The Art of Petty Revenge: How One Edinburgh Man Outsmarted His Line-Crossing Neighbour
We’ve all had that neighbour—the one who treats shared spaces like their personal playground. Maybe they blast music at 2am, let their bins spill over, or, as in this classic tale from r/PettyRevenge, commit the ultimate driveway faux pas: parking over the line. If you think these little acts of disrespect go unnoticed, think again. Sometimes, a cup of tea and a strategic Vauxhall Corsa are all it takes to restore order—and deliver a masterclass in petty revenge.
Meet our storyteller, a 34-year-old sound designer from Edinburgh, who, after two years of driveway diplomacy with his neighbour Duncan, finally decided it was time for action. The saga that unfolded is equal parts hilarious, relatable, and an ode to the power of playing by the rules…to the letter.
The Great Divide: A Driveway Dilemma
Our hero’s home comes with a semi-detached side of Scottish suburbia, and with it, a drive neatly bisected by a painted line. On paper, it’s a logical boundary—his side, Duncan’s side, and never the twain should meet. Except, Duncan, a man in his mid-50s and owner of a sizeable BMW, seems to view the line as more of a suggestion. For two straight years, Duncan’s tyres have crept a comfortable 30-40cm onto the wrong side, turning what should be a simple park-and-go into a daily automotive limbo.
Polite reminders? Ignored. Notes? Dismissed. Direct line-pointing demonstrations? Met with a breezy “och, it’s barely anything, you’ve got plenty of room.” If neighbourly patience is a virtue, our narrator’s reserves were tested to the max.
The Corsa Gambit: Precision Parking Pays Off
Here’s where things get good. Lurking in the wings is our narrator’s secret weapon: a 2003 Vauxhall Corsa, road-legal but mostly unused. With the patience of a man who’s lost one too many wing mirrors, he executes the ultimate act of low-key vengeance—parking the Corsa exactly, millimetrically, on his side of the line. Not a centimetre over. Not a millimetre shy. The Corsa becomes an immovable boundary marker, as steadfast as Hadrian’s Wall.
Now, Duncan’s BMW, with its habitual over-the-line sprawl, finds itself boxed in. To escape the drive each morning, Duncan is forced into a 15-point turn worthy of a learner’s test, face steadily reddening as our protagonist sips his morning coffee and enjoys the show from the window.
The Confrontation That Wasn’t
Inevitably, Duncan comes knocking: “Your car is in the way.” The response? Cool, calm, and devastatingly accurate: “No it’s not. It’s exactly on my side. Check the line.” The rules have never been clearer, and Duncan, for once, is speechless. There’s no comeback for a neighbour who’s simply playing by the book.
Weeks pass. The Corsa stands guard. Duncan’s parking woes continue, his glares intensify, but the line remains unbroken. Our narrator’s wife calls it childish. Maybe so. But as anyone who’s been on the receiving end of chronic parking encroachment knows, there’s a special satisfaction in a revenge that’s 100% petty and 100% legal.
Why This Story Resonates
Why did this tale rack up thousands of upvotes and hundreds of comments? Because it taps into something universal: the frustration of dealing with inconsiderate neighbours—and the satisfaction of a solution that’s both clever and just. It’s a masterclass in boundary-setting (quite literally), and a reminder that sometimes, the best revenge is served parked.
It also highlights an important truth: being “nice” doesn’t mean being a pushover. Assertiveness, paired with a healthy dose of pettiness and a legally parked Corsa, is sometimes exactly what’s needed to restore balance.
Your Move, Duncan
So, next time you find yourself at the mercy of a line-crosser—be it at work, home, or in your own driveway—remember the tale of the Edinburgh sound designer and his trusty Corsa. Sometimes, the best way to draw the line is to park right on it.
Have you ever had to get creative to make a neighbour respect your space? What’s your own story of petty revenge? Share your tales (and triumphs!) in the comments below—after all, we’re all just looking for a little more room to breathe.
What would you have done in this situation? Let’s hear your stories of neighbourly pettiness (or forgiveness) in the comments!
Original Reddit Post: Neighbour kept parking over the line