Thursday, October 25, 2007

Condoschmerz

I am hereby coining a new word: Condoschmerz. Literally "condo pain" or "condo weariness." Inspired by the German Weltschmerz. Describes the psychological pain and existential hopelessness experienced when one's city is overcome by rapid, ubiquitous, luxury condo development. Often accompanied by disorientation due to a suddenly changing, once-familiar landscape. Before depression sets in, can initially lead to a sense of powerless rage which may inspire those suffering from Condoschmerz to perform acts of vandalism.

Which leads me to this latest find. Clearly, a Chelsea neighbor suffering from Condoschmerz has become tired of the pain caused by the condo at 18th and 8th. They have used some kind of massively sticky goo (perhaps egg yolk?) to paste these notes to the front doors:



The barriers have been up for some time, originally erected to keep the nearby high-school kids from congregating. The tactic has failed. The kids still congregate and the barriers have become a haven for junkies on the nod, drunk homeless guys, and weary dogwalkers looking for a place to rest. The condo continues to use the sidewalk as its personal garbage dump.



Another prime example of the manifestation of Condoschmerz is the current rash of anti-condo graffiti in Williamsburg. At some point, however, these protesters will give up. Once Condoschmerz reaches a certain critical level for an individual, the existential dread felt by its sufferer leads only to inaction, malaise, and a crippling sense of alienation.

4 comments:

  1. Condoschmerz--any relation to Fred and Ethel Mertz (landlords, if you remember)?

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  2. " the barriers have become a haven for junkies on the nod, drunk homeless guys, and weary dogwalkers looking for a place to rest."

    Wait, isn't this a good thing? I thought you missed the good old days when the city had a surplus of junkies on the nod and drunk homeless guys around every corner.

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  3. sure, i get a big kick out of seeing these folks enjoy their new haven. it briefly relieves my condoschmerz. i don't, however, enjoy the condo further expanding its boundaries into public space by dumping its condo-crap on the sidewalk.

    the drunks and junkies have taken these lemons and made lemonade. what's not good about that?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats on your piece in today's New York Times!

    ReplyDelete

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