Is Passive-Aggressive Revenge Bad?

[Paul154]

It's high season and I'm enjoying high and easy popularity. I'm close to the airport with convenient bus service.

So yesterday I get an inquiry.

"blah-blah-blah, You're close to the airport good,

blah-blah-blah,

Are you close to the light rail?"

I roll my eyes. I'm not close to the light rail. As a matter of fact, my airport bus is faster and more convenient.

I know I don't want this person and I know this person is looking for an excuse not to book.

But i do pre-approve and give her a polite reply explaining my bus situation , knowing I'm wasting my effort.

So I wake up this morning, finding her day has been booked by another guest!

I'm relieved and happy to have my judgement vindicated. But there is that evil vindictive side of me that revels in denying her a reservation.

Am I bad?

[Lawrene0]

No theologian here, @Paul154, but only Calvinism would assign guilt to this. Are you a Calvinist? No? Then consider yourself richly rewarded for your pre-approval, and heartily rejoice. 

[Todd-and-Reese0]

What you are experiencing is more like "schadenfreude". You weren't passive-aggressive, nor did you get revenge. You were vindicated. We have a unique property and get people asking for discounts and we always turn them down and the property always gets booked. We did not want them as guests because they were already asking for favors so we were happy they didn't get what they wanted (and that we did)! Schadenfreude!

scha·den·freu·de

ˈSHädənˌfroidə/

noun: schadenfreude

1. pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune