How Getting Yelled at for Compost Sparked the Ultimate Petty Revenge—Exposing a Family Creep
We all have them: those family members who make living together a circus of awkwardness, passive-aggression, and the occasional epic showdown. But what happens when the relative who chooses to scold you about banana peels is also the one you least want to hear from? For Redditor u/DragonPhart, it led to one of the most cathartic moments of petty revenge we’ve seen this year—a takedown so satisfying, you’ll want to grab popcorn and take notes.
The story, posted to r/PettyRevenge, kicks off with a seemingly innocent kitchen encounter over—wait for it—the compost bin. But beneath the surface, there’s a decade’s worth of unresolved tension, boundary-pushing, and general creepiness that’s about to boil over in the most public and glorious way possible.
A Compost Bin, a Creep, and a Confrontation for the Ages
Let’s set the scene: Our hero, a 21-year-old woman, lives with her mom and stepdad at her stepdad’s parents’ house—a multi-generational setup that sounds cozy only until you meet Lee, the step-grandfather with “creep” written in Comic Sans across his forehead. For years, Lee has made the female family members uncomfortable, showing a particular interest only when skirts, shorts, or makeup enter the equation. His legendary antics range from awkward attempts to lure children into his office with animal videos and Diablo games, to Discord notifications from, ahem, “Furry Hypnosis” servers popping up in the kitchen.
Fast forward to today: Lee finds his moment to pounce—but not in the way you’d expect. Instead of his usual lurking, he pounces on… an apple core in the wrong bin. He gets up close, gets loud, and gets petty about composting, opening the bin with the gusto of a toddler demanding snack time, all because OP didn’t put her dinner scraps in the right place. If you’ve ever had a housemate who waits for you to slip up just once, then explodes, you know the type.
But this time, OP isn’t having it. Fueled by a combo of PMS, adrenaline, and a decade’s worth of “ick,” she decides to flip the script.
The Roast Heard Round the Living Room
What happens next is nothing short of poetic justice. Instead of shrinking away, OP follows Lee to the living room, where he sits with his wife—his unwitting (or perhaps willfully blind) partner in awkwardness. She calmly points out the real problem: not the compost, but the way Lee only ever communicates through angry outbursts, never directly, and only when it’s convenient for his own power trip.
Lee, perhaps expecting a meek apology, gets the full truth instead. With receipts. OP calls out his creepy behavior in front of his wife, mentioning the way he ignores her unless she’s dressed a certain way, the inappropriate Discord notifications, and the years of discomfort he’s caused. Lee, faced with a public unveiling of his worst habits, crumbles. His wife, meanwhile, tries to steer things back to the compost bin—classic denial, or maybe just an Olympic-level pivot.
Lee’s response? “How about I ignore you and you ignore me.” The ultimate defeat. OP gives him a thumbs up and exits, her work here complete.
Why This Petty Revenge Resonates
It’s not just the drama that makes this story so satisfying—it’s the realness. Anyone who’s lived in a tense household knows the feeling of being scolded for tiny things while much bigger issues simmer only a thin wall away. The Reddit thread exploded with support for OP, with commenters praising her for standing up for herself and, by extension, all the other women Lee had made uncomfortable over the years.
But the story also taps into a universal truth: Sometimes, standing up to creeps (even in the pettiest way possible) is the only way to get your peace back. Whether it’s a toxic relative, a boundary-pushing roommate, or a coworker with zero chill, there’s power in publicly shutting them down—preferably in front of their enablers.
Let’s Talk: Have You Served Up Petty Revenge?
So, next time someone yells at you about compost, remember: Sometimes, the best way to clean up is to take out the real trash. Have you ever unleashed a perfectly timed petty revenge? Or stood up to a family creep in spectacular fashion? Drop your best (or worst!) stories in the comments—we’re all ears, and maybe a little bit inspired.
And OP, wherever you are—enjoy your new compost-free life. You’ve earned it!
Original Reddit Post: You yelled at me for not using the compost? Fine, I'll chew you out about being a creep in front of your wife.