Revenge might seem like a great idea until you get caught. After all, you can’t prank an annoying boss and expect to keep your job. Can’t pay the bills with satisfaction. So if one wants to get back at someone, it’s best to plan well and always be subtle.
Someone asked “What's the best way to subtly [mess] with someone?” and netizens shared their most hilarious pranks. We also got in touch with the netizen who created the post. So prepare to take some notes as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and if you have been the instigator or victim of a similar scheme, share your stories and experiences in the comments section below.
Someone asked “What's the best way to subtly [mess] with someone?” and netizens shared their most hilarious pranks. We also got in touch with the netizen who created the post. So prepare to take some notes as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and if you have been the instigator or victim of a similar scheme, share your stories and experiences in the comments section below.
#1
The copying room Karen who was of course this religious nutcase was territorial and every day she’d claim the copier for 20 minutes. This was in a faculty room setting where everyone is scrambling each morning. I finally had enough. Got there before her, pulled a ream of paper and made 500 copies with “Satan Owns Your Soul” in sharpie. Placed these back in the copier. When she ran her copies everything came out with this on it. She went home and took a few days off. I enjoyed those few days immensely.
124points
#2
One of my best friends was working as a section manager in a retail store. He bought a box of like, 400 rubber duckies off Amazon and started leaving a single one on his boss' desk at random times. Never said a word to her about it, and would pick odd times to do it to throw her off the scent - like if he came on an off day to shop, he'd sneak one in. He'd come in 30 mins before his shift started to do it. He'd stay late to do it.
He did this for *at least* six months before he got promoted and got a transfer. On his last day of work he walked into her office with the box of the rest and turned them upside down on her desk.
She hit something like a combo of hysterical laughter and sobbing - "OH MY GOD I THOUGHT I WAS GOING INSANE".
He did this for *at least* six months before he got promoted and got a transfer. On his last day of work he walked into her office with the box of the rest and turned them upside down on her desk.
She hit something like a combo of hysterical laughter and sobbing - "OH MY GOD I THOUGHT I WAS GOING INSANE".
107points
#3
6 months after we broke up I realized somehow my Spotify is connected to my Ex’s Alexa. So now sometimes at 5am I accidentally on purpose connect to it and play “Top 50 Most Annoying Songs of all time”. I see the song stop and then I press play again, we do a back and forth until he gives up.
That’s what you get when you f**k your flight instructor, Brent.
That’s what you get when you f**k your flight instructor, Brent.
90points
Bored Panda got in touch with the netizen who created the post and they were kind enough to answer some of our questions. First, we wanted to know why they wanted to ask the internet to share these ideas and how they felt when it went viral.
“This was one of the ones that just popped into my head. I had no expectations as they normally get about 10 responses at most. I think it was so popular as it's a pretty broad question that has loads of different ways to answer. Alongside this, the responses people give allow others to take from ones they haven't heard before, as well as add stories of their own that are similar to the original comment.”
#4
One time, my buddy Steve was at my house and the phone rang. The call display showed his number, so I knew it had to be his roommate, probably looking for him. I picked up the receiver and immediately asked, "Hi, is Steve there?" There was a pause, then, "Uh... no, he's out." Just as quick I said, "Cool, I'll try again later. Bye!" and hung up. It was probably a good minute before she called back to call me a bastard.
77points
#5
It was only a few weeks, but a supervisor on a construction site I worked on was complaining about the birds in front of his office. That night I went to a pet shop and bought a big bag of birdseed. I hid it nearby, and when the coast was clear I would scatter a couple of handfuls. It took a few days, but more & more birds started stopping by to look for food. Had over 30 pigeons out there one morning when he came in. I let him in on what I was doing one day when he’d pretty much given up and was throwing old bread out for the birds.
He later asked me to pick up another bag of seed, as he’d taken over throwing out seed and ran out.
He later asked me to pick up another bag of seed, as he’d taken over throwing out seed and ran out.
74points
#6
Back in the day I used to cold call in a s****y sales job and eventually I got bored.
When I would ask for Mr Smith, and they would say he's not here can I take a message?
I used to leave messages.
"tell him he was right, it's not going to fit"
Or,
"tell him it'll have to be the blue one, the red one isn't available"
Or,
"we can't do 7o clock because the cat isn't well"
If they queried it any further (and they usually didn't) I'd say he will know what it means.
I like to think I've left a legacy of people scratching their heads for days.
When I would ask for Mr Smith, and they would say he's not here can I take a message?
I used to leave messages.
"tell him he was right, it's not going to fit"
Or,
"tell him it'll have to be the blue one, the red one isn't available"
Or,
"we can't do 7o clock because the cat isn't well"
If they queried it any further (and they usually didn't) I'd say he will know what it means.
I like to think I've left a legacy of people scratching their heads for days.
74points
Naturally, we wanted to hear if they had any of their own personal favorites. “As for examples of my own, I like the one where whenever someone is on the phone and you just hand a random object to them. They'll take it 95% of the time and after they finish, they'll wonder where the hell they got it from.”
#7
Switch the m and n keys on their keyboard, some people won't notice for a while, but every now and agaim they will press the wromg key.
72points
#8
Work in a diesel mechanic shop. Drop an extra head bolt in your friend’s rebuild pile near the end of the repair. Watch chaos ensue.
71points
#9
My brother in-law upset my younger sister. My older sister decided to teach him a lesson.
For the next several months he began receiving the most random items via The US Postal service with no return address, no letter, no explanation.
What was sent? Sawdust, pocket lint, acorns, twigs, leaves, sand, amongst a dozen other harmless items.
The kicker? My sister did not send all of these items from one location, or even just herself. She got her friends and close colleagues involved, due to the nature of her circle the postmarks originated in locations from across the US.
He received random s**t from something like 28 different states and Canada. Eventually started to freak out and wanted to call the police and the FBI before they finally told him.
My brother in-law learned to compromise on home decor decisions going forward.
For the next several months he began receiving the most random items via The US Postal service with no return address, no letter, no explanation.
What was sent? Sawdust, pocket lint, acorns, twigs, leaves, sand, amongst a dozen other harmless items.
The kicker? My sister did not send all of these items from one location, or even just herself. She got her friends and close colleagues involved, due to the nature of her circle the postmarks originated in locations from across the US.
He received random s**t from something like 28 different states and Canada. Eventually started to freak out and wanted to call the police and the FBI before they finally told him.
My brother in-law learned to compromise on home decor decisions going forward.
66points
“One of my favorites from the thread is definitely the one by u/B-52-M, who said to go inside an elevator and don't turn around - so subtle but it just throws people off completely. Another, more evil one is the one by u/Eludeasaurus, who simply said just to ask someone, 'are you sure?' after they say something.”
#10
My friends boyfriend scared her as a prank. She sought revenge by waiting for him to fall asleep, and then watched a bunch of videos he would hate on his Youtube account to f**k with his recommend algorithm.
62points
#11
I put the dongle of a wireless mouse into the back of my coworker's computer. Whenever I feel like f*****g with him I just open my desk drawer and take over his computer.
61points
#12
I put one of those electronic cricket circuits above the false ceiling in my old boss's office. Every so often (2-15 minutes) it would chirp. It drove him mad. He never did find it.
60points
“I love that because it can really mess with and get people to second guess whatever they said. Nothing else for me to add, I was just really surprised it went as viral as it did, considering nothing else I had asked went viral. Don't think I'll be able to replicate this anytime soon!” they shared with Bored Panda.
#13
When I was about 14, and older brother was 17, he was a real violent d******d. He made my life a living hell. He would take deep naps every afternoon. I would go to the kitchen and get the bottle of Wesson veg oil and put a tablespoon or so in the cap. I’d sneak in his room, and with a Qtip I dispensed tiny drops of oil all over exposed skin. He was a very pretty lad so to turn into a pizza pie all over his face, neck, back, arms was enormously distressing. He went on multiple medications. I probably did this for about two years. You want to beat up a girl who is half your size on the reg? He was bigger but I was smarter 🤣.
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60points
#14
During my first semester at college, my roommate always had girls over in our single-room dorm, forcing me to sleep in the common area and shower at the gym. As revenge, I started putting a Jolly Rancher candy inside our bathroom showerhead. Every morning, they'd shower together, but when rinsing off in the shower, they'd be left with a thin layer of sugar on their skin and in their hair. The girls stopped coming over because they all felt sticky and gross throughout the day, leading them to attribute that unclean feeling to my roommate. By the beginning of the second semester, he couldn't get a date (which was 99% of the reason he was in college), so he dropped out. I had the dorm room to myself for the rest of the year. The first change I made was removing the remains of the Jolly Rancher from the shower head.
59points
#15
I delay my voice when I see the same supervisor at work. I mouth "Hey" and then say it without moving my lips after.
He's asked the other lads if they've noticed and they act dumb but when I do it to him I can see he thinks he's going mad.
Hes asked the boss if he's noticed me doing it and he hasn't because I only do it to the idiot supervisor. Drives him nuts and makes my day feel better.
He's asked the other lads if they've noticed and they act dumb but when I do it to him I can see he thinks he's going mad.
Hes asked the boss if he's noticed me doing it and he hasn't because I only do it to the idiot supervisor. Drives him nuts and makes my day feel better.
57points
#16
My colleague went on a stag do with a friend of mine. Topline - absolutely NOTHING happened. My mate said it was very tame and no controversy.
Anyway upon his return he walked past me and I said "I heard what happened at the stag."
He immediately went BRIGHT red and said "WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD."
I simply replied: "don't worry your secret is safe with me" and went on with my day.
He has spent the last week demanding to know what I know whilst going up to colleagues and asking if they'd heard me say anything.
Further context, I'm known as the quiet one in the office which made it much more believable.
Anyway upon his return he walked past me and I said "I heard what happened at the stag."
He immediately went BRIGHT red and said "WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD."
I simply replied: "don't worry your secret is safe with me" and went on with my day.
He has spent the last week demanding to know what I know whilst going up to colleagues and asking if they'd heard me say anything.
Further context, I'm known as the quiet one in the office which made it much more believable.
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51points
#17
Buy a box of old keys. Put keyring tags on them with a note that says "If found, call ###-###-###" (with their phone number). Then drop the keys around various public places.
48points
#18
At work I got into the habit of making a loud clap when I turned off my machine to go to lunch.
One day I did it just because I turned off my machine.
I heard a dudes stomach growl.
One day I did it just because I turned off my machine.
I heard a dudes stomach growl.
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45points
#19
Jehovas Witness has an online page in my country where you can ask them for a home visit. Probably every 6 months I ask them for one, but in my friends name and address, as a way of messing with him.
45points
#20
Buy a super small bluetooth speaker and hide it in a false ceiling. Every so often you can play any sound you want. My personal choice was yiddish prayers.
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45points