A college roommate spat went from a simple noise complaint to a potentially criminal act in the blink of an eye. This story, shared by a frustrated student, starts off with a list of pretty standard roommate grievances: messes, smells, and general uncleanliness.
But the tale takes such a sharp, catastrophic turn that you’ll be left with your jaw on the floor. What begins as a fight over a jump rope escalates into an act of revenge so poorly thought out, it resulted in a stolen laptop and the very real threat of legal action. This is a masterclass in how not to handle conflict when you live with someone.
Okay, you need to read this insanity for yourself:
Okay, let’s all take a deep breath. This one is… a lot. You start out feeling a little bit of sympathy for the guy with the messy roommate, we’ve all been there, right? The unwashed dishes, the questionable bathroom smells, it’s all classic roommate horror story material.
But the story takes such a catastrophic nosedive that you’re left with whiplash. The roommate hides the jump rope, which is petty and childish. The Original Poster’s (OP) response? To hide his roommate’s essential, expensive laptop… outside. And then, to top it all off, he casually mentions he’s physically stronger so his roommate can’t do anything about it.
It’s at that moment you realize this isn’t about a messy roommate anymore. It’s about a total lack of empathy and a terrifyingly bad judgment call.
A Masterclass in How NOT to Handle Conflict
This story is a textbook example of an escalating retaliation cycle, where two people try to “get back” at each other, with each response becoming more severe until something breaks. And in this case, something very expensive and important broke, or rather, got stolen.
Living with other people is hard, there is no question about it. According to a survey by Rent.com, a staggering 68% of renters have had a bad roommate experience. Friction is normal. What happened here, however, is not. The OP’s choice to escalate from a disagreement over noise to the theft and subsequent loss of property is an extreme overreaction.
As conflict resolution expert Dr. Ryan Martin explains in Psychology Today, this kind of angry, retaliatory behavior often stems from a person feeling like they’ve been treated unfairly.
The OP clearly felt his roommate’s request to stop making noise was unfair. But his response wasn’t to communicate; it was to punish. This need to “even the score” rarely ends well, as Dr. Martin notes that anger can make us “focus on the most extreme options.” And it doesn’t get much more extreme than hiding a laptop outside.
The Reddit jury came back with a verdict, and it was absolutely brutal.
The verdict was a resounding ‘You’re the A–hole,’ with nearly everyone pointing out that hiding a laptop outside is an act of catastrophic stupidity.
One user did the brilliant work of rewriting the entire story from the roommate’s perspective, and it paints an entirely different picture.
Many couldn’t get past the OP’s sense of entitlement, especially regarding the TV in his roommate’s room.
How to Avoid a Roommate War Like This
So, how do you live with someone without it ending in a police report? It all comes down to communication before things get this heated. The moment you feel resentment building over unwashed dishes or a noisy habit, that’s the time to talk, not the time to plot your revenge.
A simple conversation about quiet hours could have prevented this whole disaster. Something like, “Hey, I know you need to study and I need to work out. Could we agree that I’ll jump rope between 5 and 6 pm, so you know when to expect it?” This approach treats your roommate like a partner in problem-solving, not an enemy to be defeated.
Using “I” statements also helps. Instead of “You’re too loud,” try “I have a hard time concentrating when there’s a lot of noise.” It feels less like an accusation and more like a statement of your needs. In the end, it’s about choosing a 5-minute awkward conversation over a multi-year lease filled with misery and malice.
The Final Verdict…
The Reddit community was right. This wasn’t about a messy roommate or a noisy workout. This was about a complete failure to communicate and an alarming willingness to escalate a minor disagreement into a major crisis. The OP is not only the jerk in this situation; he’s also fully responsible for replacing his roommate’s laptop. His claim that his roommate “has no proof” is naive at best. This post, and his own admission to his roommate, are all the proof needed.
What do you think? Was this the worst case of roommate revenge you’ve ever seen? Could this living situation ever be salvaged? Let us know in the comments.
