How Petty Reporting Banished a Facebook Bigot—and the Internet Cheered
Sometimes, the smallest acts of digital rebellion make the biggest difference—especially when the villain is a 65-year-old Facebook addict who spends his golden years spewing hate online. What happens when one fed-up family friend decides to take action? Well, you get a story that’s equal parts satisfying, hilarious, and thought-provoking—one that’s got the entire internet talking.
This is the saga of “Grant,” a man whose favorite pastime was broadcasting his bigoted opinions on Facebook, and the anonymous crusader (our Reddit OP) who decided enough was enough. With a few well-timed reports, a dash of petty revenge, and a crowd of Redditors cheering them on, Grant’s reign of social media terror was finally brought to a halt. But as the comments reveal, this small-scale act of justice touches on something much bigger—a community’s yearning for decency, and the power of a well-placed “Report” button.
The Rise and Fall of a Facebook Troll
The story begins with a classic clash: a loving family friend named Cathy, trapped in a marriage with Grant, a man who seemed to delight in making everyone around him miserable. Grant wasn’t just your garden-variety curmudgeon. He was the kind of guy who criticized his own daughter’s weight via holiday pre-workout plans, torpedoed every job he landed, and channeled all his toxic energy into Facebook rants about “real men” and “starter kits.” (You know the type.)
Our narrator, u/can_i_be_a_unicorn, had a front-row seat to Grant’s online outbursts. Tired of seeing his timeline polluted with hate, he started reporting every bigoted post, often within seconds. Facebook would slap Grant with a ban, and like clockwork, he’d sulk, throw his iPad, and blame “the internet” for his woes. Classic.
But the real twist came after a particularly nasty public incident led Cathy to finally leave Grant. As the OP gleefully recounts, Cathy and her daughters are now thriving, protected by restraining orders, while Grant… well, he’s basically shouting into a digital void. As u/rocifan aptly put it, “Well done...gratifying to see scum like that getting what he deserves.”
When Petty is Powerful: The Community Reacts
If you think this tale is just one person’s petty revenge, think again. The Reddit comments section became a support group, roast session, and philosophical debate rolled into one.
Some commenters showed empathy for Cathy and her daughters, urging continued support (“Keep supporting Kathy and her daughters,” wrote u/OriginalAgitated7727), while others delighted in Grant’s comeuppance with a side of schadenfreude. “You just described one of my friends’ husbands,” shared u/bojenny. “He was a truly awful person. Thankfully he had the decency to go ahead and pass away last year.” At his funeral? “Everyone was talking about how relieved they were for my friend instead of being sad about his death.”
The petty revenge spirit was alive and well, too. Multiple users encouraged OP to up their game: “Get her daughters to pick up where you left off. Or create a fake account and try to add him so you can do it yourself again,” advised u/CarlosFer2201, earning a chorus of approval.
But the story struck a deeper chord, too. Many vented about the frustrating inconsistency of Facebook’s moderation. “I wish I lived in a world where reporting bigot stuff on FB actually got results. 9/10 times the robot doesn't see anything wrong,” lamented u/Maera44. Others shared horror stories—Facebook ignoring threats and slurs while banning users for raccoon photos. “If anyone knows how to get FB to actually look at reports please let me know,” pleaded u/Smooth-Froyo-8940, echoing a sentiment that resonated throughout the thread.
Free Speech, Consequences, and Digital Justice
Of course, no tale of online banishment would be complete without a debate about free speech. Some commenters, like u/Murky-Wind2222, accused OP of stifling opinions: “So you don't believe in free speech? Only people who agree with you may be heard.” But others were quick to set the record straight. “Free speech is not free from consequences,” explained u/Azrai113. “FB is a private entity and is allowed to make whatever rules they want.”
The consensus? Grant didn’t face censorship—he faced consequences for violating the community standards of a private platform. As u/Dragonktcd put it, “’Grant’ has free speech, sure. Doesn’t mean he has the right to say anything on any privately owned website without consequences.”
Heroes Without Capes (But Maybe a Bit Petty)
As the dust settles, the real triumph isn’t just that Grant got repeatedly banned. It’s that Cathy and her daughters escaped a toxic situation, and that the internet—so often a breeding ground for negativity—rallied around a simple act of decency. OP’s final update sums it up: “Cathy doesn't have a bad bone in her body, but recently her backbone has been a shining beacon.”
Whether you see it as a minor act of digital justice or a grand stand against intolerance, this story proves that sometimes it’s okay to be a little petty—especially when you’re standing up for what’s right.
So, what would you do? Have you ever wielded the “Report” button for good—or wished it actually worked better? Share your own tales of online justice (petty or otherwise) in the comments below!
And remember: Not all heroes wear capes. Some just have really fast typing fingers.
Original Reddit Post: Got a 65 y/o repeatedly banned from Facebook for being a bigot/transphobic/homophobic