Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share The Best Ways To Harmlessly Annoy Someone

People Share The Best Ways To Harmlessly Annoy Someone
David Sacks/Getty Images

Deep down inside of us is a desire to get under someone's skin. This could be why "trolling" on the internet is so prevalent, because you know by annoying someone you're now in their head. You're being thought of, acknowledged for effort, and eliciting some kind of emotional response.

Or maybe because it's just fun? Let's see.


Reddit user Psych0matt wanted to know how to cause trouble without actually getting in trouble when they asked:

What's a fun harmless way to annoy or confuse people?

Starting Off Hot

Giphy

"Sometimes when I'm driving, I'll wave hi to people pretending I know them. That way... all day they'll be like, "Where do I know him from?". Confusing & stressful. lol"

cheetosychamoy

"HE said HARMLESS"

Minime_164

The Dot Never Leaves

"When talking to someone stare at their forehead."

Curtismcg7392

They'll Reach And Reach And Reach And Never Be Able To Get It

"If you work in a gas station and have a window that shows all the tickets set into your counter, there's usually just 2 panes of glass that sit on top of each other and I cant tell you how many times I've put quarters or dollar coins in between those panes of glass. Definitely a cheap source of entertainment for a few hours."

Burntvanillaoreo

A Dad We Can All Aspire To Be

"When you're in a full car. Choose a target, preferably somone walking by themself. When you are close to them, honk a couple of times until you get their attention then tell everyone in the car to wave hysterically. My dad used to do this all the time when my family was doing some kind of roadtrip. They'll walk around for the rest of the day thinking "who the f-ck were those people".

percunnilingoft

Doc's Machine! It Worked!

"Run into a store and loudly ask someone "What Year is it?"

"They reply"

"Then you yell "YES!! IT WORKED!!" Then run out of the store"

Missmeowstin

This Isn't Even About Me And It's Driving Me Crazy

  1. "Hey [insert name]"
  2. "Yes?"
  3. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter."

Leave Them Scratching Their Heads

"I like learning languages, so whenever I hear people in the tram speak a language I can recognize, I do the following:"

"I wait until it's my stop to get out, and just before I leave I turn to them and say to them in their language: "Have a nice day!"

languagepotato

Annoyed In Multiple Languages

"If your in a tourist part of a country it's very likely people will try to sell you things and they know a little English, if you respond in a language not often spoken on that continent they can get confused. In China someone tried to sell me something and when I responded with "nein, das Deutschland Uber allies, panzer wagen gewher"(the only German I know from ww2 games and movies) they look on their face was utter confusion because I was so obviously an American."

mudder123

They'll Be Confused, But Also Endeared

"When someone makes a noise that isn't sneezing, I like to occasionally say bless you. Usually makes them do a double take and gets a laugh out of them, others just think I'm dumb!"

SarinationX

And They'll Always Wonder...

"Hand random people a note that says "call me" and walk away, but don't put ur number on it"

PatBerz

They Say Harmless, Not Terrify!

"As you walk off an elevator, put ur finger on ur ear and say "cut the cable".

PatBerz

Subtle Mental Manipulation

"While in conversation with someone, hand them whatever you're holding. 9 times out of 10, they will take it without knowing why. Conversely, if the person you're talking to is holding something, and you hold out your hands, they'll likely give it to you."

PartTimeKhajiit

You...Monster?

"Don't turn around and face the door like everyone else when you walk onto an elevator."

PenisBeautyCream

"Bonus points if you walk out backwards and continue doing so until you're out of sight."

GrandMoffHarkonen

Make Sure They Spell Your Name Right

"Hi! My name is Jason, without a B."

  • "There's no B in Jason..." "Yeah that's what I said."

Zero Follow Up

"When someone asks "Do you know what time it is?" Only reply with "Yes" and nothing else."

thebubbahotep

It's The Little Things That Hurt The Most

"Unplug their ethernet cable. Put tape on the very end of it. Put it back. It will still click into place but wont make a connection."

WrestlingWoo

"Chaotic evil"

FlyinSideboardPl

Confuse Them In Many Languages

"When approached by random people in the street I don't want to engage with nothing confuses them more by saying, "I don't speak English" in perfect English."

"Works like a charm in terms of confusion."

brownandwhite2

Wonder How Long It Would Take Other People To Figure It Out...?

"Get two friends to look at a spot in the sky with you, point at it and look concerned. Once the crowd is big enough, leave to a distance and time how long it takes to dissipate."

Chaoscollective

They Would Constantly Wonder What You Say Behind Their Backs

"If you're talking with someone and a third person walks up...take whatever the last sentence said was about, and say "speaking of <...>, here's <their name>." Like... "Speaking of my neighbor's 12-year-old daughter, here's Steve." "Speaking of being drunk and naked, here's Rachelle."

"It's generally always off color and awkward, or maybe that's just the stuff I talk about and the people I talk to."

n00dl3_n0gg1n

A Lot Of Work For Little Payoff....PERFECT.

Giphy

"Easiest sh-t ever, just open a screenshot of a bluescreen, open it and make it full Screen on someones pc."

"Also, make a screenshot of their Desktop. Use this screenshot as their Desktop Background. Then move around all the Desktop Icons. Now every Icon is there twice, half of them are fake."

unrely13

"Before you make the screenshot, make a folder on their desktop and name it something that doesn't stand out. After the screenshot, put all their icons in that folder. Then make the screenshot their background. Now everything but the folder is a lie."

n00dl3_n0gg1n

We're taking notes! Do you have any tactics to add? Share them in the comments below.

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshots of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez giving Capitol tour
@AmberJoCooperX; @aoc/BlueSky

AOC Saves The Day By Giving Bronx Middle School Group A Tour Of The Capitol Amid Shutdown

New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had people cheering after she stepped in to act as tour guide after a group of middle schoolers from the Bronx pulled up to the Capitol hours after the U.S. government officially shut down.

The federal government shut down early Wednesday after the White House and Congress failed to reach an agreement on federal spending. While Senate Democrats are in the minority, they hold enough seats to filibuster and are insisting that Republicans agree to extend federal subsidies for people insured under the Affordable Care Act.

Keep ReadingShow less
house with orange walls and red roof behind decorative fence

.

Alexander Lunyov on Unsplash

Homeowners Reveal Hidden Gems They Only Discovered After Buying Their Homes

Whenever you buy a house, you hope and pray for the best.

You never want an unexpected shock once everything is finalized.

Keep ReadingShow less
John Gillette; Pramila Jayapal
@AzRepGillette/X; Win McNamee/Getty Images

GOP Lawmaker Sparks Outrage After Calling For Dem Rep. To Be Executed For Urging People To Protest Trump

On Wednesday, September 25, an Arizona MAGA Republican state Representative publicly called for the execution of Washington Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal because she urged anyone displeased with MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's job performance to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech and to protest.

Apparently, urging citizens to make their voices heard was a step too far for Arizona state GOP Representative John Gillette, who responded to a clip edited out of a longer video by right-wing account The Patriot Oasis (TPO). A quick scan through Gillette's X account media posts will reveal his political leanings.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from ​@nicolekatelynn1's TikTok video
@nicolekatelynn1/TikTok

Liberal TikToker Mortified After Discovering That Her Therapist Is Hardcore MAGA

There used to be a time where politics did not have to come into every room or be a part of every conversation. But in a world with President Trump and MAGA, it's not as simple as being Red, Blue, or Green anymore.

Now, the sociopolitical climate is dangerous for many people and still very stress-inducing for others. It's important to surround ourselves with people who make us feel safe and seen—and unfortunately, that might mean cutting out people who have "different beliefs" than we do.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @valerieelizabet's TikTok video
@valerieelizabet/TikTok

Teacher Reveals The Hilariously Familiar Way Kids Are Getting Around School Phone Bans

No matter what's being banned, or the reasons why it's being banned, kids will always find a way to access what they want.

What's funny is that teens in 2025 are now creating hacks to communicate with each other that will feel very nostalgic to Millennials.

Keep ReadingShow less