ADVERTISEMENT

If there’s something we've learned from the holy grail of television, aka The Office (except from everything about life, work, love and so on!), it's that a little trick and a tiny troll here and there do no harm. Hands up, everyone who remembers the prank on Dwight’s tape recorder!

Real life is no exception. To make our mundane reality a little more adventurous and somewhat hilarious, people come up with the most ingenious little ways to mess with others. “What are some harmless ways to [mess] with people?” someone asked on Ask Reddit, and oh boy, Pandora's box was opened.

Read on below for the best responses, and please, don’t try this at home! Or try at your own risk, which should be not only minimal, but basically nonexistent.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others My grandpa does this thing where he stops in the busy street and starts staring into the sky as if he’s seen something amazing. It doesn’t take long for other people to stop and stare too, once he’s reaches critical mass he quietly slips away chuckling to himself.

Edit, he’s in his 90’s now but when he was a teenager he was a bit of a young tearaway and had a pet monkey, which is weird considering this was the UK.

Edit 2: holy c**p this blew up overnight. And on my cake day too!

broken-neurons , RODNAE Productions Report

Final score:
360points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others Buy a set of “Voice Activated” or “Motion Activated” stickers from Amazon, and the possibilities are endless

beam_me_up_MFer , amazon Report

Final score:
313points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Every other week or so I'd change which side my coworker's drill's belt clip was on, 2 screws and 30 seconds for a maddening payout. Idk if he ever caught on, as he sadly passed away last year.

I got a huge kick out of doing it though. Might bring that one back as most of us share the same brand of drill.


He got a great one on me. Every day or two he'd hide a Magic the Gathering card in my toolbox, never the same spot twice. Genuinely made me mad when I'd pick something up only to see another card hidden beneath. Eventually I had enough cards to completely cover his locker door inner and outer, he never took them off. Even cut out cards to fit the vents on the locker. I spent a good hour or two on my day off making it. Proud of that one.

RIP Chris. Pranks haven't been the same since you left. Your locker still remains covered in Magic cards and nobody has questioned it to this day.

fun_police911 Report

Final score:
312points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#4

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others Senior prank at my high school a few years ago, they let 3 chickens lose: numbered 1, 2, and 4.

School took forever looking for the 3rd chicken

oat53 , James Wainscoat Report

Final score:
299points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

Occasionally I get Christmas cards sent to my address meant for the previous homeowners, wrong address etc. I take these cards and mail them to my friends and family with their correct names and addresses etc and with their return address. I can imagine them sitting around their table scratching their heads wondering who the hell the O’Reilly family is, in a family picture all dressed up in their Christmas garb sending them a Christmas card. A couple times I than learned that the next year out of courtesy, my relatives would then send the unknown family a Christmas card from them, and than that family is like who the hell are these people.

drgloryboy Report

Final score:
278points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others I put a tiny piece of masking tape over my co-worker’s mouse laser on April fool’s day one year, wrote “April fool’s” on it. He troubleshot every single thing except examining the mouse. He eventually called IT who simply turned the mouse over and pointed it out to him.

Swedish-Butt-Whistle , Charles Williams Report

Final score:
258points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others My grandpa glued a quarter to his driveway near the sidewalk and sits in his living room and watches people try to pick it up. I didn't know this till I found a quarter in the driveway one time.

LongDogWrinkleBits , DC Lies Report

Final score:
253points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

When in an elavator with strangers (or just walking thru a lobby) casually look down and say "oh wow they really did a good job getting the blood out".

Sydroky Report

Final score:
238points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others When someone knocks on the public washroom door you are in respond with come in!

Less-Lunch-472 , Lisa Fotios Report

Final score:
227points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

I do this every so often because it's kind of a game to me to see how long I can keep it up till the person catches on.

I repeat the last word the person says in question form.

Example:

"Hey, me and Jenny are headed to Jim's Pizza Hut."

"Jim's Pizza Hut?"

"Yeah, you know the one on F street."

"F Street?"

Over there near the harbor with the big carousel."

"Carousel?"

"Yeah, you know the one you went with me and Jane."

"Jane?"

"My girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

"Ok, what the f**k is wrong with you?"

Once they call you out and have caught on the game ends. I've carried on a conversation over an hour once doing this. It's really awesome when the person you are doing it to has gone through this a few times with you.

My daughter has gotten me a few times herself and she'll laugh on and off for the day at my expense. Her husband has called me an a*s for teaching this to her a few times too.

Kitzinger1 Report

Final score:
224points
Add photo comments
POST
jasonengman avatar
Jason
Jason
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is basically my 4 yr olds standard conversation pattern lol

Vote comment up
110
110points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

My son can make dolphin sounds to perfection. We were on a dolphin excursion and he would randomly do the sounds. People kept looking over the sides to see the dolphins. He also confused the operator because he kept looking around for dolphins. One of our best family vacation memories.

Aztexan512 Report

Final score:
222points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to be able to make perfect dolphin sounds! 😫

Vote comment up
54
54points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others When I order coffee and they ask for the name I say “Green. Like the sky.”

latortillablanca , Niels Kehl Report

Final score:
221points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

My personal favorite is: Sit down on a park bench next to someone. Slide a manila enevlope with a picture of a random person from the net to them and say, "It has to be done by Friday and it has to look like an accident." Then get up and walk away quickly.

Kawikami99336 Report

Final score:
215points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know if I'd have the cohones to pull this one off

Vote comment up
98
98points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

When you shake someone's hand, move yours left to right. As they do the traditional up and down, a hilarious circle ensues.

spinozasrobot Report

Final score:
214points
Add photo comments
POST
oliviadean avatar
Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The child in me is laughing so hard I'm crying right now. These are fantastic!!

Vote comment up
96
96points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#15

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others Say "no pun intended" after a sentence where there was clearly no pun.

boceya5254 , Canva Studio Report

Final score:
203points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others Edit: For PSA

Hide something around their house. My weapon of choice was tiny rubber ducks.

Open a drawer? Duck.

I need a spoon. Duck.

Lovely picture of their wedding with a nice frame? Duck on top.

Charging box? Duck.

Bubble bath? Duck.

Seldom used shoes? Duck.

Winter coat pocket they won't use for months? Duck.

Its ducking delightful how much mileage you can get out of tiny ducks.

PSA: Be extremely cautious in the case of households containing animals and small children. Both like putting little things in their mouths and other orifices so might be best to avoid Ducking these individuals/ensuring things are definitely out of reach.

Cursed_Insomniac , epicture's Report

Final score:
196points
Add photo comments
POST
gemmelltastic avatar
Got Myself 4 Pandas
Got Myself 4 Pandas
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is the first ever time I've seen someone write ducking and actually intend to type ducking

Vote comment up
153
153points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

When you're talking to someone, just keep handing them random items. They'll just keep taking them without realizing it.

Cat_Hoarder0 Report

Final score:
195points
Add photo comments
POST
admimblake avatar
JP Doyle
JP Doyle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes. I've done this to friends and family and almost always takes a few minutes before they realize what's happening. Usually after their hands are full and can't figure how to take the 7th or 8th item without dropping something

Vote comment up
71
71points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

This one is harmless but occasionally can drive someone mad.

My mom has a bunch of framed family photos hangin on a wall. One day I was visiting I took them all down and scanned them with a little hand scanner. I photoshoped small changes on them, removed some people from some photos, added a couple of celebrities in the background, etc, print them out and replaced them a few days later.

I can't forget her face when she realized it was me and she was not losing it.

_Miki_ Report

Final score:
193points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

My friend was logged into his twitter on my tablet so I kept changing his profile picture to a banana.. he thought someone hacked him and tweeted about it.. I replied to the tweet using his profile.. it got so bad he was arguing with himself on twitter.

foroxev346 Report

Final score:
182points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others When I was a corrections officer we had a guy who worked with us who was kind of a d**k to everyone, and he was computer illiterate. We took a screenshot of his desktop and moved all of his icons off of it so it looked legit but nothing worked. It took him an hour before he finally called IT and they figured it out pretty quickly. He wouldn’t talk to any of us for about a week.

justneedadvice87 , David McEachan Report

Final score:
180points
Add photo comments
POST
rayceeyarayceeya avatar
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You need to take this to the next level. Take the screen shot. Load it in paintbrush. Rotate the image 180deg. Set it as the desktop wallpaper. Next go into your screen settings and rotate the display 180deg. THEN hide the icons and toolbar. The mouse controls will be flipped too. Yes I am 100% evil.

Vote comment up
170
170points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#21

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others Whenever I visit my extended family across the country, I bring a bag full of random remotes that I don’t use anymore. Just random remotes that go to old dvrs or anything really. Just hide them around their house, they only recently caught on.

Dfuz3-Flame , Nicolas Nova Report

Final score:
178points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others If I know someone is walking a little ways behind me and I turn a corner with nobody else around I like to run 10-20 steps to widen the gap and then laugh to myself thinking that the person behind me will be confused.

I doubt anyone ever notices but I get a kick out of it every time.

Shea_J , Ketut Subiyanto Report

Final score:
177points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You getting a kick out of it, is all that matters <3

Vote comment up
76
76points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

At work: give them a "While You Were Out" note saying a "Mr. Fox" called for them and write on the note the number for your local zoo.

BonsaiDiver Report

Final score:
176points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#24

I was talking with a supervisor and I happened to have like 4 hard boiled eggs in my jacket pocket for lunch. So while talking with stuff, I took out an egg, cracked and shelled it and ate it. The conversation kept going so I did it again but I could see he was growing quizzical. I waited a few more minutes, pulled out another and ate that too. By then I could tell he was like WTF. The conversation was wrapping up so I pulled the last one out and he stopped mid conversation and asked me, “how many f$cking eggs do you have?”
I just shrugged, shelled, and then ate, the last egg.

The_Real_Evil_Morty Report

Final score:
175points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others When at work, tell someone: I’m going to the bathroom do you need anything?

whatislife4 , RODNAE Productions Report

Final score:
171points
Add photo comments
POST
ruxandra-ana-vasilescu avatar
Xandra
Xandra
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband does this at home. I hurt my eyes with how much I rolled them...

Vote comment up
63
63points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Reassure people there's nothing wrong with the item they are about to use.

Right before they sit down: "there's nothing wrong with that chair"

UNCLETROUBLE24 Report

Final score:
171points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others When driving I like to wave at random people as if I knew them. Hilarious to see instant confusion on their faces

thattjuliett , David Lee "Tex" Hill Composite Squadron Report

Final score:
164points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this, except I think I DO know the person. Turns out it's not who I thought it was, they look confused and I just look dumb. Lol

Vote comment up
63
63points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

When my husband pours his coffee into his mug and turns around to get milk out of the refrigerator, I pour his coffee back into the coffee pot or into my mug. I cackle as I run out of the room.

OutdoorLadyBird Report

Final score:
162points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

A lady in my office wouldn’t stop talking about gas lighting and people who were gaslighting. So we told her it was actually called “gaslamping” and she has the term wrong. Took a bit of convincing but she started using that term and telling everyone else they were wrong too. A week later we changed it back to gaslighting.

DirrtyMikeAndTheBoyz Report

Final score:
159points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could see this coming in handy with quite a few words

Vote comment up
52
52points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Our neighbour has chickens. About once a week or so we would sneak over and put extra eggs in the lay box, so it looked like the chickens had been on a laying spree. So fun chatting with them, trying to work out why sometimes the chickens were super producers and sometimes not. It ended when we put a chocolate egg in there, they worked it out then 😄😄

Flashy_Information70 Report

Final score:
153points
Add photo comments
POST
madamecorcoran avatar
harpling
harpling
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bonus points for putting in eggs that already have stamps on the shell (size certified, or another farm's logo, etc.)

Vote comment up
64
64points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

Say "I don't want to sound racist, but" and then say something completely positive yet irrelevant.

"I don't want to sound racist, but the sun looks lovely on those flowers".

Fuzzythought Report

Final score:
152points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

Look at their forehead, ear, or chin during the entire conversation.


Call in sick to a place you don't work.


At the deli, ask for the most human tasting meat they have.


Go to the grocery store and ask for Gomber. "You know, it's kind of red, and you put it on mayo sandwiches."

Ask if they like your perfume and get them to smell your neck, wrist, ankle, or other body part. Don't actually be wearing any perfume.

SirPatrickofMichigan Report

Final score:
142points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others If two neighbors have opposite political signs during an election, swap them

ResidentGerts , Gage Skidmore Report

Final score:
137points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless they are tRump signs, and then just burn them

Vote comment up
100
100points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

"A Tiny Piece Of Masking Tape Over A Coworker's Mouse Laser": 35 People Share Genius Yet Harmless Ways To Prank Others The movie theater in my town is usually mostly empty. There's been a couple of times when I've come in to get seated and there's literally only one other person in my auditorium.

There's an evil part of me that wants to just go sit right next to them. Not illegal, but it should be.

matt314159 , Donald Tong Report

Final score:
135points
Add photo comments
POST
oliviadean avatar
Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sooo.. if you're a guy, and the person is a female.. this would just be creepy and intimidating

Vote comment up
8
8points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#35

Some guy on Quora had this genius idea. Grab a highlighter, and randomly highlight one name on a public list (attendance, lunch money, extracurricular classes, whatever). You won't get to see it, but some poor fellow will silently lose their mind trying to figure out why their name is highlighted.

Gungcael Report

Final score:
132points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"why is my name highlighted?" *has panic attack*

Vote comment up
62
62points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 68 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!