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Generally speaking, fantasizing about taking an eye for an eye—getting revenge on someone who was being a jerk—is human nature. But often acting vengefully remains just that, a scenario in our mind. Our moral compass combined with the fear of further escalation keeps most of us in check. Most, but not all.

Revenge is a powerful emotional trigger that can actually mobilize some people into action. So we at Bored Panda decided to take a look at the ways it manifests in our everyday lives. Digging around the internet, we found many petty acts that people resort to in an attempt to restore justice. Like pouring water in front of the dishwasher to make your husband try to fix it even though the thing is perfectly fine. Continue scrolling to check out what we've gathered and fire up our older publications on the topic here and here. Enjoy!

#2

Some Men Just Want To Watch The World Burn

Some Men Just Want To Watch The World Burn

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Minath
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to know the rest of the story, how awkward was thar dinner?

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For those who aren’t yet familiar with the term, the Oxford Dictionary defines pettiness as “undue concern with trivial matters, especially of a small-minded or spiteful nature.”

Additionally, pettiness can be more subtle than classic revenge. A 2009 social experiment conducted at Harvard and the University of Virginia gathered groups of people to play a financial game.

In each group, one experimenter was placed specifically to cheat so that the other people playing would notice. The scientists discovered that when given the opportunity for a no-fault chance at revenge, everyone playing who was cheated took a chance at it.

Meaning everybody was angry over what happened to them, and everyone given the opportunity for revenge took it.

#4

Revenge Is A Dish Best Not Served

Revenge Is A Dish Best Not Served

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#5

I Would Have Done The Same

I Would Have Done The Same

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Danny Greeves, a UK-based physiotherapist and behavioral change coach specializing in resolving resentment, said that revenge and pettiness are common aspects in our interpersonal relationships because they both trigger the law of obligation.

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This is also known as reciprocity, which is the practice of exchanging things for mutual benefit. "Reciprocity is one of the universal principles which creates automatic, unconscious responses. It is the principle of mutual exchange," he explained, adding that in our evolutionary past, reciprocity was a vital principle because we relied on other people to assist us through fair exchange in order to do tasks and get basic human needs met.

#6

The Power Of Mums

The Power Of Mums

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#7

This Is How You End Up In Hell

This Is How You End Up In Hell

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Deborah B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is beautiful. Similarly, for ball point pens, just dip the tip in clear glue or nail polish to freeze the ball.

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Speaking plainly, when someone does something for us, we feel an obligation to return the favor.

"The pull of returning the action performed towards us is so strong because it has been crucial to our evolutionary progress," Greeves said.

This part of our nature is actually the reason why we feel rude when we don't say thank you, mean when we don't offer something we could share, or guilty when we don't do something we’re supposed to.

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#10

Thwaites Brewery In England Told Workers It Was Cutting 60 Staff. My Dad's Mates Worked As Electricians There And Shorted The Lights In Retaliation

Thwaites Brewery In England Told Workers It Was Cutting 60 Staff. My Dad's Mates Worked As Electricians There And Shorted The Lights In Retaliation

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#12

This Is So Me

This Is So Me

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Madam Puddyfoot
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you want to get even more petty, when they blast their horn in anger, wave to them like you think you know them and are saying hi ... THAT really ticks them off.

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#13

Did He Even Remember?

Did He Even Remember?

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Bluebrains
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope the only thing he can find to cover it up is a really ugly painting. :)

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However, a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that petty behaviors made people seem less likable, even when the actions clearly benefitted others.

"Being precise isn't always a good thing for the quality of relationships," said study co-author Tami Kim, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “Sometimes, leaving a little room for error might be a good idea.”

#15

“Screw Your Time I’ll Exercise In The Street” Is An Entire Mood

“Screw Your Time I’ll Exercise In The Street” Is An Entire Mood

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#17

I Really Hope It Was Her Name In Comic Sans

I Really Hope It Was Her Name In Comic Sans

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This applies to all sorts of relationships and has been proven numerous times under different circumstances. It even applies to people in romantic relationships — when they were asked questions about their partner's pettiness and their relationship satisfaction, researchers found a correlation between reported partner pettiness and unhappiness in a relationship.

#18

Let's Review

Let's Review

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SobyKay
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is funny...but a huge waste of time IMO. A better use of time & effort would have been to send the folder to the other lovers so they knew he was multi-tasking.

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So I guess a part of us wants to know there's still forgiveness in the world, after all.

"The downfall of pettiness can happen across many types of relationships, even amongst people who have been together for a long time,” Kim said. “Pay attention to the ways even the simplest behavior can be interpreted.”

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#23

Someone At Work Kept Stealing My Sister's Cherry Cokes Out Of The Fridge. So She Rubbed The Top Of The Can With A Habanero Pepper. Hope This Will Prevent Them From Stealing

Someone At Work Kept Stealing My Sister's Cherry Cokes Out Of The Fridge. So She Rubbed The Top Of The Can With A Habanero Pepper. Hope This Will Prevent Them From Stealing

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#26

My Neighbor Keeps Vacuuming His Floor When I'm Sleeping At Night. I Started Vacuuming The Ceiling As He Sleeps At 3AM

My Neighbor Keeps Vacuuming His Floor When I'm Sleeping At Night. I Started Vacuuming The Ceiling As He Sleeps At 3AM

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#27

Karen's "Revenge"

Karen's "Revenge"

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Fuzzies
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this once. Instead of backing up, she just stood up really close to me :/ The cashier had to tell her to back up😅

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#28

Well, I'd Do The Same

Well, I'd Do The Same

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Joshua David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd do it the same way. The child is being influenced by the mother and if she continually gets away with it, he will pick up the behaviors too. It's not like he pushed him over or something. Be polite = get what you want. Be a d**k, get treated as such. Good lesson, really.

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#31

What Could Go Wrong Blocking A Farmer's Gate To Save A Parking Fee?

What Could Go Wrong Blocking A Farmer's Gate To Save A Parking Fee?

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#32

A Japanese Woman Discovered Her Boyfriend Was Cheating, So She Gathered All His Apple Devices And Dumped Them Into A Tub Full Of Water

A Japanese Woman Discovered Her Boyfriend Was Cheating, So She Gathered All His Apple Devices And Dumped Them Into A Tub Full Of Water

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#34

You Know How Mad You Got To Be To Carry A Refrigerator

You Know How Mad You Got To Be To Carry A Refrigerator

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#35

I'd Say This Is Chaotic Good

I'd Say This Is Chaotic Good

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Hex Gurls
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i hope the person behind them was that tik tok mom who kept honking as soon as the light turned green because it was ‘funny’

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#37

My Mate Told The Driver Of The Black Corsa Not To Park In The Company's Parking Space. He Gave My Mate Attitude And Ignorance. So My Mate Put Scaffold Up Around His Car

My Mate Told The Driver Of The Black Corsa Not To Park In The Company's Parking Space. He Gave My Mate Attitude And Ignorance. So My Mate Put Scaffold Up Around His Car

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Paul C.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my experience, for some reason, scaffolders are some of the maddest SoB's you could meet.

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#38

A Days-Worth Of Dirty Diapers For Whoever Keeps Stealing Packages Off Our Porch

A Days-Worth Of Dirty Diapers For Whoever Keeps Stealing Packages Off Our Porch

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#39

My Two Older Children Were Trying To Lay Out All Of Their Pokémon Cards, But The Youngest Kept Intervening, So They Duct-Taped Him To A Chair

My Two Older Children Were Trying To Lay Out All Of Their Pokémon Cards, But The Youngest Kept Intervening, So They Duct-Taped Him To A Chair

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#43

Dad Waits 28 Years To Return Birthday Card To Son

Dad Waits 28 Years To Return Birthday Card To Son

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#44

My Friend's Girlfriend Moved Out And Took Everything, Including The Drawer Handles

My Friend's Girlfriend Moved Out And Took Everything, Including The Drawer Handles

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Zet
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the EX BF probably didn't even notice she bought fancy handles. ..they can get quite expensive, i would take them too!

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#45

After Years Of This Guy Using My Email As A Spam Account, I Got My Revenge. He Signed My Email. Up For Siriusxm Which Also Gives Me The Ability To Beep His Horn

After Years Of This Guy Using My Email As A Spam Account, I Got My Revenge. He Signed My Email. Up For Siriusxm Which Also Gives Me The Ability To Beep His Horn

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#46

Evil. Brilliant... But Evil

Evil. Brilliant... But Evil

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Paul C.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was a carpet fitter many years ago and I was at a large job working with a rather cocky bloke who always belittled everyone. He fitted some gripper into the concrete floor a few feet away from a radiator. When he left the room I tipped a small amount of water around one of the nails and on the floor. Cue twenty minutes of ripping up gripper searching for the leak. Sorry not sorry.

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#47

I Bet There’s A Dude Sitting With Just Salt And Pepper In His Cubbard Right Now Wishing He Had That Old Bay I Snatched Back

I Bet There’s A Dude Sitting With Just Salt And Pepper In His Cubbard Right Now Wishing He Had That Old Bay I Snatched Back

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#48

To Everyone At Work That Has Been Eating My Jellybeans. Now The Fun Begins

To Everyone At Work That Has Been Eating My Jellybeans. Now The Fun Begins

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#49

What A Legend

What A Legend

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TheAquarius1978
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good thing it wasn't me then lmao, my profile picture is a naked fat dude with tiny fairy wings, a halo, and work boots shoving Snow from his front door.

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#50

Employees In A Supermarket React To A Customer That Left The Car In The Middle Of The Parking Lot, Blocking The Way

Employees In A Supermarket React To A Customer That Left The Car In The Middle Of The Parking Lot, Blocking The Way

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