When Petty Revenge Goes Rotten: The Stinky Saga of the Compost Pile Next Door
When it comes to neighborhood drama, some folks just can’t resist tossing a little fertilizer on the fire—sometimes literally. On Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge, one user shared how a simple, snide insult from their snobby neighbor set off a chain reaction of, shall we say, organic consequences. The result? A backyard battle that turned passive aggression into pungent warfare, all in the name of defending a friend’s honor.
But as with all plans that involve rotting chicken, dog poop, and a dash of righteous indignation, things got messy fast. Let’s dig into this delightfully stinky saga—and see what the Reddit community had to say about revenge, composting, and the unexpected hazards of being just a little too petty.
The Trash Talk That Sparked a Stink
Our story begins innocently enough. The original poster (OP), u/New-Goat-6281, describes a rough patch their friend was going through. After weeks of absence, this friend finally stopped by—looking a bit worse for wear. Unfortunately, their snobbish neighbor didn’t miss a beat. “She gave him a dirty look and audibly called him trash,” OP recalls.
If there’s one thing you don’t do, it’s insult someone’s friend within earshot. OP’s family had long resisted their in-laws’ composting ambitions, mostly because city life means houses are packed tighter than a landfill at summer’s end. But when inspiration (and irritation) struck, they set up a compost pile right outside the neighbor’s bedroom window—prime real estate for organic olfactory assault.
And they didn’t hold back. “We put everything in there—chicken, potatoes, our dog’s poop,” OP confesses. With the neighbor lacking air conditioning, those summer nights got mighty ripe. Police were called, but since the pile was on OP’s property, there was nothing to be done. When the neighbor complained, OP’s comeback was as sharp as the smell: “Well, you’re living next to trash, right? What did you expect?”
Composting: Science, Art, or Weapon of Mass Olfaction?
The Reddit community, as always, didn’t hold back. While many applauded the pettiness, a chorus of composting connoisseurs weighed in with some very real concerns—and a few laughs.
Let’s get one thing straight: A compost pile done right shouldn’t stink at all. As u/TangerineCouch18330 pointed out, “Compost piles actually shouldn’t include meat or poop. I know you’re trying to make a point, but you’re just making a smelly mess that will attract rodents.” In fact, meat and pet waste are big no-nos for backyard composting—they don’t break down like veggies, and can turn your pile into a rodent rave.
Another top commenter, u/Individual-Fail4709, echoed the sentiment: “You are petty revenging yourself into a problem. Don’t put meat or dog crap in your compost pile unless you really like rats and other critters.” Translation: This revenge might backfire, and not just because of the smell.
Others, like u/Upset-Confusion6717, took it further: “Nice compost pile to grow delicious tomatoes with… dog poop!? Eeewwww… ‘You are’ not supposed to put any animal pee, poop, feathers or hair, just food leftovers...” It seems OP’s “compost” was more trash heap than garden gold.
The Grammar Police, The Ethics Committee, and the Petty Jury
No Reddit drama would be complete without a little grammar policing. Enter u/AmputeeHandModel, who swooped in to correct OP’s use of “your” versus “you’re” with surgical precision: “You’re. You + are = you’re.” The thread then devolved into a playful pirate dialect debate (“Y’ar’!”), as only Reddit can.
On the ethics front, the community was split. Some, like u/Artistic-Deal5885, questioned whether the revenge really fit the crime: “Putting poo under someone’s bedroom window all year round for one rude comment is pretty intense. Don’t you have better things to do?” Others worried OP was only digging themselves into a bigger hole—literally and figuratively. As u/ProfPazuzu warned, “Hmmm. Sounds like creating a public nuisance. Be careful with that.”
Still, the sub’s title is r/PettyRevenge, and as u/thegloracle reminded the naysayers, “It’s not revenge if the original person didn’t do anything in the first place. Oh no, they made some snide comment, who gives a shit. The neighbor didn’t actually do anything that affected OP, and now OP has a stinking pile of garbage on their property since they don’t know how to compost.”
The Moral (and Stench) of the Story
So, what’s the takeaway here? There’s a thin line between defending a friend’s honor and accidentally turning your backyard into a Superfund site. While OP’s move was undeniably petty—and, okay, pretty hilarious—it’s also a cautionary tale about knowing your compost from your trash, both literally and figuratively.
Whether you’re team “that neighbor had it coming” or team “please, for the love of all that is unholy, never put meat and poop in your compost,” this saga reminds us that revenge, like compost, is best served with a little knowledge and a lot of self-awareness.
Over to You!
What would you have done in OP’s shoes—let the comment slide, or fire back with a weaponized compost pile? Have you ever taken petty revenge on a rude neighbor (hopefully with less olfactory fallout)? Share your stories, your composting tips, or your best “you’re vs. your” jokes in the comments below!
And remember: The best revenge might just be living well (and composting responsibly).
Original Reddit Post: Call my friends trash, your going to smell trash day and night