A woman discovered that her two roommates recorded a podcast all about how much they can't stand her — and people actually listened to it. The roomies even divulged and mocked the woman's mental health issues.
She's now, of course, asked the internet for help.
She posted a queryabout the issueon the /r/relationships subreddit. She first found out about the whole thing thanks to some fan mail the roommates received:
I was picking up mail from the mailbox and they got a fanmail postcard sent to them from their friend away at a religious camp. On it described how the podcast update "made her day", and described how she laughed at the parts about info pertaining to my eating disorder, mental health, and how they think my new SO (24M) is "...interesting..." (aka they think he's awkward).
After reading this bizarre piece of mail, she realized what was going on.
Not only is it incredibly uncomfortable to think how they're essentially making my life a reality tv show, but the fact that they are sharing info that they promised to keep secret (i.e. my eating disorder and mental health issues) is really distressing. I hear them gossip about me when in adjacent rooms, but I wouldn't have expected a full blown fucking podcast about my quirks and fuck ups.... They're the type to watch a lot of dating reality TV and watch gossipy popular youtubers , so it makes sense to me that they are the epitome of drama queens .... however this really feels like crossing a line.
Finally, she asked for help — and said she's already locked into living with this gruesome twosome for another year.
How do I approach them about this?I have to live with these people for another year, how do I bring up the fact that I know they are talking to me behind my back all the time?
This is a tough one, but the people of Reddit had her back. Most of the advice is simple: move out.
One advised her to get a lawyer and send a cease and desist letter right away, on the grounds that the roommates are endangering her.
"Even if they didn't use your name directly,"the user said, "they gave out their address if they are receiving fan mail. And anyone can look up that address, see who lives there and figure out who you are easily enough, so they really can't cry that they kept your identity a secret, because no they didn't."
Another said that actually, what the roommates did mightnottechnically be an invasion of privacy.
"If they’re not sharing her name/identifying information, and the OP shared the issues with them openly, I really don’t think there’s legal grounds for action,"they said. "My advice to the OP would be to no longer speak to these people more than necessary, and as soon as you can move out or don’t sign another lease with them, even if it isn’t the most convenient option."