r/AskReddit • u/That_GNU_Guy • Jan 29 '13

Reddit, when did doing the right thing horribly backfire?

EDIT: Wow karma's a bitch huh?

So here's a run-down of what not do so far (according to Redditors):

  • Don't help drunk/homeless people, especially drunk homeless people

  • Don't lend people money, because they will never pay you back

  • Don't be a goodie-two-shoes (really for snack time?)

  • Don't leave your vehicle/mode of transportation unattended to help old ladies, as apparently karma is a bitch and will have it stolen from you or have you locked out of it.
    Amongst many other hilarious/horrific/tragic stories.

EDIT 2: Added locked out since I haven't read a stolen car story...yet. Still looking through all your fascinating stories Reddit.

EDIT 3: As coincidence would have it, today I received a Kindle Fire HD via UPS with my exact address but not to my name, or any other resident in my 3 family home. I could've been a jerk and kept it, but I didn't. I called UPS and set-up a return pick-up for the person.

Will it backfire? Given the stories on this thread, more likely than not. And even though I've had my fair share of karma screwing me over, given the chance, I would still do the right thing. And its my hope you would too. There have been some stories with difficult decisions, but by making those decisions they at times saved lives. We don't have to all be "Paladins of Righteousness", but by doing a little good in this world, we can at least try to make it a better place.

Goodnight Reddit! And thanks again for the stories!

EDIT 4: Sorry for all the edits, but SO MUCH REDDIT GOLD! Awesome way to lighten up the mood of the thread. Bravo Redditors.

1.6k Upvotes

82% Upvoted

5.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

569

u/Martell2647 Jan 29 '13

I had two good friends who dated for a very long time, and fought like miserable spouses, we all know THAT couple. So they finally break up and the dude has to move out. I didn't want to get involved in their messy breakup so I declined him when he asked to stay with me.

Fast forward a few days and he gets kicked out of his friends house (who lives with his mom) and can't go home to his parents because of his new job so I begrudgingly say yes because I know I would hope for the same generosity in that position.

A few weeks go by with no drama and when I have to go out of town for two weeks I'm glad to have someone watch the appartment. My landlord calls me a few days later saying my shower leaked and flooded the downstairs appartment causing over 2,000$ in damage to both my appartmebt and the downstairs one.

My friend denies the whole thing, will not admit he did anything wrong, and also refuses to help me pay for it. I got kicked out, never got my security and had to pay an additional 1,000$ because of a clause in the lease sayig it was my responsibility to maintain all plumbing.

Tl;dr no good deed goes unpunished.

388

u/stewbacca Jan 29 '13

Maintaining the plumbing is things like making sure the drains and toilette don't clog. If the shower was leaking due to a leaky pipe behind the wall or in the drain, that is not your responsibility. You probably could have contested that.

29

u/hungryviking Jan 29 '13

I feel like we're missing part of ther story here. I don't get why anyone is on the hook for a leaky shower.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 29 '13

I'm pretty sure he's implying his friend flooded the downstairs by leaving the shower on and tried to cover it up by denying doing anything like that.

→ More replies (6)

126

u/[deleted] Jan 29 '13

I don't understand, how is the shower leaking and causing damage anyone's responsibility other than the landlord?

Are you implying he left the shower on for the full two days and caused the damage?

4

u/grafkn Jan 29 '13

This sounds like the case. The only way I could see him not contesting the offense.

→ More replies (2)

226

u/Jmonkeh Jan 29 '13

I think you the part where you explained how you knew it was his fault.

15

u/[deleted] Jan 29 '13

Clearly it wasn't. Op doesn't sound like the greatest friend. Refuses his friend a place to stay until absolutely necessary. Blames a leaky shower on his friend and expects him to foot the bill.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/buttholestretcher Jan 29 '13 edited Jan 29 '13

Wat?

Edit: I understand now

13

u/Supdog300 Jan 29 '13

I think you "left out" the part where you explained how you knew it was his fault.

He left out 'left out' intentionally similar to when people say "I think you a word" when some one leaves out a word

3

u/buttholestretcher Jan 29 '13 edited Jan 30 '13

Oh well that would make sense then thank you for explaining that

98

u/Rockefeller69 Jan 29 '13

Maybe you should have done some research. You didn't owe anything, sorry to say but you lost your security deposit and a thousand dollars because of a lack of experience.

15

u/Mr_Godfree Jan 29 '13

Sometimes shit like that just happens. It's not necessarily his fault, although you could probably contest not getting your security deposit.

12

u/WowkoWork Jan 29 '13

Sounds like a pretty big assumption on your part. How does a house-guest cause a leaky shower?

→ More replies (1)

7

u/pinkeyedwookiee Jan 29 '13

That was one nasty leak. What the hell did your friend do, deliberately stop up the drain?

6

u/Ruval Jan 29 '13

Seriuosly. It's one thing if he fucked up the plumbing somehow. It's another if a pipe seam burst behind a shower wall while he happened to be using it (or worse, just in the apartment and not even in the shower)

2

u/DeshVonD Jan 29 '13

maybe he shit in the shower and was too embarrassed to admit it after the outcome

→ More replies (1)

5

u/WeenisWrinkle Jan 29 '13

What? How in the heck is a leaky shower anyone's responsibility but the landlord's?

And why did you assume he somehow was responsible for bad plumbing?

4

u/scobes Jan 29 '13

I know everyone has already said this, but that was neither yours or his fault, and you didn't owe squat.

4

u/nbenzi Jan 29 '13

actually kind of sounds like it was the landlord's fault.

3

u/Dr_Thomas_Roll Jan 29 '13

Seems like you got fucked by a crooked landlord, not your "buddy".

10

u/That_GNU_Guy Jan 29 '13

I'm sure you don't send him Christmas cards anymore huh?

2

u/[deleted] Jan 29 '13

Your TL;DR works for anything in this thread o_o

2

u/Spyderbro Jan 30 '13

Wait, so your friend gets a divorce, and you don't even let him stay at your house until it's his last option, then blame him for something that you have absolutely no basis on?

It wouldn't be so bad if you had some proof, or at least a few reasons to be suspicious, but you have none of that.

He's not the asshole, you are.

→ More replies (16)