The Great Toilet Paper Standoff: When Petty Revenge Hits the Bathroom
Living with family can be a wild ride—especially when your housemate happens to be your freeloading brother. Now, imagine you’re the only one ever buying groceries, stocking up on essentials, and generally keeping the household afloat. What happens when you finally decide, “Enough is enough!” and stop rescuing the situation? In a gloriously awkward twist, the answer is: petty revenge… with a side of bathroom panic.
This is the saga of one Redditor who, after carrying the shopping load for far too long, let the toilet paper run out—right as their brother’s friend paid a visit. What follows is a tale of overdue comeuppance, household economics, and why you should never underestimate the power of a missing roll.
When Restocking Becomes a Sibling’s Burden
Let’s set the scene: Reddit user u/sohereiamacrazyalien (let’s call them OP), is living with their brother. “More like he lived with me, or off me,” OP clarifies. Despite working a grueling job with a 3+ hour daily commute, OP was still the one keeping the fridge full and the cupboards stocked. The brother, meanwhile, worked just a two-minute walk from home in a neighborhood surrounded by shops, bakeries, and supermarkets.
But did he ever contribute? Of course not. According to OP, the brother even managed to stir up family drama behind the scenes, making OP out to be the bad guy to their mother. And yet, OP kept running the household—until one day, everything changed.
The Day the Toilet Paper Ran Out
Exhausted and fed up, OP noticed the toilet paper supply running dangerously low. Normally, they would’ve made a late-night dash to a convenience store, but this time, they decided to let things play out. “I have stocked the fridge and bought necessities ... so I didn't really need to go shopping and I decided not to buy some,” OP admits. It wasn’t even planned as revenge—just a well-deserved break.
Cue perfect timing: the brother’s friend shows up for a weekend visit. Unbeknownst to OP, this would be the moment petty fate would strike.
The friend ends up in the bathroom, and, well—let’s just say the situation gets desperate. The friend calls out, “Where do you put the toilet paper?” The brother, suddenly realizing their critical oversight, turns to OP. Cue OP’s poker-faced reply: “Why do you ask me? The toilet paper has always been in the bathroom, it should be there. If it’s not there, that means there is none.”
The result? “He was furious, I pretended I didn't know anything,” OP recalls triumphantly. The brother, red-faced and embarrassed in front of his friend, had to dash out and buy toilet paper himself. Sweet, sweet justice (and a hilarious story for the ages).
Reddit Reacts: The Community’s Best Takes
Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge community lapped up the tale, with over 4,000 upvotes and a flood of comments. As u/Ok-Sympathy4015 put it, “Sometimes the best way to show people how much you do is to stop doing it and let reality hit them.” This sentiment resonated throughout the thread, with many recounting their own tales of “invisible labor” and roommates who only learned to contribute when the essentials disappeared.
Some commenters took the opportunity to share survival tips. As u/iavatus2 advised, “Leave a roll or two of toilet paper in your room, as emergency. If you have to take it with you to the toilet and take it back, that's definitely a sign of a sit down talk about wtf is going on.” Others, like u/alienmarky, confessed to hoarding everything from dish soap to shower gel in their own rooms just to avoid freeloaders.
Of course, not all reactions were practical. The “socks in an emergency” debate brought out the best (and worst) of Reddit humor. “And that's why you should always wear socks,” declared u/pelofr, to which OP replied, “Ew no!!!!” The thread spiraled into tales of lost socks, stolen restaurant toilet paper, and even construction workers who “came home with one less sock than they left with.”
The Aftermath—And a Satisfying Update
The best twist? OP eventually left, switching the lease to the brother’s name. “He was furious!” OP reported in the comments, confirming that, yes, they’d finally escaped the chaos. The community cheered this decision, with top commenter u/liliette asking, “Please tell me this untenable situation no longer exists.” OP’s reply: a resounding yes.
For many, this story was about more than just passive-aggressive toilet paper tactics. It was a lesson in setting boundaries, recognizing invisible labor, and refusing to play the household martyr. As u/VivianDiane perfectly summarized: “You didn't create the problem, you just stopped solving it for him. Brilliant.”
Conclusion: Don’t Be the Free CVS
So, next time you find yourself singlehandedly propping up a household, remember—you’re not the free CVS. Sometimes, the only way to teach appreciation is to let others face the natural consequences of their own laziness. Whether it’s an empty fridge, missing dish soap, or, yes, a desperate search for toilet paper, reality is the best teacher.
What about you? Have you ever let a roommate or sibling learn the hard way? Share your stories below—bonus points for creative (and sanitary) solutions!
Original Reddit Post: if you don't buy things, don't be surprised when there are none left