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Old October 8th, 2010 #10
Alex Linder
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[in all my years of studying german, never came across this one: Fremdschämen - stranger-embarrassment - feeling embarrassed for/by the actions of others. i suppose feeling the embarrassment they should but don't feel because of their gross obliviousness.

pops up on jew-feminist-slutsite jezebel, in discussion of halloweenization of oktoberfest Tracht-wear

http://jezebel.com/5652502/germans-o...erfest-outfits

so two good words with no real english equivalent:

Schadenfreude - very slightly guilt-tinged pleasure in the misfortunes of others

and

Fremdschämen - feeling for others the embarrassment they should but dont feel for their dress, behavior, etc

[Also interesting, if you read the article, is that the dirdl or tracht is apparently on the order of the men's skirts in Scotland - made up by somebody 100 years ago, not truly traditional.]

Last edited by Alex Linder; October 8th, 2010 at 07:42 PM.