Gladiators, Biggest Loser and that poor friend of ours

"To gain happiness from the misfortune of others". Guilty as we all are of schadenfreude at one point in our lives or the other, we refuse to accept the reality of our own natures.
Ancient Romans are often loathed at their uncivilized means of entertainment whereupon wild beasts were set free on defenseless human beings. However a closer look at our modern life style reveals the same principle at play only at what now passes as "civilized".
TV shows like The Biggest Loser, Survivor, South Park and might I add Funniest Home Videos are some examples off the top of my head.
Lets step away from looking at schadenfreude from an entertainment perspective. Let us look closely at are basic human need to be financially superior to our friends. Owning a bigger and better car for example is not merely for one's own financial security and peace of mind but rather to see the look on the face of one who is less fortunate. This in my opinion is a more humble version of schadenfreude. Envy and jealousy work in one direction, schadenfreude in the other.