The Coldest Kind of Justice: How a Shovel and a Snow Pile Saved a Parking Lot
If you’ve ever lived through a snowstorm in an apartment complex, you know there are two kinds of people: those who respect the unwritten rules of winter parking, and those who believe the world is their personal driveway. When the flakes pile up and tempers run thin, the battle for every cleared inch of blacktop gets real—fast.
Recently, one Reddit user, u/cohonka, found themselves at the snowy crossroads of frustration and justice. After digging out their girlfriend’s car not once, but twice, they discovered someone had parked smack dab in front of the only exit to their apartment parking lot. What followed was a masterclass in “petty revenge” that resonated with thousands—and launched a blizzard of hilarious, relatable stories across the internet.
Snow Place for Jerks: The Art of Petty Parking Justice
Imagine: You’ve spent half your day braving the cold, shoveling your car out, only to discover you’re trapped by someone else’s complete lack of awareness (or, let’s be honest, basic decency). That’s where u/cohonka found themselves. After a chorus of honks and a fruitless call to maintenance, desperation—and a conveniently packed scoop of snow—kicked in. With a satisfying thunk, a mound of snow landed on the windshield of the offending vehicle.
But the plot thickens! Suddenly, the car’s driver appears, demanding to know what’s going on. In a rare outburst, our usually diplomatic hero shouts, “YOU’RE BLOCKING THE ONLY EXIT! MOVE YOUR [expletive] CAR!” The showdown ends not with fists, but with a hasty retreat: the snow-dusted driver wipes his windshield and peels away, freeing the exit for everyone else.
As u/cohonka admitted, “I’m so peace-keeping usually that I feel bad about this confrontation. I almost helped him clean the snow off his windshield lol. But he really deserved it.” Reddit’s verdict? Sometimes, peacekeepers must wield the shovel of justice.
Blizzard of Solidarity: The Community Reacts
Turns out, u/cohonka isn’t alone in the frosty trenches of parking lot warfare. The r/PettyRevenge community erupted with tales of similar snow-fueled vengeance. Top commenter u/DonNibross shared a nearly identical saga: after being blocked in, they responded with ten hearty shovelfuls of snow on the offender’s windshield, maintaining eye contact the whole time—like “a defiant cat making eye contact with you while shoving your plant off the counter,” as u/weldedaway hilariously visualized.
Others chimed in with their own wintry wisdom and anecdotes. From Vancouver’s rare blizzards—where, as u/username_choose_you lamented, “the audacity” of someone trying to snag a freshly-shoveled spot nearly broke their brain—to New England’s legendary snow feuds, the consensus was clear: nothing unites a community faster than the shared rage at a parking spot thief.
Some stories took the revenge a step further. u/fermentedferret described how a property owner, armed with a snowplow, buried an illegally parked car in mountainous drifts. By the time the driver returned, it took a tractor half an hour to dig them out. Lesson learned? Don’t mess with a snowplow owner.
Parking Etiquette: More Than Just Common Sense
Beyond the laughs, the saga sparked a serious discussion about parking etiquette, entitlement, and the lengths people go to protect what they’ve shoveled. As u/LogicalStomach observed, “Douchebags who feel entitled to block egress and park in other people's driveways know exactly what they're doing.” Many agreed: willful inconvenience demands creative consequences.
But not every offender is a parking pirate. Some pointed out that snowstorms can obscure lines and signage, confusing even well-meaning drivers. u/Dorshe1104 recounted a cousin’s honest mistake—parking in the wrong place due to poor visibility—highlighting that not all snowy snafus are acts of malice. Still, as u/cohonka acknowledged, “I think it should have been obvious that you can't park there. But that bit of doubt is why my conscience is a little harried by the encounter.”
Legalities also came into play. Several commenters noted the headache of actually getting cars towed from private property—often requiring contracts, posted signs, and a fair amount of patience. In the absence of swift official action, the shovel remains the people’s tool of choice.
Sweet, Cold Satisfaction: When Revenge Melts the Stress
What is it about these snowy acts of defiance that feels so cathartic? Maybe it’s the rare satisfaction of seeing instant results—one scoop of snow, one car moved, one parking lot liberated. Maybe it’s the validation: you’re not alone in your frustration; your neighbors (and thousands of Redditors) have been there, too.
As u/night_noche put it simply, “You stood up for yourself... That's awesome.” And for every nervous peacekeeper like u/cohonka, there’s a chorus of voices saying: sometimes, the coldest dish of revenge is also the most satisfying.
So the next time Jack Frost turns your parking lot into a battlefield, remember: You’re not just shoveling snow. You might be shoveling justice.
What’s your best (or worst) winter parking story? Would you have done the same—or gone even further? Share your tales in the comments below and let’s keep the snowball of solidarity rolling!
Original Reddit Post: Dumped snow on a guy's hood who was parked in the only parking lot exit. It got him to move!