How One Redditor Serves Petty Revenge—By Mastering the Art of Nerd Ragebait
Let’s face it: the workplace is a jungle, and sometimes, your biggest challenge isn’t the workload—it’s the wild personalities sharing your habitat. Among the office coffee pots and never-ending meetings, we all have that one colleague who’s mostly great, but occasionally morphs into a full-blown jerk. So what’s a mild-mannered cubicle dweller to do? In the immortal words of Sun Tzu (probably): “If you can’t fight them at work, troll them on Reddit.”
That’s exactly what one ingenious Redditor (u/Kaiser_Chefs_Doggo82) did, as recounted in their delightfully devious post on r/PettyRevenge. The story? A tale of nerdy passion, digital disguise, and the pure, unadulterated joy of winding up a colleague—without ever risking an HR complaint.
The Setup: Fandom, Friendship, and Faux Pas
Our protagonist’s colleague isn’t a villain. In fact, he’s often an ally, an office pal, and a fellow Redditor. He’s also a die-hard fan of a certain “well-known kids book series” (I’m looking at you, Potterheads, Narnian stans, and Riordanites). But like many of us, he has his off-days—days where he crosses lines, like mocking the poster’s disability in the kitchen. Oof.
But here’s the twist: while direct confrontation isn’t practical (he’s a senior coworker, and, well, sometimes a friend), the urge to vent is real. So when our hero stumbles across their colleague’s Reddit account—thanks to a shared passion and a little digital sleuthing—a plan is hatched.
The Art of the Ragebait
Enter the “alt account.” Whenever the need for catharsis bubbles up, our Redditor transforms into a digital trickster, seeking out their colleague’s latest posts in his beloved book fandom. The mission: post something so wildly, obviously wrong—like suggesting Star Wars tactics in a Star Trek thread—that it triggers their colleague’s inner pedant.
And boy, does it work. The colleague, unable to resist the siren call of correcting internet strangers, dives into marathon arguments with the alt account. The more preposterous the comment, the more hooked he gets. It’s like digital catnip for the terminally right.
The pièce de résistance? The next day, the colleague vents at work about “some idiot on the internet” who just doesn’t get it, recounting their furious, fact-laden rebuttals—completely unaware that the “idiot” is standing right next to him, choking back laughter.
What Makes This Petty Revenge So Satisfying?
Let’s break down why this gentle trolling hits all the right notes:
- It’s Non-Destructive: No one’s career or feelings are permanently damaged. It’s like a prank with the safety on.
- Deeply Personal, Yet Totally Anonymous: The revenge is perfectly tailored, but the target is blissfully unaware.
- Cathartic and Creative: Our Redditor gets to vent their frustration without awkward confrontations or office drama.
- The Double Whammy: The real-world laughter when the colleague rants about their own online nemesis? Priceless.
This is the kind of story that reminds us: a little mischief can be a healthy outlet—especially when workplace power dynamics make honest feedback tricky.
Is Petty Revenge Ever Justified?
Of course, this tale raises questions: Is it ethical? Is it childish? Maybe. But if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a “funny” comment about your disability (or anything else personal), you know that sometimes, small acts of mischief are the only way to reclaim your narrative—especially when the “offender” isn’t open to a real conversation.
And let’s be honest: if all acts of revenge were this harmless, the world would be a much funnier place.
Your Move: Petty, Playful, or Professional?
So what’s the lesson here? Sometimes, petty revenge isn’t about grand gestures or burning bridges. Sometimes, it’s just about finding a little joy, a little balance, and a little bit of power—especially when life hands you a prickly colleague who’s just as passionate about being right as you are about keeping your sanity.
Have you ever had a secret way to even the score at work? Or maybe you’ve been the unwitting victim of some harmless trolling? Share your stories in the comments below—we promise not to ragebait you (unless you happen to be that guy from the office).
What’s your favorite (harmless) petty revenge story? Would you ever try this trick, or is it a step too far? Let’s hear your tales of office mischief!
Original Reddit Post: I ragebait a colleague in reddit comments when he treats me badly