feb 2013, 23:04 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-645:
You guys threw the first bottle if you remember….loser
18 Feb 2013, 23:05 pm
@S_K-753: ” .Hell,ffs,look at Peter Crouch,ugly as
hell.!he bedded a prosti ,but his partner
decided to stay with him .”
wayne rooney, john terry, ashley cole, kobe bryant, luis ronaldo etc
way too many of these cats lose the plot…could be the environment…
who is the “rogue” tennis player?
18 Feb 2013, 23:05 pm
@S_K-753:
Peter Crouch’s “virgin” quote says it all- it is also is one of the funniest in sport .
Reporter: ” What would you be if you weren’t a footballer?”
Crouch: “A virgin”,
Classic.
18 Feb 2013, 23:06 pm
Hurri
don’t worry about Bakkies, the truth has come full circle
Hakuna matata type of thing
18 Feb 2013, 23:07 pm
@Robzim-765:
18 Feb 2013, 23:08 pm
@S_K-760: dude Batch is mal too so that wouldn’t have been easy
18 Feb 2013, 23:08 pm
@ShaunB-759: Sorry but you are wrong. 10 of their starting 15 are mercenaries.
Taute – GP
Habana – GP
Jantjes – GP
Groom – EP
Vermuelen – MP
Elstadt – GP
Kolisi – EP
De Kok Steenkamp – NC
Pat Cilliers – KZN
Deon Fourie – GP
18 Feb 2013, 23:09 pm
@Robzim-765: hehehehe. farkin classic.
18 Feb 2013, 23:10 pm
Believe it or not, but I agree with Skop on this one.
Immature snotkoppies who get Audi’s R8 , millions in sponsorship and are placed on pedestals by adoring fans.
No life skills to teach them how to handle the money and fame.
They can say what they want about our generation, but respect and discipline was moered into us at school.
18 Feb 2013, 23:11 pm
I think it’s high time we name the Sharkishits running onto the field this weekend
Ludick Lions
JPP WP
Jordaan EP
F. Steyn EP/FS
Mvovo EP
Lambie KZN
Reinach FS
Mtembu EP
Deysel Lions
Coetsee KZN
Bressler Namibia
P s Du Toit WP
Du Plessis FS
Cooper GP
Beast
18 Feb 2013, 23:13 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-674:
And there it is…. Bakkies hated the Crusaders more but until the Bulls started beating them he now has decided that they are ok now…. this is all the proof we needed.
2 years ago Chiefs were not even mentioned as a hated team by Bakkies….last year he accused them of cheating. Does anyone see the proof thats lying in front of you all. Bakkies is an idiot. Like teams that lose to his team but calls any team that beats his as cheats….childish at best
18 Feb 2013, 23:15 pm
so where does skopishit draw the mercenary line? Is 7 enough? Is 10 enough?
Seems it is a hypocritical line, wherever it is drawn, wonder why skopishit makes such a big hypocritical meal of it?
18 Feb 2013, 23:15 pm
@the curse-766:
He is an idiot and i dont understand how most of these guys let him go on his little mindless ideas that rugby winners are cheats….. sick of him
18 Feb 2013, 23:15 pm
@nortierd-771: Do you think this has to do with respect and discipline or a society that is completely desensitized by the tolerance of crime right into the highest office in the country ?
When Rudy Guiliani brought the crime rate down in New York, he started with the guys that pee’d in the street, chained their bicycles to the indigenous trees or littered.
When big things happen like a murder it emerges from the roots. Fact is, South Africans live in contempt of the law. From a base, law is generally disregarded in South African society. Think about it.
18 Feb 2013, 23:16 pm
@Transformation-757:
> when Pistorius returned from the London Olympic games in September he found out his girlfriend had cheated on him with Batchelor’s friend
Which girlfriend?
The one he shot?
18 Feb 2013, 23:17 pm
Bench
? Burden ? Marais Botes McLeod Bosman Viljoen
So that 2 Italians in the starting 15 and perhaps 1 or 2 on bench
3 or 4 soutpielle in the entire squad of 23
And these Sharkishits reckon they in a position to trade insults about money marauding mercenary trading
18 Feb 2013, 23:18 pm
@Hurricane-773: lol, why even bother Hurri?
but there is one team he dislikes more, the Stormers. Bulls fans jump ship like drowning rats to join the Sharks when their own team is out, come to think of it, ex Lion supporters too.
That notwithstanding the fact that the Sharks probably beat them as well.
18 Feb 2013, 23:18 pm
@skopdiekan-772: Hmmmm…..13……not that many more than 10 is it ?
So how do you think the Stormermoffie mercenary maniacal money munching man mistresses are going to do this weekend with their 10 imports ?
18 Feb 2013, 23:18 pm
@nortierd-771:
Stem saam maar nie al die jong outjies gaan so oorboord soos Hougie nie
Kyk maar vir Eben en Frans Steyn, roem het ook gekom terwyl hulle jonk is en hulle het nie so tekere gegaan nie
18 Feb 2013, 23:19 pm
@Dusky-780:
Moenie so rym nie dit klink soos hy
18 Feb 2013, 23:20 pm
@Hurricane-775: you have to understand, bakkies is SA, so it doesnt matter what is said by any SA on a “SA website”..as whatever tells us, when its said about SA’s it concerns him, so he will fire salvos and call us all sorts of names, when its said about kiwis ihe doesnt care because it doesnt effect him, and so we arent allowed to return said salvos, yet he thinks we should all tow the line being on an SA website? its this type of “logic” that I find laughable, one rule for them, one for us, you know this mate..
like I mentioned earlier, many made jokes about Pistorius soon after news of the tragedy broke..
can you imagine if I had made jokes? fark me…
there are those on here who see through him, and they are growing by the day…
18 Feb 2013, 23:20 pm
@skopdiekan-778: Jacques Fourie, Schalk Brits, Ricky Januarie, Anton Van Zyl, Conrad Jantjes, AJ Venter, Gcobani Bobo…….heck you self servicing side shows like your mercenaries as well.
18 Feb 2013, 23:21 pm
@victoriabok-782: Ek weet….is dit nie f@kken kotslik nie ?
18 Feb 2013, 23:24 pm
That pistorius fella not right in the pip IMO – check the wobbly he gooid at spas-Olympics – some of these beauties sure got no taste with some of the frogs they smooch.
18 Feb 2013, 23:24 pm
@Dusky-776:
> Fact is, South Africans live in contempt of the law. From a base, law is generally disregarded in South African society. Think about it.
Yes, when I first got here these guys following the rules ana.lly irritated the bitter pi.ss out of me
With their recycling, and doing things before cutoff dates and actually sticking to the (very low) speed limit
But that’s why it works
18 Feb 2013, 23:24 pm
@Dusky-776:
I agree, Rudi’s Broken Windows principle worked, but it won’t work here.
being a cop in SA today is totally different to the years when discipline was our cornerstone.
18 Feb 2013, 23:25 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-590:
But Bakkies you know your analysis will only be credible if you have two columns of indiscretions and targeting.
You must point out the indiscretions and sanction/no sanction of the opposing team as well.
Then compare
18 Feb 2013, 23:25 pm
@the curse-783: Ive realised that a lot of SA’s dont understand sarcasm, and of course EVERYTHING I post is said to antagonise and is said with rewtributive fervor
I would never say anything “tongue in cheek” would I?
lol thats why I keep coming back, its hysterical how not all but so many attack me with righteous endeavour, yet remain equally silent when their own do it?
wtf?
18 Feb 2013, 23:26 pm
@cab-786:
No they don’t care, these Poppies are after fame and money, if not a legless famous guy they’ll marry an old Toppie with bucks
They all pomp around when hubby’s away, usually the gym instructor
18 Feb 2013, 23:26 pm
Pistollius….
18 Feb 2013, 23:28 pm
@the curse-790:
> I would never say anything “tongue in cheek” would I?
No, usually your tongue is placed between his cheeks
18 Feb 2013, 23:28 pm
Now these runaway chickenshits want to blame Ghent government because Oscar Pistorious parents didn’t give him the necessary life skills to deal with his rampant psychological disorders.
Reeva Steenkamp was killed by a set of circumstances within a sector of society way out on a limb outside of rational reality chasing delusional dreams of testosterone filled egotist mania within the high roller privilege set of money and fame fed mayhem. And some runaway bigots want to lay the blame at some blanket scapegoat doorway.
18 Feb 2013, 23:28 pm
@victoriabok-781:
True, not all of them.
Pedigree mentioned that they are like a group, which is true.
Hougaard looks like a tappet, and it shows in his behavior.
Too big for his boots, but not just his fault.
18 Feb 2013, 23:29 pm
@Dusky-785:
Ja ****** Luke-lik
18 Feb 2013, 23:30 pm
@victoriabok-793: the voice of experience huh?
is that why you call yourself victoria?
18 Feb 2013, 23:31 pm
@victoriabok-796:
18 Feb 2013, 23:31 pm
@the curse-797:
He has secrets, hence the name
18 Feb 2013, 23:32 pm
@victoriabok-777: no not this one, another poppie…
he met Reeva on the day of the Sports Awards late last year after dumping the one that cheated on him.
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