How One Petty Postcard Sparked Office Gossip and Delicious Revenge
There’s something undeniably satisfying about a petty act so subtle, so elegantly executed, that it leaves its target baffled and its orchestrator grinning for years. Enter the world of "Postcard Petty," a delightful tale from Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge, where one ex-employee used a plain, old-fashioned postcard to expose a toxic boss—and set the rumor mill spinning.
The genius? The act was so simple, it’s almost poetic. In an era obsessed with digital drama, sometimes all you need is a few lines of ink, a dash of office nosiness, and the unfiltered transparency of snail mail to serve up the perfect slice of vengeance.
The Postcard Plot: Simplicity Meets Spite
The story, as told by u/krd3nt, begins with a lesson from their mother—a woman who wielded the humble postcard as a tool for righteous (and public) complaint. Rather than venting in private, she’d pen her grievances on a postcard and mail them directly to offenders, ensuring everyone from postal workers to office mail sorters could enjoy the juicy details. As the author put it, “everyone who encountered the card could read about the problem, including the staff in charge of getting the mail.”
Fast forward to adulthood: u/krd3nt finds themselves working under a “demeaning boss” at a dental practice infamous for its gossip. This boss, overshadowed by her dentist brother, ruled the office with insecurity and an iron fist. After enduring one humiliation too many, our protagonist leaves—but not before hatching a delightfully petty plan.
They mail an anonymous postcard to their former boss with a single, devastating message: “You’re right, no one here really respects you.” The result? Instant office wildfire. As the author confessed, “I still smile thinking about how quickly that snippet made its way through the office.”
Why Postcards? The Old-School Power of Public Petty
Redditors were quick to applaud the move’s simplicity and effectiveness. As u/different-take4u cheered, “Superb idea!” Others, like u/twinWaterTowers, compared it to the analog ancestor of a Google review—public, unfiltered, and impossible to ignore. “So, basically an early form of a Google review for a business. I like it.”
But beyond nostalgia for snail mail, there’s strategy here. Postcards are the ultimate open secret: they’re meant to be read by many, not just the recipient. “Everyone can read it! Nice and petty,” remarked u/Hairflipgiggle, echoing the joy of communal schadenfreude.
And in an office environment thick with nosiness and drama? That’s a recipe for maximum impact. As u/mjdlittlenic pointed out, “The named recipient may not read it, but the intermediaries? Don’t underestimate plain old nosiness.” It’s true—while some questioned whether anyone would bother reading (u/Unique_Engineering23: “Your plan’s one fatal flaw: people refuse to read”), most agreed that curiosity would override apathy. “I think you underestimate the absolute nosiness of folks in an office like that, and the willingness to Spread The Tea!” quipped u/Minflick, perfectly capturing the office ecosystem.
Gossip by Design: How Petty Becomes Legendary
What makes this act of revenge so enduring? It’s not just the message—it’s the method. A postcard is tangible, visual, and, most importantly, public. Unlike a private email or a whispered complaint, it passes through many hands, each owner a potential amplifier of the drama. As u/TheAnti-Karen observed, “I love the simplicity of this pettiness because now the whole office is talking about her, just fueling her insecurity.”
In fact, the public nature of the postcard is its genius. The message’s journey—office mailbox to break room to the desks of the most notorious gossips—ensures it lingers longer and stings deeper. As u/Sarcastic-Lemon hilariously put it, “There can be 100 people in a room and 99 of them refuse to read but all it takes is one to read the postcard and it just changes your whole petty revenge.”
It’s the analog version of going viral, office-style.
The Lasting Appeal of Low-Tech Revenge
Beyond the fun, this story sparked nostalgia for the tactile joy of postcards. Several commenters reminisced about the thrill of sending and receiving them—not just for revenge, but for connection. u/twinWaterTowers even recommended Post Crossing, a global postcard exchange, prompting interest from others like u/Exciting_Grocery_223, a self-professed “stationery addict” in Brazil itching to send her washi tape on a world tour.
But whether you’re crafting a work of art for a stranger or a stinging one-liner for a nemesis, the postcard’s power endures. It’s proof that sometimes, the most effective revenge is old-school, analog, and hiding in plain sight.
Conclusion: Would You Dare Go Postcard Petty?
So, what do you think? Is the humble postcard an underrated weapon in the arsenal of petty revenge—or just a delightful relic of simpler times? Maybe you have your own stories of low-tech justice, or an even pettier plan up your sleeve. Would you have the nerve to send that message, knowing just how far office gossip can travel?
Share your thoughts below—or better yet, mail them in. After all, you never know who might be reading.
Would you go ‘postcard petty’ for revenge? Tell us your best stories or schemes in the comments!
Original Reddit Post: Postcard Petty