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"
"HE said HARMLESS"
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."
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".
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"
This Isn't Even About Me And It's Driving Me Crazy
- "Hey [insert name]"
- "Yes?"
- "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!"
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."
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!"
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"
They Say Harmless, Not Terrify!
"As you walk off an elevator, put ur finger on ur ear and say "cut the cable".
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."
You...Monster?
"Don't turn around and face the door like everyone else when you walk onto an elevator."
"Bonus points if you walk out backwards and continue doing so until you're out of sight."
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."
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."
"Chaotic evil"
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."
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."
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."
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."
"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."
We're taking notes! Do you have any tactics to add? Share them in the comments below.
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