'I deactivated the PS4, cleared the console, and sold it': Guy motivates a freeloading roommate by sabotaging the communal gaming console

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Oct 3, 2023 10:00 AM EDT

Nobody likes a mooch. When you're going out on a limb to help someone, especially a family member, and they treat your generosity with the same disdain as an entitled teenager, the 'woe is me' act starts to get old. Mooches usually know when they're being a mooch, because their insistent moochage saves them the trouble of doing things for themselves. A professional mooch, a 'parasite' if you will, can sometimes get so co-dependent and so useless that it requires a pretty strong kick in the keister to get them moving along on their own again.

That's why, when one man on Reddit (u/RedDevilsAus), was faced with a down-and-out brother in law, he had some tough decisions to make in order to preserve his household, his marriage, and his own sanity. OP's brother in law was in a pinch and moved in with OP and his wife, which quickly turned from a temporary favor into a long-term financial burden. 

Scroll for the full story of how one man motivated the moochiest family member to get on with his life, by taking away the thing he loved most: His gaming console. For more pettiness, check out this tale of an employee who got ghosted at a job interview and retaliated by doing donuts on their lawn on his way out. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/pettyrevenge · Posted by u/Red DevilsAus Don't contribute, don't get looked after! Recently me (35m) and my partner (32f) had her brother move in with us
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 02
    Font - "temporarily" after having a falling out with his old roommate. He had nowhere else to go so we told him he can bunk and search for his own place.
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 03
    Font - Anyways upon doing so we told him we were willing to house and feed him as long as he contributed to bills and groceries and shoot
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 04
    Font - $100 a week fuel money my way to drive him to work (his license expired) to save him on taxi and uber costs. And pull his weight around the house
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 05
    Font - For the first 4 weeks he was regular and on time financially and helped tidy the house whenever he made messes.
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 06
    Font - Now we are 3 months in. No sign of moving out. No financial contribution and no help domestically. He just eats, sleeps and works,
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 07
    Font - So last week we had a massive argument about his contribution, or lack thereof and he flipped his s... and said we need to be more understanding and help him because he's family (insert guilt trip here)
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  • 08
    Font - So my partner and I decided to tweak a few things. I didn't take him to work. We bought and made food we know he doesn't eat and no longer take him for shopping trips for things he needs.
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 09
    Font - We have squeezed him out in the hopes the novelty wears off of the "care" he has been receiving. And my Petty revenge. He
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 10
    Font - was using my old PS4 pro in the lounge room as his console. Purchased all these digital deluxe editions of expensive games. He is an avid and religious gamer.
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 11
    Font - When he was at work. I deactivated the ps4, cleared the console and sold it. He is now looking for rentals and houseshares.
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 12
    Font - misstiff1971 · 1 day ago Also - change your wifi password and don't give it to him.
    via u/misstiff1971
  • 13
    Font - Wild_code_5242 - 1 day ago I love that the rides & food weren't motivation enough. Mess with his gaming ability and suddenly he's inspired to seek other accommodations! Brilliantly done!
    via u/Wild_Code_5242
  • 14
    Rectangle - Red DevilsAus OP - 1 day ago Gotta hit em where it hurts. Besides. I remember losing gaming access. It sucks.
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 15
    Font - Bee-Diddy 12 hr. ago . If you wanna really mess with his head, blacklist his device. If he asks, act confused, forget the network on your phone, let him watch you reconnect without issue. If he resets the router, wait a couple days and do it again. Blame it on his hardware.
    via u/Bee-Diddy
  • 16
    Font - Vistemboir 1 day ago He had a sweet deal, and managed to trash it... (and I don't think I would have been so patient!)
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  • 17
    Font - Red DevilsAus OP 1 day ago It's a sensitive approach. The parents have both passed away. No aunt's it uncles or cousins or grandparents to assist or offer accommodation. We are legit the only family so it's tough
    via u/RedDevilsAus
  • 18
    Font - LibraryMouse4321 - 1 day ago Then he should have been a better guest knowing that he had no other family to mooch off of. He blew it. The best example of f around and find out.
    via u/LibraryMouse4321
  • 19
    Smile - cocosailing 1 day ago Exactly, this goes both ways. OP and spouse have sensitivities too.
    via u/cocosailing
  • 20
    Rectangle - mgmacius12 1 day ago No reason to be a leech. I him out the would. moment he stopped contributing plus say 2 weeks grace period. After that? Hit the road jack!
    via u/mgmacius12
  • 21
    Font - SpinachnPotatoes. 1 day ago I wonder if the old room mate problems may be similar to the ones you are having now.
    via u/SpinachnPotatoes
  • 22
    Rectangle - Red DevilsAus OP 1 day ago . No idea. We asked and all he said is it was a falling out. Never elaborated
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  • 23
    Smile - mrdumbazcanb- 1 day ago Sounds like a totally his fault and just doesn't want to admit it. Good luck
    via u/mrdumbazcanb
  • 24
    Font - Zoreb1 1 day ago That's the way to do it. I read posts about moochers who have been around for years. it least he works; many time the deadbeats quit their jobs to make it emotionally harder to evict them.
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  • 25
    Font - CoderJoe1 1 day ago Parasites quickly move on looking for their next source. Reply Share 49 RedDevilsAus OP. 1 day ago Every parasite needs a host
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  • 26
    Hand - "Now we are 3 months in. No sign of moving out. No financial contribution and no help domestically."
    via u/canva

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Tags

playstation motivation codependent freeloading freeloader revenge gaming PlayStation 4 gamers petty revenge gaming console story family reddit thread mooch Reddit brother in law
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