The Ultimate Spoiler: How One Reader Avenged Bookish Rudeness With a 14-Book Plot Bomb
Book lovers are a passionate, dedicated bunch—just peek into any fantasy series subreddit and you’ll find heated debates, wild fan theories, and, inevitably, the eternal struggle over spoilers. But sometimes, the real drama isn’t on the page—it’s between the readers themselves. And when one internet rando took “spoiler paranoia” to the next level, they triggered a legendary act of petty revenge worthy of its own epic saga.
Imagine spending months, maybe years, working your way through a sprawling 14-book fantasy series. You avoid spoilers like they’re cursed amulets. But then, in the dark depths of a subreddit, you pick a fight…and someone decides to spoil literally everything. That’s exactly what happened in this viral tale from r/PettyRevenge, where the true magic was the art of the perfectly targeted plot reveal.
A Name, 2,000 Characters, and One Angry Troll
Our story begins innocently enough. Reddit user u/DabBoofer was chatting about a beloved fantasy series—think “Wheel of Time” or “Malazan”—in a subreddit filled with fellow fans. In a discussion, they casually dropped the name of a supporting character. No details. No context. Just a name, among 2,000 named characters in the series. A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment.
But in the wild world of internet fandoms, even the faintest whiff of a spoiler can spark outrage. Enter: The Rando. Rather than scrolling along, this keyboard crusader went nuclear, accusing DabBoofer of dropping a catastrophic spoiler, all because now he knew the name of a future character. (Never mind that in a series with thousands of characters, you’d basically have to live under a rock to avoid new names.)
When Reason Fails, Revenge Prevails
DabBoofer tried reasoning, pointing out that mentioning a random name was hardly a spoiler. But reason was met with ridicule. The rando doubled down, hurling insults and questioning DabBoofer’s intelligence. And that’s when something snapped.
If you come at the king, you best not miss. And in the bookish world, “the king” is the person with all the spoilers.
So, DabBoofer went all-in. Not wanting to break subreddit rules (and perhaps, maintaining just a smidge of honor), they slid into the rando’s DMs. There, they spoiled everything—and I mean everything. Who dies, how, and why. The fate of the big bad. The aftermath. Fan theories. Months—maybe years—of anticipation, wiped out in a wall of text. The ultimate endgame, delivered straight to the source of rudeness.
Petty? Absolutely. Satisfying? Unquestionably.
Spoilers, Social Etiquette, and Sweet, Sweet Revenge
Now, before you reach for your own spoiler-laden DM, let’s pause for a moment. This story is more than just a case of “spoiler justice.” It’s a reminder of the unwritten rules of fandom:
- Treat Fellow Fans With Respect: Subreddits and forums thrive when people share, speculate, and celebrate together. Berating someone over a harmless mention? Not cool.
- Spoiler Etiquette is a Two-Way Street: While it’s polite to tag major spoilers, there’s a difference between ruining the ending and mentioning a common name. If you’re that sensitive, maybe avoid the internet until you’re caught up.
- Petty Revenge is Delicious—But Use Sparingly: There’s a certain satisfaction in delivering poetic justice, but wield your spoilers wisely. With great plot knowledge, comes great responsibility.
The Moral of the Story: Don’t Poke the Bookworm
As this saga shows, sometimes the pettiest acts of revenge are the most memorable. The next time you’re tempted to start a flame war over a minor detail, remember: you never know when you’re arguing with someone who holds the keys to the whole story—and isn’t afraid to use them.
So, if you’re journeying through an epic series, be kind to your fellow travelers. Otherwise, you might just get a DM that unravels your entire quest in one fell swoop.
What’s your take? Have you ever been spoiled—or spoiled someone else—out of spite? Share your stories in the comments and let’s hear your best (and pettiest) acts of bookish revenge!
Original Reddit Post: I purposely Spoiled the end of a 14 book novel series because of rudeness