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I know enough German for the idea of Jewish people talking about Mensch vs. Unmensch to make me feel uncomfortable; probably because while I do understand the l
by c1sc0 16y ago
I know enough German for the idea of Jewish people talking about Mensch vs. Unmensch to make me feel uncomfortable; probably because while I do understand the language, I still lack the cultural references. Anyone care to enlighten me? I read the wikipedia entry, but that somehow isn't enough. I'd love to hear from people using this word in everyday life.
- michael_dorfman 16y agoUncomfortable, how? I'm not a German speaker, but my idiolect contains a fair amount of Yiddish, and "mensch" is a word I use often enough. As much as I am surprised to say it, the Wikipedia article is actually pretty good. Here's an example from real life, of someone calling Roger Federer a mensch: http://www.sporttaco.com/rec.sport.tennis/Federer_still_one_to_beat_3895.html http://www.sporttaco.com/rec.sport.tennis/Federer_still_one_... Here's a reference to Tom Valenti as a mensch: http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/09/tom-valenti-is-a-mensch-standup-guy.html http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/09/tom-valenti-is-a-mensch-s... And here's one about Bill Murray: http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1204-DEC_MURRAY_rev_ http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1204-DEC_MURRAY_rev_ This latter one is instructive, as it contrasts Bill Murray with Mickey Rourke, who the author refers to as a douchebag. And, perhaps this is as good a way as any to understand the usage of "mensch": consider it the antonym to douchebag. You know how there are some people that make you almost instinctively say to yourself, "Man, he's a real douche!"? On the flip side, there are people of whom you'll say "What a mensch!" Does that help? EDIT: fixed language