When Karma Plays Table Tennis: The Satisfying Art of Being Left on “Seen”
Have you ever fired off a friendly text—maybe to reconnect, maybe just to relive a bit of college camaraderie—only to be met with that soul-crushing silence? You know the one: the message delivered, the read receipt glowing, but not a single peep in reply. Now, what if you got the rare chance to serve up a little poetic justice, all by simply… not replying? That’s exactly what happened to Reddit user u/dark_stallion_99, and their story is a masterclass in the fine art of petty revenge—served ice cold, with a side of engineer jokes.
Let’s set the scene: Two former table tennis teammates, a cross-continental move, and a comedy show that turned into a showdown of who could ignore whom harder. The result? One glorious “left on seen” that had Reddit cheering from the sidelines.
The Tale of the Unanswered Texts
Our hero and the “junior” in question go way back. Imagine the classic undergrad camaraderie: friendly matches, mutual respect, and no boundaries crossed. After undergrad, life scatters them to different corners of the globe—she heads straight to the U.S. for grad school, he stays in India for a few extra innings before landing at the same university a year later.
Cue the first fateful encounter in a U.S. cafeteria. She’s friendly, even suggesting they play table tennis again and swapping numbers with a smile. So, naturally, he texts her. And waits. And waits. Months roll by, and the only thing pinging are his hopes.
When they finally cross paths again, she delivers the classic ghoster’s confession: “Oh yeah, I forgot to reply. Then I saw it too late and thought it’d be weird to reply now.” A textbook dodge, if you ask any seasoned texter.
But our guy? He’s nothing if not persistent. He tries again. This time she responds, even suggests a day to play, only to bail at the last minute. By now, the writing is on the wall in big, bold, unread text bubbles.
The Comedy Show Twist
Fast forward to the summer of 2025. Our protagonist is living his best life—front row at a comedy show, getting selfies with the comedians, soaking up jokes about engineers (we see you, niche humor fans). Who’s in the back row? You guessed it: the old TT buddy, likely sipping a lukewarm soda and pondering her own unread messages.
After the show, he posts a flurry of killer photos on Instagram. And then, like clockwork, she slides into his DMs: “can you share the pics 😂”
Oh, the sweet, sweet irony! The same person who couldn’t be bothered to reply to two friendly texts is now quick to jump into his messages for some sharable content. But our man has learned. This time, he leaves her on “seen.” No reply, no explanation—just digital silence.
Sometimes, Petty is Perfect
Is it the pettiest revenge ever? Maybe not. But it’s a masterstroke of subtle satisfaction. There’s something universally relatable about the thrill of a small, harmless win—especially when it’s against the background of modern social etiquette, where ghosting is practically a sport.
What makes this story gold isn’t just the punchline, but the context. The polite persistence, the unfazed attitude, and the eventual delivery of karma via the “seen” notification—it’s glorious. It’s not about bitterness or burning bridges; it’s about giving back exactly what you got, with a gentle wink and a shrug.
Plus, let’s be honest: who among us hasn’t fantasized about the perfect comeback to a serial ghoster? Sometimes, the best reply… is no reply at all.
The Real Lesson (and a Little Applause)
This isn’t a call to arms to leave everyone on read (let’s not start a digital cold war). But it is a reminder: relationships—whether friendships, teammates, or casual acquaintances—are a two-way street. If you’re going to ghost someone, don’t be surprised if the universe serves you a little taste of your own medicine.
So next time you find yourself itching to reply to someone who’s only reaching out when it’s convenient, take a note from u/dark_stallion_99’s playbook. Sometimes, the most satisfying revenge is simply… doing nothing.
Have you ever gotten a little “petty” payback? Share your stories in the comments—after all, who doesn’t love a tale of cosmic justice, one “seen” notification at a time?
Original Reddit Post: Oops I forgot to reply too