Although most people leave it up to karma, some just can’t let go when someone wrongs them. Here are some revenge stories of people who took matters into their own hands, starting with Etienne Constable from Seaside, California.
A Boat Owner’s Creativity and Pettiness
A homeowner in Seaside, California had his boat parked out front of his home. However, it was against city regulations, and he received a letter in the mail informing him that he’d need to build a fence around the vessel or face a $100 fine.
Etienne Constable enjoyed having his boat parked in his driveway for all to see. However, in July 2023, he received a notice from the city stating that his boat was not in compliance with regulations and needed to be hidden from view or he would be fined. Rather than comply in the traditional way, he came up with a humorous and creative solution—one that some called petty while others deemed genius.
Recruiting a Neighbor
Instead of paying the fine, Constable hired his neighbor to build the required fence and then paint a mural of the boat directly on it. “I’m not a rule-breaker, but I like to make a political, humorous, and creative statement when necessary,” Constable said.
Although the cost of the mural exceeded the fine, Constable felt it was worth it. His revenge not only satisfied the city’s requirements but also provided a good laugh for the neighborhood.
Jokes Become a Reality
Constable’s neighbor, Hanif, shared that the mural idea started as a joke but soon became a reality.
“There were Home Improvement-style moments where we joked about it, thinking, ‘Wouldn’t that be hilarious?’ The more he brought it up, the more I thought, ‘Yeah, that sounds great,’” Hanif explained.
Interestingly, the city never responded to the mural. Constable believes they won’t, as it qualifies as artistic expression protected under the First Amendment. While his story is lighthearted, it also highlights a clever way to meet regulations while maintaining personal freedom.
This story is just one example of how some people find creative ways to get back at perceived injustices. Unsurprisingly, the internet is full of revenge stories, many of which push the boundaries of pettiness.
New Levels of Petty Behavior
One woman turned to the internet to anonymously admit her friend found out her husband had been cheating and took being petty to a new level.
Upon discovering her husband’s infidelity, the woman took his rare coin collection and used it to go on a shopping spree at the local convenience store. She bought sodas, chips, and other trivial items, essentially draining the collection’s value. But at least she got something out of it, even if it was more for the joy of revenge than truly desiring a bag of Doritos.
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Paying in Pennies
Another example of revenge stories includes this one, which has an unexpected ending. An ending that’ll likely make everyone wonder if it was actually worth it. A young woman shared that her brother’s car had been towed and he was so angry about it that he took all pennies to pay the fees to get his car back. Although his hilarious plan might seem like a good idea to some, her brother soon learned that he wasn’t the pettiest person involved.
Instead of accepting the payment, the tow yard called the police, refusing to count out the pennies. Although the young man’s sister didn’t share the final outcome, it’s clear that the situation escalated to a level of pettiness that even he didn’t anticipate.
Some acts of revenge aren’t about money—they’re about emotional payback. One person shared a subtle but brutal way they got revenge on their ex.
Petty Revenge Stories
This person allowed their ex to continue using their Netflix account for a month after the breakup. However, just as their ex was about to host a finale watch party for their favorite show, they changed the password at exactly 11:59 PM, preventing them from watching the final episode. Better hope the snacks were top-tier if there was no back-up plan. This is the kind of petty that doesn’t hurt anyone but will definitely incite some angry feelings.
Passive Aggressive Revenge Stories
Some revenge stories take a passive-aggressive approach. For instance, some people carry chalk to outline poor parking jobs, while others hand out coloring pages to drivers who have trouble staying within the lines.
While these methods seem harmless, they carry an undertone of public shaming that can be even more infuriating than direct confrontation.
One woman shared a revenge story that had her husband convinced their house was haunted. After a fight, she downloaded an app that controlled their TV and would randomly turn it off. Each time he came to investigate, she pretended to be asleep.
After experiencing this multiple times, her husband became convinced that ghosts were responsible for the unexplained behavior.
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From murals to missing finales and even ghostly pranks, revenge comes in many forms. While some acts of retaliation are clever and humorous, others can spiral out of control. Either way, these stories prove that some people will go to great lengths to settle a score—whether it’s with a fence, a coin collection, or a well-timed prank.