When Trashy Carpenters Meet Creative Revenge: The Art of Stapling Petty Payback
When you picture the phrase “hold my beer,” you might imagine a wild stunt at a backyard barbecue or an epic moment of impulsive bravado. But on one quiet street, that phrase was about to get a whole new, and delightfully petty, meaning. It all started with a simple favor between neighbors, a garden hose, and one of the most creative acts of revenge Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge has ever seen.
Let’s set the scene: A friendly knock on the door, a handshake, and a neighborly agreement to share a bit of water with the construction crew next door. For weeks, the OP (u/Alaskan_Apostrophe) watched the foundation of a new home take shape, guided by a polite and communicative “Mr. Nice.” The two exchanged stories, shared curiosity about radiant heating pipes, and all was well—until the radiant heat dried and the carpenters rolled in.
Enter Mr. Attitude and his band of twenty-something hammer-wielders, armed with blaring music, fast-food wrappers, and a total disregard for boundaries—both physical and social. They blocked driveways, parked on the OP’s property, and transformed a peaceful construction site into a daily festival of litter and late-night hammering. As the OP recounted, “Every night I came home and their damn fast-food lunch trash was in my yard.” Three times, he confronted them, only to be met with even more attitude than trash.
The Tipping Point: From Trash Heap to Modern Art
Here’s where the story takes a turn worthy of a slow clap: Instead of stewing in silent frustration or escalating things with outright aggression, OP began collecting the trash. He waited for the perfect moment—when the house was freshly painted and the carpenters had once again left their mark, both literally and figuratively. At 10pm, stapler in hand, he transformed every greasy wrapper and soda cup into an impromptu “art installation” across the construction’s wooden OSB (or, as the OP’s wife lovingly dubbed it, “Old Shitty Board”).
The next morning, the foreman’s fury could be heard down the block. He stormed over, bellowed threats, and called the police, only to be met with laughter from OP and, eventually, an apology from the original Mr. Nice. By 8am the following day, the unruly crew was gone—replaced by a team of older, more respectful craftsmen who finished the job without incident. Revenge, as they say, is a dish best served with a staple gun.
Community Reactions: Nailed It, Stapled It, Banksy’d It
Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge community absolutely devoured this saga, with over 6,000 upvotes and a chorus of clever commentary. The top comment by u/CoderJoe1 simply declared: “Nailed it!”—to which a chain of users gleefully riffed, “Stapled it,” “Stuck it to them,” and even, “Banksy’d it.” Leave it to the internet to turn construction-site drama into a celebration of DIY artistry.
Other commenters shared their own war stories. u/SerenityPickles revealed finding “over 3 dozen empty beer cans in the wall space” during a renovation, a not-so-subtle hint that jobsite disrespect is a recurring theme. “Trashy workers deserve trashy revenge,” chimed in u/baka-tari, summing up the community’s mood.
A few provided practical tips and construction wisdom. Multiple users explained that OSB stands for “Oriented Strand Board,” a common (if not especially beloved) building material, though “Old Shitty Board” seemed to resonate just as well. And for those worried about legal lines—like u/xboxgamer2122, who pointed out that “Stapling to the siding is a crime”—OP clarified it was just the OSB, not finished siding, keeping the act squarely in the realm of petty, not prosecutable.
Vandalism or Just Desserts? The Great Trash Debate
Not everyone agreed on the methods. Some, like u/Kat121, debated the fine line between “returning your neighbor’s trash” and crossing into vandalism. Their analogy: lining up dog turds on a neighbor’s driveway is fair game, but smearing them on a car? That’s going too far. Others, like u/Consistent_Attempt_2, argued that OP should have tracked down Mr. Nice before taking matters (and a stapler) into his own hands. But as u/nlaak countered, “At what point did the neighbor talk to OP and ask if it was okay if his carpenter crew left shit all over OP’s yard? Blare loud music? Work late? Block his driveway?”
The consensus? Sometimes, a bold act of petty revenge is the only language disrespectful workers understand.
The Unseen World Behind the Walls
Perhaps the most fascinating thread came from the stories hidden in construction—literally. Multiple commenters recalled finding not just trash, but entire caches of beer cans, old magazines, and even shotgun shells behind drywall and in attics. u/scrappysmomma’s HVAC guy has encountered “liquor bottles and drug paraphernalia” left behind by generations of workers. It seems every wall hides a story—sometimes a scandalous one.
A Masterpiece of Petty Revenge
In the end, OP’s “work of modern art” wasn’t just about making a mess to prove a point. It was about standing up for a basic level of respect between neighbors, drawing a line (with staples) when that line kept getting trampled. The community agreed: sometimes you have to fight trash with trash, especially when the only thing the other side respects is a spectacle.
So, next time you’re tempted to let inconsiderate workers walk all over you, remember: you don’t have to call the cops, pick a fight, or stoop to their level. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity—and a well-timed staple gun—to “fix” the problem and reclaim your peace.
What’s the pettiest revenge you’ve ever pulled off (or wished you had)? Share your stories below—bonus points if they involve office supplies!
Original Reddit Post: A 'Hold my Beer' Moment