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37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Social IssuesMAR 30, 2026

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse

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They cut in line, make demands, deliver unnecessary comments that slice like a knife. As far as they're concerned, they're above everyone else. Not once does it occur to them that they may be the problem...
Many of us have encountered rude people. We can choose to take the high road, turn the other cheek, and move on with our day. But sometimes, the high road is closed. And all that's left is to give karma a little push and get revenge by beating them at their own game.
Someone asked, "How have you made a rude person’s day worse?" and some of the answers are epic.
Bored Panda has put together the best ones for anyone who needs a little inspiration on how to make Karen pay for her sins in the most subtle but satisfying way.

#1

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I work in local theatre, and we have a lot of rude, awful women who are part of local ballet schools come through our venue who are the mothers of the dancers. Once this woman rang up wanting seats to an almost sold out ballet performance that had been on sale for 4 months the day before the show, and did nothing but be vile for 5 minutes straight because she left buying them too late, whined about how she shouldn't have to pay to for her kids, whined that we should get a bigger venue (it seats just under 500 -.-) then put me on hold while she rang 3 of her relatives to see if they wanted seats too. She was positivley awful. The seats I was about to sell her were the only ones in the theatre left, and they were good seats.

While I'm on hold a grandma of one of the ballerinas comes to the desk and asks if we have any seats left, as she'd been in hospital and couldn't buy them earlier, but said she'd understand if we were booked out. I put the phone with the on-hold music down and sold this old lady the last seats for the show, and gave her a an invite to our next years dance season for her grandaughter and herself, so she'd know exactly when all the important dates were coming. She thanked me over and over, and she's now one of our regulars and brings her grandkids to our shows.

2 minutes after the old lady leaves the jerk on the other end finally takes me off hold and says she wants the remaining seats that we have left, I tell her "Sorry we've *just* sold out while you had me on hold I'm afraid, better luck next next year, anything else I can help you with?". She was choking with rage on the other end of the phone, it was fantastic.
152points

Nowadays, it sometimes seems that being rude has become the norm. Perhaps it began with a few bad apples and spread like a contagious virus we are yet to find a cure for. Fortunately, experts say there are ways to effectively stop rudeness in its tracks, if only momentarily.

Among them: addressing the rudeness; setting clear boundaries of what you're willing to (and not willing to) tolerate; shifting the conversation to something more positive; and, as difficult as it may seem, staying calm and cool.

#2

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I used to work for the Department of Motor Vehicles and the one I worked at had pretty limited parking, surprise! I had left for lunch, came back and was having a hard time finding a place to park. I finally found a spot so I drove up to it and put my signal on showing that I was waiting for it. People, in my experience, usually respect this and continue on. Not this time.

Just as the car was backing out, after I had waited a few minutes, a car came from the opposite side of the lot, made eye contact with me and then shot right into the parking space. I was so mad because now I would be late after looking for a new spot. As I drove past the woman that had taken the spot, I just shook my head and she responded by shrugging her shoulders, smiling, mouthing the words, "oh well" to me and then ran her finger from her eye down her cheek as if to mock me crying about it.

I continued into work, got in trouble for being late, but had actually forgotten about the incident until who's number gets called to my station, but Miss Spot-Stealer herself! The look on her face was priceless!

Keep in mind that I'm not your average DMV worker, I understand that stuff happens and waive penalties all the time and treat my customers with respect because I believe that what goes around, comes around and I know how annoying it is to wait at the DMV all day! I'm usually so nice about getting penalties taken off of people's accounts that I get in trouble for it at times.

So, I greet Spot-stealer as nice as I would anyone else, in fact it may have been nicer than I normally would be. She may have thought I didn't recognize her. Her registration is FAR past due, with hundreds due in penalties. I let her tell me her whole sob story then finally tell her that she owes in full because she was aware of her due date. She argues it a little until, out of site from my manager, I mouth the words, "oh well" and drag my finger from my eye to my cheek, mocking her tears. At that point she puts her head down and proceeds to take out her card and pay the full amount because yes, we do take debit cards! :)

What goes around, comes around!
123points

#3

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I watched a lazy shopper park their grocery cart right behind another persons car instead of putting it in the cart return. I got out of my car, ran up and moved the cart and put it behind her car. I then ran off and watched her have to get back out of her car since she couldn't back out, and then finally proceed to put up her cart the right way. I felt like a champion of the people.
119points

"Sometimes people just need a little reminder that they’re actually acting out about something completely different than the matter at hand. And often, getting the opportunity to reflect upon this or talk about it changes the entire situation," reveal communication experts Kathy and Ross Petrus.

They suggest redirecting the conversation with a well-timed question that's aimed at making "Karen" or "Kevin" do some much-needed introspection. You could say something like, "You seem frustrated, is something wrong?" or, "Are you going through something right now that’s affecting you like this?” You could also simply ask, “Have I done something to upset you?”

#4

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I was sitting in my car making some photos with my new smartphone while using different settings. Than there was this woman who just stoped at an one way street with only 1 lane. So she stands there for like 10 seconds doing nothing. And i thought this is very unusual...so i started to make a video. Another driver comes and honks. Shen then proceeds to revers and hit the car of the other guy with her big BMW. 4 Guys jumped out of the BMW and start yelling at the guy.

You have to know in Germany always the one who hits another car from behind will be blamed if he cant prove that it wasn't his fault. So we have a classic insurance fraud.

The poor guy at the back was realy worried cause he knew he couldn't prove it. I just sit there in my car ant waited for the police. Than i go outside and the police started to get the story's...of course they were 4 against one guys. I just stood there and listen the woman complaining about who this idiot hits her from behind and her brand new car is now damaged.

After the police took the statement from both sides and even take my statement they said there is no chance that 2 vs 4 could proof that he didn't do it.

2 of the guys at the BMW said they didn't know the girl and were pedestrians who saw it. That would increase the credibility.

So they made all false statements to the police and exactly that's the thing i wanted to happen. I than told the police "oh wait there is just one thing" like Colombo style and said that i got a video of what happened. I showed them to the police and the women and the drivers just stand there with mouth open...you could not only see how she hits HIS car but also that the "Pedestrians" where with the women in the car.

The guy than hugs me and we became good friends. Turns out he lives near me and we spend the evening drinking and gaming.

Sry for bad englisch im german.
110points

#5

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Guy got out of his car to express some road rage to me. I just got out of my truck, walked past him, pushed the lock button on his door, closed it, walked past him again (his mouth hanging open this time), got back in my truck and drove off. He seemed to be frozen with confusion.
103points

#6

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I work at a retail location that does returns strictly only with tags on the clothes. There was one customer who was exceptionally rude to our staff. She called both women working dumb jerks, which pissed me off.

She came up to the register telling me she'll probably return all the things shes buying and is just trying to impress her friends. So I took all the tags off the clothes when i was bagging everything. I bettered the world that day.
98points

One study found that reminding someone that they’re being rude can make them realize they need to correct their behavior.

"Addressing someone’s rudeness head on is a key component to dealing effectively with incivility," say the Petrus'. Do this by using a phrase like, "I'm surprised you're comfortable saying something like that." You could also ask, “Are you listening to yourself here?” or "Do you realize what you’re saying, and how you’re saying it?”

Asking these questions tells the rude person that what they’re saying is unacceptable, say the experts. It also reminds them to check themselves and reassess their words and behavior. 

#7

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Went to go get my exhaust fixed, no big deal- pothole poked a hole in it.

When I went to go pick up the car a couple hours later, I am treated to a woman SCREAMING at the guy behind the counter- she's positively foaming because she has been waiting nearly 30 minutes for her car to be fixed. She even goes so far as to call the guy an "INSIGNIFICANT LAZY IMMIGRANT".

Guy looks at her- looks at me. Throws me my keys- "Here you go, your Magnum's ready- no charge."

Looks her directly in the eyes. "Looks like it's going to be more expensive than we originally thought. Would you like us to call you a cab?"

I returned shortly afterwards with pizza for the shop.
94points

#8

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I'm a manager at a grocery store, so I get awesomely rude customers on a daily. Every Wednesday is senior discount day. You have to be 55-60 to qualify for the discount. Needless to say, Wednesdays are tense. Lots of seniors, and lots of other people who don't want to deal with the seniors. I don't generally mind the old folks. Most of them are pretty cool and have some interesting stories and cute jokes.

This Wednesday there was one particular customer who was being a huge pain in the neck from the moment she walked in. She was tall, blonde, high heels, very made up, and dressed to the nines. She was probably late 30s to early 40s. She came storming up to customer service, "There are NO parking spots. This is ridiculous. I'm going to request to corporate that you expand your parking lot, since you don't seem to have the initiative to request that yourself." Off to a great start, lady. She comes storming back up about 45 minutes later. "I am in a HUGE hurry, and every line has someone in it. I need to check out here." We had three lines open, and each one had ONE single customer. ONE. I say "No problem, but I'll get you at a checkout. You have too many items to get here." She has a HUGE hissy fit. "I don't have time for this. Let's GO."

As I'm checking her out, it is constant complaining. "You only have one brand of makeup? That is ridiculous. I only wear MAC, but I was going to settle for Revlon, but you don't even have that. Now I have to make a whole separate trip." "Please don't put my bread on top of my eggs, the eggs could roll over and crush the bread." "Please bag my avocados separately; I need to use those for a face mask tonight. They need to be perfect, I have a photo session for work tomorrow. I'm in a magazine." She was unbelievable. Finally, at the end, I had enough.

As she's about to pay, I say, "Don't forget today is senior discount day! You get 5% off!" She just stared at me. "What?" I smiled broadly. "Every Wednesday, senior citizens get 5% off their bill. I'll go ahead and take it off. You are 55-60, right?" She is staring at me, debit card in hand, cheeks getting red. I lose my smile slowly and say "Oh, you don't qualify? Sorry about that. Maybe next year! Thanks for your honesty."

I haven't seen her in the store since.
94points

#9

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Was in theater quite a few years back (some action flick, I think Jean Claude Van Damme) and there were two 16-year-old-or-so kids in front of me who were, in turn, behind a group of smaller kids -- say 12 or so. I was alone -- the wife hates action movies. I quickly noticed that the two older kids were messing with the younger ones -- kicking their seat backs, throwing popcorn at them, flicking spit at them, the works. The theater was crowded so the little guys couldn't move. Finally one of the teens leans forward and (I think) flicked one kid's ear. When the little kid turned around to glare, flicking teen says, "You got a problem with that?" His friend guffaws. When the flickmeister sits back, I haul off and give him a decent slap upside the head, knocking his noggin into his friend's. They both turn and half jump out of their seats ... and then pause when they see me. I am 6-2, 225 pounds. I stood up and said, "You got a problem with that?" They looked at each other and then turned to sit back down. "Uh-uh," I said. "You sit there, and I'm gonna make you as miserable as you've been making those guys in front of you." They shuffled on out of the theater. The younger kids all turned and said "Thank you, sir."

TL;DR Slapped some teen bullies, became action hero.
81points

Saying something like, "Could you repeat that?" tends to work as well.

"Phrases like this stop the conversation in its tracks and force the speaker to rethink what they’re saying, while also making it clear that you won’t allow it to continue," the Petrus' told CNBC.

But, when dealing with a complete rude stranger, some experts believe it's best to just walk away...

#10

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Where I work, the bar is an L. I was taking a break from serving people behind the bar and was sorting out some glasses and putting them into the dishwasher which is where the small side of the L is. There were three of my co-workers to my right/behind me who were all serving on the large side of the L.

Where the glasses and dishwasher are, you can't buy drinks because it would interfere with a fire-exit. A woman and her husband came up to where I was and ordered. I told them politely that if they would like drinks, they need to go around to the bar. She got upset and started swearing at me. I nodded, took two steps to my right as they walked around the pylon to order their drinks from one of the girls.

I smiled and told the girl who was about to serve them that I'd take it, they looked confused and ordered their drinks. I said that I was cutting them off. The woman blew up and asked why. I said that if she couldn't treat the people who make her drinks with respect, she didn't deserve to get drinks to begin with, and that she had 10 seconds to leave the bar before I called security and had them escorted out.


I don't consider it my job to be pleasant to people who aren't pleasant to me. If you're downright rude, you're out and we don't want your business.
74points

#11

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
At the end of a long commute home, after a hard week, i went to a Millie's Cookies store just before closing time. As I walked up to the counter, not 5 feet from it, some guy ran from behind me and tried to cut in front of me - the girl working there insisted i was first (thank you). Outraged at what that guy tried to do, and noticing there was not much cookies left, I said "Hi, I'll take absolutely everything you have". Cost me close to $60, but it was *so* worth it.
72points

#12

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Just the other day I was at a Chinese buffet and the three people in the booth next to me were questioning the waitress (she appeared to be Asian-Hispanic) about voting for the President and who she planned to vote for. She had trouble understanding them and communicating that she could not vote. They immediately began taunting her that she shouldn't be here if she couldn't vote, that she didn't even know who the President of the United States is, and then took a picture and said they would post it on Facebook. I later found out the waitress was on a school visa and couldn't vote but was unable to convey that to them. After the waitress walked off, one of the girls at the table (the one who took the pic) looked up and asked me where I worked because I looked familiar. When I replied the local university in the social work department, she commented that she had recently been in my office to apply to our program, to which I replied Yes, I remember you and I'm also on the admissions committee [followed with a wink]. The color drained from her face and she knew she was screwed.
71points

Dr. Gail Saltz is a psychiatrist and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill-Cornell Medical College. She believes that people are ruder to strangers nowadays than they once were because we are living through stressful times.

Saltz's advice when dealing with crazy and rude behavior from someone you've never met is to not say anything, and rather get away from the scene.

#13

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
My sister and I worked for Circuit City. There was an angry customer she was dealing with who said that a woman didnt know what she was talking about, she needed to get her manager. She got her manager Laurie. He said no a woman cant help me let me speak to your manager. She got her manager Ruthanne. He was so mad at this point and said dont any men work at this store. Im listening to this so I walk out and say in my most feminine voice possible, hello sir can I help you? He screamed and left the store.
71points

#14

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
So I worked customer service for four years this is my favorite one. One Saturday this guy comes through we're decently busy but nothing we haven't seen before. The guy rolls down his window and he just reeks of beer (it's ~11:00 AM) first thing he does is start getting rude about how we didn't wash his car well the last time he was through. Now I was in a good mood at the time so I offered him a couple free air fresheners and told him I would take care of his car myself. I ring up the sale and return with a couple peace token air fresheners, it was at this point his wife who was in the back seat with their baby thanked me. The husband losses it at her saying she is not to talk out of turn or unless spoken to first by a man. I keep my composure send him on his way. I then called the cops told them what happened as far as the alcohol and gave them the make, model, year, color, the direction the guy turned once he left and his license plate number.
59points

#15

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Abstract: Woman and daughter talking trash behind my back in another language that I happen to speak.

I used to work for a major bank and while doing my stint there I came across a ton of jerks. I was taking a deposit for a lady and her daughter and I heard them speaking a Middle Eastern language. At first I wasn't paying attention but when I realized they were speaking Farsi, I was all ears.

Reason: I speak Farsi.

They were talking about how much of a loser I was, how this job as a teller was the only thing I had in my life, that I probably didn't have a girlfriend and didn't attend school. Throughout this conversation I spoke only English to her and every time she responded to my requests she would smile and then say something nasty about me in Farsi.

At the end of the conversation, I switched up the language and said, "Just because I work at a Bank doesn't give you the right to say things about me behind my back. I'm in grad school to become a Psycho Therapist and this job is for spending money. This isn't how Persian people behave and you should be ashamed. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Her daughter snap left the building and her mother was beat red, embarrassed, apologized profusely, and left. I never saw either of them again.
55points

“This person’s a stranger and you could escalate the situation in some way that will be worse for you,” she told SELF. "You could try to confront and reason with them, but unless you’re likely to see the individual again, the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze."

Saltz says engaging with the person could put you at risk. They could be at their breaking point, and might be making headlines tomorrow for doing something crazy, dangerous or violent.

#16

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Today on the train I sat next to a woman who was angry that I sat next to her because she wanted the two seats to herself. As I sat there she kept mouthing under her breath how she just wanted to sit there alone... blah blah blah. Despite the fact that I wanted to tell her that it was public transportation and she needed to get over it I kept my mouth shut. A few minutes later a large woman with a large purse comes and stands in the same car I was in. I get her attention and tell her that she could have my seat. She huffs and puffs her way to me and I help her sit down while grinning at the angry woman who was upset I'd sat beside her. I enjoyed watching her head almost explode from anger as the other large woman's rolls and purse pressed against her for the rest of the ride.

Edit: This lady is a regular and a known seat hog. I've seen her get into arguments before with people because she wants two seats to herself. Everyone pays to ride the train so if there is a seat open then it's up for grabs.
55points

#17

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Waiting in line to vote today, I stood next to an Asian man and we engaged in a conversation about the excitement surrounding this presidential election. He struck me as a very well educated person with interesting insights about this election season. When it was his turn at the registration desk, the woman there asked him if he spoke English and if he did, would she be able to understand him. I spoke up and said that he spoke English a whole lot better than she did and wasn't anywhere near as rude as she is.
50points

#18

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I woman in her mid 50s cut in front of my daughter (2 years old) and I in line at Panera. I was getting her a cookie, and was in a hurry as I was dealing with a 2 year old. I said "What is wrong with you ? how are 70 years old and you still don't know how a line works?" she was silent.
49points

#19

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
I volunteer at my university, safe walks and all that jazz. We are required to report suspicious and illegal activity. Witnessed a woman driving a mercedes-benz across a lawn to bypass the parking gate, tearing up this gorgeous lawn. Being an ex-landscaper, and mad at some rich jerk being too cheap for parking, I am not amused, so we reported it to the parking authority. They show up while the chick is still getting stuff out of her trunk, box her in, and start writing a ticket. She ended up driving away, over a curb, peeling her bumper off in the process. Made me kinda happy inside.
46points

#20

37 Times People Had The Satisfying Opportunity To Make A Jerk’s Day Worse
Not me but when I was working at a car dealership we had a bunch of cars get their wheels stolen one night. A police officer was in writing a report and a lady came in screaming that the cop was blocking her from getting to the service drive through. She was screaming at the top of her lungs creating a huge scene. The cop calmly walks out and moves his car, comes back in and finishes his report. Then he walks back out and drives his car to the end of the street and parks. The lady comes out and gets in her car and leaves. He pulls her over for having her wipers on without her headlights on.
46points
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