People Break Down Which Things Are Illegal In Europe But Not In The U.S.
Whenever a person is getting ready to travel, one piece of advice they should always listen to is to read up on the local laws of the place they're visiting.
Because there are activities that might be acceptable back home that will land a person in jail in another country.
Curious, Redditor Judgmental_Squirrel asked:
"What is something illegal in Europe but not in the US?"
Baby Names
"In Denmark, we can't just name our babies anything we want. We have an approved names list to pick from. We can request a name that is not on the list but it rarely gets approved."
- Healthy_Highlight_71
No Medicine Commercials in Europe
"Pharmaceutical companies marketing directly to consumers."
- ConstantlySlippery
Aesthetic Dog Changes
"Docking dog's tails and cropping their ears."
- Penguinair
Also Cat Aesthetics
"Declawing cats. Most countries here do not allow that."
- DreamingDragonSoul
Crate-Training Animals
"In Germany and in other European countries, it's illegal to lock dogs in cages or crates for extended periods of time. As in daily while you are at work, for example. It's considered animal abuse."
"So many people in the US do this and I've always thought it was abusive. It amazes me how they justify it as, 'Oh, my dog loves the secure feeling of being in his crate' when it's only done for the owner's convenience."
- KookyPiccolo1661
Enough Said.
"Flamethrowers."
- squirrelrap69
Predatory Pricing
"Selling something below the price you bought it for (with the intention to sabotage other businesses). For example, Walmart tried to do this in Germany to destroy their rivals, but they failed miserably and completely retreated out of Germany."
- Lord_Gelthon
Washing Eggs Pre-Sale
"I'm in the US, and a former workmate has chickens as a hobby and gives away the eggs, unwashed. They are in the carton and obviously straight from the nest, because there are all sorts of particles of an output nature on the eggs."
"In Europe, eggs at the stores have sometimes a bit of poop or even feathers on them. Either rinse them before or just wash your hands after. But usually, they're quite clean."
- rncookiemaker
Not Okay in Europe
"Well, Colorado just made it legal to grow psychedelic mushrooms in your own home."
- ITRabbitHole
Additives in Food and Drinks
"Brominated vegetable oil."
- Marijn_fly
Satire Not Allowed
"In the UK at least, showing footage from parliament in a comedy show. More specifically, 'No extracts from parliamentary proceedings may be used in comedy shows or other light entertainment such as political satire.'"
"I only learned that when I tried to watch an episode of 'The Daily Show' that was blocked in the UK for that reason.US comedy shows can show congress all they want."
- Moctor_Drignall
No Sick Days
"This is the main reason I quit my job at Walmart. I had strep throat, so I got a doctor's note and asked that my absences be excused. The managers there refused, and so I quit."
"By the way, Walmart counts your absences as points against you. For example, if you're absent and call in to let them know, you still get a point. Get five points and you're fired. Really makes you feel like a worker drone in a dystopian novel."
- stellaluna-37
The Impact of Additives
"The US has a use it until it's proven harmful policy, and the EU the other way around. Prove it doesn't harm (in given and reasonable quantities) and you can use it."
"Fun fact, some friendly Americans after moving to Europe started realizing they did not suffer from suspected lactose/gluten/you name it intolerance but simply had their guts harmed by additives and seen their symptoms improve here. Check your additives, kids."
- ArtichokeFamiliar205
Candy Distribution
"Various ingredients found in lollies/sweets/candy e.g titanium dioxide. There are tighter restrictions on food production in Europe resulting in American companies having to alter their recipes so they can be sold in European countries."
"A lot of US-based companies partner with foreign companies to meet these laws (so the healthier versions rarely reach US soil). In French Polynesia for example, Coca-Cola partners with La Brasserie de Tahiti, and all of it is made with real sugar and sold in glass bottles that you return to any store for a discount on your next purchase."
"I can't remember for sure if the glass bottles are a law or just the standard for La Brasserie de Tahiti. Either way, it's a great example of how easy it is to cut our reliance on plastic. The public will adopt it quickly, it's really just corporate greed getting in the way."
- A0ma
Sale Sale Sale
"Artificially jacking up prices of things only to then put them 'on sale' when the sale price is really just the always-intended price."
- peachpinkjedi
While the word "illegal" may make most people think of illegal activities that a citizen might perform, most of the illegal acts here were in regards to public safety, as well as allowing the general public to live a healthier life.
Unpaid internships during summer's off from college are largely viewed as a right of passage.
But in most cases, they weren't exactly legal.
For-profit companies can, in fact, only hire unpaid interns if they are the "primary beneficiary" of the experience, i.e. not making coffee runs or spending the whole day at the copy machine, as most interns do.
Shockingly, many companies still continue to hire unpaid interns, knowing full well they are breaking the law by doing so.
But then, some people have no problem knowingly breaking the law, and worse still, they often get away with it.
Redditor Diligent-Log6805 was curious to learn about other illegal activities continue to happen without anyone seeming to notice, leading them to ask:
"What is illegal, but people continue to do openly without consequences?
Making the long haul even longer.
"Hauling more than the legal weight limit in dump trucks."
"I did a project a few years ago for my former employer because they noticed ALL the contractors that they hired were carrying more than the legal weight limit."
"This is a big issue because these trucks have increased stopping distances and are more likely to injure/kill people in the cars they hit."
"My company was pissed because they didn't want to be legally responsible if there were an accident."
"They had me analyze how much it would cost to buy a fleet of dump trucks, but it turns out you can't make much money hauling at the legal limit, so all dump trucks carry like twice the limit and just take the fines when weigh stations are open because it is WAY cheaper."
"Pretty messed up."
"Honestly, I felt like I did humanity a disservice telling them it wouldn't be worth it."
"If you ever get hit by a dump truck you can almost certainly sue them for being above the weight limit, but nobody really knows this."
"This depends on the legal weight limits in your region, but I know this to be true for most of the Northeast US."- tehipite_tom
Not everyone is deserving of a raise...
"Tell their employees they can’t talk about their wages with coworkers."- bowlofjello
Season 6 Reaction GIFGiphyMaking the market even more volatile...
"Insider trading."- CremeDeLaNut
Don't people care about the environment?
"Littering."- MyWorkAccountMSA
Seriously, what can be so urgent?
"I see at least 3 red lights run on a daily basis."- Podoboo322
Driving Fast GIF by The Grand TourGiphyPeople are distracted even when they're walking
"People driving while on their phone."- Elettra_of
Sadly, seems like it's the American way...
"Politicians accepting bribes."- Patron_of_Wrath
More expensive than I thought...
"Use Tax."
"Where I live, if you buy something in another state without sales tax, but bring it back to your home state, you have to send your home state the tax you 'should have' paid if bought locally."
"Even if it's pants."
"Let me get right on that..."- prof_dorkmeister
Some people seem to like to live dangerously, without fear of any consequences or repercussions.
And most likely, these same people are thinking only of themselves, and not how it might affect others.
We all have our gripes about inconsequential things that become so increasingly annoying, that they drive us over the edge.
Unfortunately, these inconveniences in life–whatever they may be–will continue pestering us because they have every right to be there.
Ah, but what if there are legal consequences for the things that irk us the most?
Seeking to make our world a better place, Redditor mystic-savant asked:
"If you could make something illegal, what would it be?"
These continued interruptions are enough to make us erupt into fits of rage.
Our Common Hang-Up
"Spam calls."
– mettedraq
Ixnay To The Exnay
"Small 'X' buttons on mobile ads. I hate the kind where unless you have dainty fingers you get redirected to a website."
– Bridgtecmilen
Too Many Trees Die For This
"Junk mail. Think of all the 'You're pre qualified for a credit card!' mail people get and how much of that goes straight in the trash."
– TheSchoeMaker
Staring At The Void
"Reporting an ad to google for covering content and them removing the ad, only to leave a large empty gray box over the content where the ad used to be."
– spade13F
People could do without these sonic assaults.
So Alarming
"Police sirens in radio commercials."
– ilumewey
No Honking!
"And car horns. I’d like to get to work without having a heart attack on the way."
– perkiezombie
A Close Call
"This almost caused me to crash because it was timed as I went through an intersection that was at an angle so oncoming traffic aims at you for a time before they turn. I swore to the Nine Hells that I was about to be slammed into and nearly jerked by steering wheel to the right and into another car. Only reason it didn't happen was triage; I decided that if I'm being hit steering away wasn't changing that. Then nothing happened."
– NoobSabatical
Disturbing The Peace
"Listening loud music from phone without using earphone in public places, especially in public transport."
– SuvenPan
Corruption gets casually overlooked. It's time for some changes.
Shady Transactions
"Politicians buying/selling/trading stock while in office."
– Sudden-Cat5805
No More Advantageous Incentives
"Honestly, politicians receiving any kind of additional income or donations, monetary or otherwise, while in office."
"No stock trading, no second job, no donations to their campaign fund, no gifts from supporters, nothing. If you work in government, and have financial ties to other entities, then your loyalty is being bought, whether consciously or not as you will use your power to support your other forms of income in the name of self interest as to ensure to still receive those forms of additional income."
"A politician’s only form of income or compensation should be via taxpayers from the people they represent."
– Conchobhar23
There Ought To Be Consequences
"Politicians getting any pension , insurance , security , or anything after getting convicted of anything connected with their office ."
– crowman006
Thing About Per Diem
"Representatives/senators started out making a $6 per diem and were only paid for the days they actually showed up."
– Haunting-Ad-8619
Driven By Greed
"Price gouging on life-saving medicines."
– gaomeigeng
People just found these incredibly annoying.
Bad Template
"I would make it illegal for recruiters to not give some kind of response after applying for a job. At least say “yes” or “no” instead of _____."
– I-Care-for-all
Closed For Business
"Leaving your 'OPEN' sign on when you're not. I used to work midnights and I can't tell you the number of restaurant doors I've pulled on at 1am because their sign said they were open. If I were King of the world restaurants would be fined $1000 an hour for allowing this to happen. I'M LOOKIN' RIGHT AT YOU Steak-n-Shake!"
– Oph5pr1n6
Now, Scoot!
"Leaving e-scooters in the middle of the sidewalk."
– mossadspydolphin
I personally think there ought to be clear a distinction between factual news reporting and opinion.
The lines are so blurred these days, people will forgo doing the research to educate themselves on the facts and wind up disseminating propaganda and unsubstantiated information, which can mobilize a harmful movement.
The question is, which party should bear the consequences of their indiscretion? The reporting agency or the audience?
There is nothing wrong with sex work.
Sex work is real work.
Which is why I've always wondered... why do strip clubs have to be so gross?
But the hygiene is probably the tip of the crazy stories when it comes to strip clubs.
Redditor NomadFourFive wanted to hear about what happens behind closed doors in the places where the clothes come off. They asked:
"What is the worst thing you’ve seen at a strip club?"
One of the very few times I've been to a strip bar, the buffet was not a good choice.
"You interested?”
"I was at a place in a poorer Rust Belt town. Girl comes up to us, pulls a baggie with a white powder out of it, throws it onto the table and says 'I have to sell this for my boyfriend tonight. You interested?' We said no and she grabbed said bag and continued on her mission."
Affectionate-Pea8706
Too Much Seen
"I saw my first dead body at a club in East Dallas. Story was, a girl that worked there set a guy up to get robbed. He found out, hit her in the head with a beer bucket and a fight ensued among several patrons. I assume most of them didn't know the reason she was hit and just fought the guy. One of those people was a regular."
"As the almost robbed guy left the club, the regular threw a beer bottle at his head. Almost robbed guy steps out of his car, walks up, pulls out a gun and dropped him at point-blank range right in front of the club's entrance/exit. He returned to his car and wasn't found by police for several months."
Kjoco9
Bad Land...
"Saw a guy get his penis broken. At this one club they'd bring guys up on stage, strap them to a chair next to the pole and the girls would take turns sliding down it really hard and fast and landing on his crotch. Basically a way of hazing a guy for his birthday, bachelor party or similar occasion. Somehow the girls did it so that it probably looked worse than it was. Except one time... Not sure what went wrong, but when the third girl slid down, he yelled out in pain. 15 minutes later he left in an ambulance."
Content-From-Reddit
Good Monday
Old Man Smile GIF by F*CK, THAT'S DELICIOUSGiphy"Old dude on an oxygen tank, smoking. He turned toward the crowd and with the two teeth he had left, he spat out, 'Ya-kin see ‘er t**s.' Solid Monday night."
Legal-Banana-8277
Goodness. What in the world. Can't people just watch the show?
Simplicity
Meryl Streep GIFGiphy"Ankle monitoring bracelet on... and heels… and that’s it."
Bangorilla
Bad Tricks
"Saw a girl climbing up the pole and she was strong. She could climb that thing fast. Until she hit the bolts holding to the ceiling with her head. She came down even faster and her head was bleeding bad. Ambulance was called and she took a ride."
wtfjusthappened315
"I once saw that done right. She climbed up the pole and when she got to the top she disappeared into the rafters like a raccoon. A moment later she reappeared upside down, legs around the pole, then did a dead drop and stopped herself inches from the bottom using nothing but her thighs."
PM_Me_HairyArmpits
The Hit
"I went to the local ratty strip club with some buddies. I didn't really want to be there but it was somewhere to party after the bars closed. I got to talking to a woman in her 40's in a nurses outfit. She told me she was wearing it because her daughter is going to nursing school and she's working there to pay for it."
"She then tells me she's paying for it to get closer to her daughter since she just got out of prison for putting a hit out on her husband. The guy the hit man went after attacked the wrong person and got arrested. Snitched on her. I was too sober to be dealing with all that haha."
wythehippy
In Canada
"My 19th birthday (legal in Canada) went to the strip club for the first time. This one dancer was so sick. She coughed and blew her nose through the whole set. She looked miserable. She was obviously off her game. She was getting no reaction from the crowd. My buddies and I tipped her really well since we felt so bad for her."
Metaldwarf
Oh Candice
"A stripper pulling her panties to the side and rubbing her butt up and down my face. When I told another dancer, she said 'Oh yeah. That’s Candice, she does that.'"
No_Conversation8959
Fixer Upper
"A Club in Niagara Falls Canada has the seamstress who fixes the g-strings and outfits set up in the ladies bathroom. This poor old woman works all night in a stinky bathroom, so wrong."
"Group of us dad bros got dragged to a club by the one last guy getting married. We had some drinks and a buddy ripped the brand new button down off a friend. Before we can say anything the strippers at the table were down collecting the buttons. All they said was, 'we’ve got a girl. $40 and 20 minutes later his shirt came back good as new.'"
txvacil
Happy...
"A stripper crying and being consoled by other strippers because no one was asking her for lap dances... it was all a bit too real. It was my 18th birthday and first ever strip club experience.. it put me off them for good."
Puzzled_Use7034
The Guy
Elmo Hello GIF by Sesame StreetGiphy"I went and with a friend one time for just a normal evening. Halfway through the evening his expression went from 'being a guy in a strip club,' to like he just seen something horrible. To find out his mom was actually up on the stage. He never knew what she did at night because he lived with his dad."
deano1344
I'll never forget it...
"I worked for a beverage company in my early 20's, we delivered pop and bar mix to night clubs/ peelers and restaurants. Met a lot of dancers. A lot of them were smart college girls that made great money when they weren't in class or doing homework. There was the opposite side of that coin and some were doing it to support their habits. One of the poorer establishments in the far reaches of the area catered to a lower crowd."
"There was a problem with one of the juice guns so I was working behind the bar for a bit. The place had a very small corner stage and a woman wearing clothes that didn't fit got up on the stage. She was clearly wasted , had a black eye and was covered in bruises. The pole was her support while she was standing (dancing) and she tried to swing around on it with one hand . Her grip slipped and she fell off the stage and face planted on the floor."
"The staff, the patrons. Everyone saw it and no one did anything for what seemed like forever. The bar was on the opposite side of the room and I had to tell a waitress to do something. They picked her up and took her into the back. It was completely bizarre. I'll never forget it."
shaundisbuddyguy
WTF?
"It's a toss-up between the pregnant (7-8 months) stripper smoking and drinking alcohol, or the stripper giving lap dances to her aunt, then her uncle, then her 17 yo cousin while only wearing a g-string."
gheiminfantry
Bye Now
"In Vegas. I see a guy walk in. Purchased 2 drinks. Slams them. Walks down to the stage. Pulls out a wrinkled 1 dollar bill from his pocket. Wraps it around his pointer finger and proceeds to cram it up the stripper on stages a**. Turns around and walks out. Never to be seen again."
ImLostAndILikeIt
Hidden
"Stripper had previously had a breast implant rupture and had to have it removed. I guess she couldn't afford a new one so when she danced she always had her hair draped over that side to try to hide the deflated beast. Queens strip club near Vancouver, it's gone now I think."
ticklemebits
YOU?!
"I was out with my buddy in college and he saw his younger sister’s best friend on stage (he had no idea she was a stripper and had grown up with her), took his jacket and tried to cover her up. The bouncers swarmed in and almost beat his a**. Was more comical than anything and he tried to give her a lecture as she was collecting tips and killed the vibe."
imjustaguy812
This is why we should stay at home. Safe.
Have you ever been arrested for something and thought... "well this is just silly?"
Yes we need laws and rules, but let's be honest a lot of "crimes" need to be re-examined.
Or maybe I just want to be naughty.
All kidding aside, too many people are sitting in jails for crimes that make no sense.
It's not right.
One Redditor wanted to hear about what illegal activities we'd love to indulge in. They asked:
"If you had to legalize a crime, what would it be?"
Shoplifting and weed. Let's start there.
Fishy
Big Fish GIF by PBS KIDSGiphy"Being able to walk with a salmon suspiciously."
YorkshireCat
"The Salmon Act of 1986 made it illegal in England, Wales, and Scotland to 'handle salmon in suspicious circumstances.'”
water_fountain_
Exercise
"I’d legalize putting bikes in pools in California."
Wolfiye11
"Honestly, water biking is a great exercise and should totally be legal everywhere."
TheTrueGoldenboy
"Ding ding ding! you win!"
alemini_
Hey Spud
"Selling Unlicensed potatoes."
williamfvirgil
"As a potato myself, I agree."
CaliforniaPotato
B4TTLESNAKE
Speak Loud!
"The UK government has effectively banned protests so I'm gonna go for that."
YumYumFunTown
"here’s an article that explains it a bit. basically over here the police will now have more power to control protests. they can impose more measures, make sure people are ‘not being loud’ etc."
scseven
"Yeah super glad America doesn't have that. Right to protest is in our DNA. No matter how annoying, it’s necessary."
MRmandato
by death
death GIFGiphy"Executing politicians for treason for any crimes or abuses of power while in office. Iirc treason and sabotage are both punishable by death according to the constitution."
moldyhotdogs
Salmon? Really? Can I carry tuna or a nice cut of mahi?
Cheers all Day
Happy Hour Reaction GIF by New GirlGiphy"The ability to purchase alcohol at any hour of day, on any day of the week. How many of you have gone out late at night to buy beer only to be turned away because the alcohol section is closed, or not being able to buy any at all on Sunday? (in some places)."
isabellemwilliams
It's Food
"Feeding homeless people."
Breadflat17
"I am guessing it is to discourage some psychos from feeding them sh*t (both metaphorical and literal). Reddit taught me about a cop, who gave a homeless guy a literal crap sandwich."
Sandybat
"It keeps people from poisoning them."
derpygamer2142
Incredible
"Magic mushrooms."
ReallyDontWant2Argue
"I was enrolled in a clinical trial using psilocybin as a treatment for depression. After decades of treatment resistant depression, I'm depression-free. Even if it's temporary, I'm so grateful and I can't wait until everyone has access to this incredible drug."
Torontopup6
"I am hoping that weed legalization can open the doors for mushrooms."
MusicianMadness
Bringing the End
"I know it's controversial, but I would say Euthanasia (for very bad illnesses and elderly, if they're miserable and don't want to go on anymore). Afaik it is legal in some countries, such as Switzerland. Just wanted to add I'm not American and therefore can't relate to all the comments telling me about situations in US states, but don't get me wrong, it's interesting nonetheless. :) "
wurzlsep
Sex
Julia Roberts GIFGiphy"Sex work. I'm not interested in it, but it appears to be an arbitrary law that would be a waste of time to enforce."
"Adults can have sex for money in front of the camera for all to see, but once the camera is removed, it becomes illegal? It doesn't make much sense. The only reason it's illegal, I believe, is that the government hasn't found a method to tax it."
corneliatdyer
Sex work is real work. Let these people be.
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