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2025

How I SSH’d Into a Robot Vacuum to Solve a VPN Nightmare (No, Seriously)

Anime illustration of a tech-savvy person SSHing into a Roomba to troubleshoot a VPN issue during remote work.
In this whimsical anime-style illustration, our hero tackles a quirky tech challenge—SSHing into a Roomba to resolve a VPN issue during the remote work era. Join me as I share this amusing story from the pandemic!

If you think tech support is all about resetting passwords and asking if you’ve tried turning it off and on again, buckle up. Today’s adventure involves a home office, a robot vacuum cleaner, and a VPN issue so weird it’ll make you double-check your own network at home.

Picture this: It’s the early days of Covid remote work, and you’re troubleshooting yet another VPN that refuses to stay connected. But what you find lurking on the network isn’t malware or a rogue laptop—it’s a robotic vacuum cleaner, quietly messing with your client’s connectivity. Welcome to the world where IT meets Roomba… or, more accurately, its slightly less famous cousin.

When Auntie Steals Your Sauce: The Petty Revenge That Left Her Thirsty

Anime-style illustration of a sauce bottle and a surprised character in a kitchen setting.
In this vibrant anime scene, our protagonist discovers their beloved sauce bottle is nearly empty, sparking a culinary dilemma! What will happen next in this flavorful tale?

If you’ve ever had a favorite snack, drink, or secret condiment stash mysteriously vanish from the kitchen, you know the pain. But what happens when the culprit is family—and you’ve already laid down the law? Enter Redditor u/Top-Put-4839, whose love for their “holy ambrosia” (a.k.a. Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce) was put to the test by one thirsty aunt with a heavy hand and a light ear for boundaries.

When a quarter of their Costco-sized bottle vanished overnight, our sauce-loving hero didn’t just stew in their own (delicious) juices—they cooked up a plot worthy of the r/PettyRevenge Hall of Fame. Let’s dive into what happens when food theft meets family and pettiness reigns supreme.

How 'Null Encryption' Crashed an MLM Empire: Malicious Compliance at Its Finest

Cartoon image illustrating IT management challenges at a multi-level marketing company in 2001.
This vibrant 3D cartoon captures the chaotic and challenging world of IT management at a multi-level marketing company in 2001, where I faced unexpected obstacles and learned tough lessons.

What happens when a shady multi-level marketing company demands a quick-fix for credit card encryption—and their IT manager delivers exactly what they asked for, word for word? You get one of the most epic tales of malicious compliance on Reddit, featuring midnight database jobs, 5am screaming bosses, and the IT equivalent of vaporizing the company’s money printer.

Buckle up as we explore how “null encryption” didn’t just secure customer data, it secured the fate of the entire business in the most poetic tech revenge ever.

How Beating Spotify Support at Their Own Game Got Me a Refund (And Can Help You Too)

Cartoon-3D depiction of a frustrated user chatting with Spotify support about a refund issue.
In this vibrant cartoon-3D illustration, our protagonist navigates the tricky waters of Spotify's refund policy, eagerly seeking help from support. Join the journey of persistence and determination as they tackle the challenges of getting their money back!

We all know the feeling: You get that dreaded renewal email—“Your Spotify Premium subscription has been renewed!”—and your heart sinks. You meant to cancel, you really did, but life got in the way, and now you’re out another month’s fee for music you probably could stream for free (with just a few more ads and a lot less dignity). But what if I told you that, with a little persistence and legal savvy, you could get that money back—even if Spotify support says no?

That’s exactly what happened to Reddit user u/Greenz051, who recently shared a tale of malicious compliance, legal loopholes, and sweet, sweet refund victory. If you’ve ever felt steamrolled by a faceless customer service script, read on: this one’s for you.

The Great Repo Standoff: When a Hotel Guest’s Car Became the Star of the Night

Anime scene of a tow truck repossessing a guest's vehicle outside a small hotel at night.
In this captivating anime illustration, a tow truck approaches a guest's vehicle parked at a quaint hotel, setting the stage for an unexpected evening drama. What happens next?

If you think working at a hotel front desk is all about folding towels and checking IDs, think again. Sometimes, the drama in the parking lot rivals anything you’ll see on late-night TV. One Redditor from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk recently shared a jaw-dropping story involving a repossession gone sideways, a police response worthy of a blockbuster, and a guest who wasn’t about to give up their wheels without a fight.

Picture this: The lobby is quiet, the coffee pot is still half full, and the only excitement is the gentle hum of the vending machine. Suddenly, the night takes a sharp turn into “Are you kidding me?” territory.

When Swiss Labor Laws Sink the S.S. Micromanager: A Malicious Compliance Tale

Cartoon 3D illustration of a diverse team discussing working hours and contracts in an office setting.
In this vibrant cartoon-3D scene, a diverse team gathers to discuss the implications of their working hours as they navigate new management changes. This engaging visual reflects the challenges and dynamics faced by teams spread across Switzerland, Spain, and Mexico.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a boss drop a “brilliant” new policy without actually checking if it’s legal. Now imagine you’re part of an international IT team, happily enjoying flexible hours in Switzerland, when a new manager from Germany decides to “fix” your work schedule for “better team alignment.” What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, quite a lot—especially when Swiss labor law is involved and your team is armed with the ultimate weapon: malicious compliance.

This is the story of how a well-meaning (but ill-informed) attempt at micromanagement collided with the hard granite of Swiss labor statutes, and how a group of engineers managed to turn the tables—with a little help from their contracts, a dash of legal savvy, and some creative calendar blocking.

Concert Chaos: Tales of Tow Trucks, Scooters, and Unforgettable Hotel Lobby Mayhem

Anime illustration of a chaotic concert scene with a crowd of 50,000 outside a stadium near a hotel.
An energetic anime depiction of concert chaos, capturing the vibrant atmosphere as thousands of fans flood the streets after an unforgettable show. This lively scene perfectly illustrates the excitement and hustle around the stadium beside my hotel!

If you think hotel front desk work is all neat uniforms and polite smiles, think again. Sometimes, it’s more like being the ringmaster in a circus you never auditioned for. Take, for instance, the epic saga recounted by Reddit user u/TheNiteOwl38: a night when 50,000 concertgoers descended on their hotel’s territory, bringing with them a tidal wave of mischief, mayhem, and memories no employee handbook could ever prepare you for.

Picture this: the stadium next door just emptied out, the bars are bursting at the seams, and you, brave night auditor, are watching the madness unfold from behind your trusty front desk. Grab your popcorn — things are about to get wild.

When Neighborly Grudges Landscape Your Life: A Petty Revenge Backyard Saga

Cartoon-style illustration of a house with an elaborate backyard landscape and water features, depicting neighbor tensions.
This vibrant cartoon-3D illustration captures the essence of my backyard's extravagant landscaping and the neighbor's discontent, setting the stage for the challenges that came with owning a home in a divided community.

Buying a new home is a little like adopting a mysterious pet: you know the basics, but you never truly know what quirks (or baggage) you’re inheriting until it’s too late. For Reddit user u/TotallyDissedHomie, the surprise wasn’t just in the home’s extravagant backyard—imagine a Vegas-worthy water feature, complete with a 50-foot stream and a bonus pond—but in the drama burbling just over the fence lines.

In an unexpected twist, the real beast lurking behind the hedges wasn’t the giant koi but the neighbors themselves, still simmering with resentment from feuds past. And what started as a simple landscaping plan soon blossomed into an epic tale of petty revenge, neighborly pettiness, and the ultimate test of patience (plus a dash of garden schadenfreude).

Sweet Revenge: How One Ex-Employee Turned Their Supervisor’s Phone Into a Spam Magnet

Cartoon 3D illustration of a person handing out a phone number, showcasing mischief and humor.
This vibrant cartoon-3D image captures the playful spirit of sharing phone numbers with a twist! Dive into my quirky experiences with an old supervisor and discover how this unconventional habit came to be.

If you’ve ever had a boss who seemed determined to make your work life a living nightmare, you might have fantasized about a little payback. Maybe you imagined a dramatic confrontation or a moment where karma finally caught up with them. But one Redditor took things to a whole new (and hilarious) level—by transforming their ex-supervisor’s phone number into a beacon for every spam call, religious group, and charity solicitation in the digital universe.

Let’s just say: don’t cross your employees, or you might find your cell buzzing with unwanted “blessings” from every corner of the globe.

Police, Patient Data, and the Locked-Out Laptop: A Real-Life IT Drama Unfolds

Anime-style illustration of a Service Desk team handling medical audit log requests efficiently.
Dive into the world of a Service Desk for a medical company with this vibrant anime illustration, capturing the dynamic atmosphere as the team tackles an interesting audit log check request that sets the tone for their day.

When you work in IT support for a company handling sensitive medical data, you expect the occasional password reset or printer meltdown. What you don’t expect is to start your Monday morning with a request for audit logs, a surprise visit from the police, and a front-row seat to an accidental Law & Order episode. Yet, that’s exactly what happened to u/KorenSolust, whose story on r/TalesFromTechSupport had techies everywhere clutching their coffee mugs with a mix of horror and delight.

It all began like any other shift: a request from a manager to lock out an employee and pull their access logs. But what unfolded next was a masterclass in digital sleuthing, office drama, and the power of layered security. Let’s dive in.