There’s an absolutely wonderful thread on MeFi right now. It started with a link to Greasy Kid Stuff, a wonderful little trip back to the playground, and all the rules that kids live by…
Nyah nyah nyah nyaaahh nyaaahh. Few grade-school kids could successfully define the word “schadenfreude” if asked, but you had better believe they know what it means. Furthermore, they have even less interest in disguising their glee at another’s misfortune than most grown-ups (viz. Nelson’s gratified “HA ha” on The Simpsons). Taunting another kid she knows she can outrun, cackling as another kid gets in trouble — nothing pleases the average child more. If you listen carefully, you can hear adults chanting “nyah nyah nyah nyaaahh nyaaahh” when other adults who just cut them off get pulled over by a cop.
The ensuing discussion is filled with all sorts of further childhood fun, games, and other dangerous activities. Everything from looping the swingset to taunt trivia to other fun variations of ‘tag’, and lots, lots more.
Things like this are why I still love the ‘net.