California schadenfreude is the dislike of the state and a hope for bad things to happen to it, often due to resentment towards its perceived ideal culture. This feeling can be directed towards natural disasters or the divide between Northern and Southern California. It is rarely a serious wish and stems from mild dissatisfaction with one’s own position.
California schadenfreude is the dislike of the state and the hope that bad things will happen to it. Thanks to frequent portrayals as a land of sun, surf, and money, some people have considerable resentment toward the Golden State. Even some California residents express a semi-serious wish for bad things to happen on the opposite end of the state.
Schadenfreude is a German philosophical concept which means to take pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. Usually, this doesn’t come from a desire to cause or see harm, but rather as an equalizer for those who are considered better than the average person. Delighting in car accidents or celebrity wardrobe malfunctions is a common form of schadenfreude. California schadenfreude is a silent or vocal enjoyment of the harm or disaster befalling the state of California.
The world knows that California is filled with great weather and a great deal of leisure time. It is inevitable that California is a beautiful place. The large state possesses a range of environments, from the sunny coasts of the southern part of the state to the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Additionally, the state’s metropolitan centers lead to a seemingly thriving economy.
Yet for all of California’s natural and cultural splendor, it has introduced some concepts to the world that many would rather forget. Surfer speak and Valley girl slang are two easy examples of the vapid and resentful reputation California has garnered. Plus, hearing about the killer waves and great tan at Venice Beach while you’re buried in a Montana snowstorm can certainly generate irritation.
California schadenfreude is often about feelings about natural disasters. California’s dry climate and fault lines make it particularly susceptible to wildfires and earthquakes. When wildfires destroy celebrity homes in affluent areas like Malibu, as they did in 2007, people who experience schadenfreude in California are less likely to feel sympathy for wealthy movie stars who have lost their homes and perhaps feel that justice is done.
Within the same state, California schadenfreude tackles a decidedly homey issue. Despite being a large state, California is often thought of as two distinct cultures, Northern and Southern. Northern California is characterized by a more liberal political agenda, a long history of hippy culture, and a general connection to nature and the environment. Primarily due to the megacity of Los Angeles, Southern California is usually defined by an emphasis on technology and looks and its association with Hollywood and media manufacturing. Occasionally, these fundamental differences lead to petty wishes of harm to the other side of the state.
It should be noted that California schadenfreude is rarely a serious wish. Very few people seem to make wishes for destruction in this west coast state. The feeling appears to be more than just an urge toward restraint. California appears to be an unusually blessed state, in terms of wealth, entertainment, and natural beauty. People who are dissatisfied with their position can understandably feel mild resentment of a culture that seems ideal. But even those who dislike the state seem unsure of the origins of Californian schadenfreude. In an anti-Golden State song, singer Jonathan Coulton simply announces, “I hate California, there’s something out there I don’t understand.”
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