People Share The Craziest Things That Are Somehow Legal In Certain Countries
Reddit user fittingpenguin asked: 'What’s the craziest yet still legal thing in your country?'
As foreigners who travel, it's easy to be overcome by culture shock while taking in the sights of different countries.
But we may behave in ways that are completely normal for us back home but are not acceptable in the places we're visiting.
Which makes sense.
There are rules and restrictions we should be aware of before we arrive in a foreign country.
Redditor fittingpenguin solicited input from strangers online to weigh in on conflicting international rules by asking:
"What’s the craziest yet still legal thing in your country?
You probably didn't know these were actual rules.
No Complaining
"A direct ancestor/descendant or spouse of an individual cannot file a theft complaint against that individual except if it's essential documents, like an ID."
– ObjectiveMountain900
Who's The Baby Daddy?
"I always thought the paternity test one was worse for France. Your not allowed to perform one even if you've good suspicion the child may not be yours and you could be liable to child support for another person's kid."
– SoloWingPixy88
Bees Take The Lead
"In Germany, you are allowed to enter private property to follow your honey bee swarm if the swarm is escaping and looking for a new hive."
– lizaahunn
"this is actually the case in lots of countries, where I am they can legally enter your yard to come to get them."
– WRA1THLORD
Things get very specific and downright shocking.
Gotta Be Pitch-Perfect
"In Belgium, anybody can sing or play an instrument in the Streets. In the city of Leuven however, you can be fined if you play your instrument off-key."
– Zuid-Dietscher
"To be fair to Leuven, with all the students running around doing it, I don't blame them."
– Blasmere
Careful The Things You Say
"Someone can be found guilty of defamation even if what that person said or wrote is 100 percent true."
– EHonda92m
"Japan. e.g. if you expose someone for having an affair, that person can sue you for defamation. I suppose it's an expectation of privacy. The only exception is if it's in the "public interest" to know this information."
– TheOvy
Everyone's Playground
"You can freely walk, bike or ski in the nature on any private property. As long as it's not counted as a breach of domestic peace or you are not ruining their crop field or something. For example, even though you see a sign 'private property' in the forest. You are free to go pick mushrooms and berries there. Or you can even fish there freely (only with basic worm fishing rod though) if there's a lake on the property. You can even set up a tent on someone's private property for a short time (1-2 nights) as long as you aren't littering or disturbing anyone for example being noisy or on the way. The country is Finland, and these things are in the Finnish constitution as 'every man's/everyone's rights.'"
– RamuPamu1
What happens if you break the law? There doesn't seem to be consequences here.
Prison Break
"I don't know if it's really crazy, I personally think it's good and reasonable, but here in germany it's not punishable to escape from prison."
"Of course in reality they might charge you with other things like property damage or assault etc. if you damage something or someone on the way out but the act of breaking out itself can't prolong your sentence because the need to be free is a fundamental human desire."
– PetrosiliusZwackel
The Warden's Story
"I watched a doc on European prisons some years back and in a Croatian prison they talked to the warden. He told a story about a man who escaped. A week or so after the escape the prison received a package containing the man’s prison uniform."
"Since he had committed no crimes while escaping (just walked out the doors) and while an escapee, the only thing they could have charged him with was stealing his prison uniform. But since he returned it, there was nothing to charge and he just had to finish out his original sentence."
– CornyCornheiser
Leaving Civilly Is Not A Crime
"Basically, the normal rules of society apply. If you punch a guard to get past them, that's still a crime. If they leave you unattended with the door open or you sneak out under a lorry, that isn't a crime. They can still catch you and return you, but you can't be charged with attempted or successful escape, just any crimes committed in the process."
– Death_God_Ryuk
It's The Soldiers' Call
"Also Germany, soldiers are allowed to disobey orders if they think it violates human dignity. There are other nations with similar rules or even obligations regarding human rights and violation of geneva convention, but protecting even their own dignity is unique (I think)"
– f_cysco
This doesn't have legal consequences but slurping noodles at the dinner table is perfectly acceptable in Japan.
As a matter of fact, the Japanese encourage it.
The Japanese believe that eating noodles while they're piping hot is the best way to enjoy them.
Also, what is perceived as rude etiquette in other countries is actually a sign of validation that the cook prepared the dish well.
It can be shocking, almost repulsive, to look through history books and read the things which were actually laws at one point in time.
These include bizarre ones, like a national speed limit of 55 miles per hour due to an oil shortage, as well as historically inhumane laws, such as segregation and slavery.
Thankfully, many of these horrifying and/or bizarre laws have been repealed.
But if one were to look closely at laws around the world, there are still a number of ludicrous and terrifying laws which remain in effect.
That many people might even, rather ironically, think should be illegal.
"If you could remove a law, which one would get the boot?"
They're Always Watching
"Digital security act (2018)."
"It's a law by the government of Bangladesh, which can let anyone file a case against you, if you speak against the government online."
"There are multiple cases where someone criticized the government, and they have been put in prison because of this law."
"It basically hurts the freedom of speech of Bangladeshi citizens."
"Even though there have been voices raised to demolish this law, the autocratic government doesn't care at all."- ArianThehunter
The US Government, In A Nutshell...
"The ones that allowed politicians to accept funds from corporations."- No_Commercial5671
Lobbying For The People GIF by Creative CourageGiphyDrugs Is Too Broad A Term
"Psilocybin, LSD, and marijuana being considered Schedule 1 drugs (at least in the US)."
"Wild to me that drugs like Xanax, Oxy, some other strong prescription drugs, cocaine, and f*cking meth are all considered 'less dangerous' than drugs that have a much lower death toll and have been shown to be more beneficial in various different treatments and trials."- localstreetcat
Some Of The Most Annoying Laws Aren't Even Enforced...
"Murphys law."- Zert420
No One, NO ONE, Should Be Above The Law
"Any law about immunity for politicians."- iOliverSup
Richard Nixon Corruption GIF by GIPHY NewsGiphyAren't Politicians Supposed To Be Working For Us?
"The one that allows politicians to raise their own salary as long as at least 51% of them vote in favor."
"A few years ago they increased minimum wage by 3.5% then proceeded to increase their own salary by 40% and add 2 new benefits."- vksdann
So, Pretty Much All Laws Benefitting Politicians
"The one that protects individual politicians against the effects of what they did in office."- Silent-Revolution105
Which Citizens, And How Exactly Are They "United"?
"Citizens United."- Lilysils
Amy Klobuchar GIFGiphyMore Like Profiling Act
"Patriot Act."
"And whatever laws that allow for government surveillance besides Patriot Act."
"My dank memes on Reddit and search history is none of the business of the FBI who think using the word 'based' is grounds for a terrorist investigation."- Realtor_3605
"All the anti-terrorist laws that took our privacy's without anyone giving sh*t."- Brilliant_Salad_1345
Not Exactly "Small Government" If You Think About It?
"Where the government can take your stuff."- rtxpurelife2
Robin Hood Disney GIFGiphyBring On The Public Domain
"Every copyright extension from the original (around 20 years)."- reyseven
Um... Do You Really Need Either?
"I would say the meaningless illegality of stuff like nunchucks, balisongs, etc.:
:Why can I buy a military knife made for killing people but I can't buy a knife which uses springs to open?"- racistinfrastrukture·
Clearly Not From A "Stand Your Ground" State...
"The one where you're not allowed to defend yourself if someone breaks into your home with the intent of stealing from you (in my country)."- lycos94
It doesn't take very long at all for certain laws to become outdated.
Making it all the more infuriating that these laws remain in effect.
Particularly when they likely shouldn't even have been made laws in the first place.
Things That Seem Normal For Americans But Weird To The Rest Of The World
Americans, we sure are an eclectic bunch.
We don't realize just how eclectic until we're outside of the country looking in.
Some of our traditions, several of our rules and TONS of our laws are kinda all over the place.
That's why people love to visit from all over.
Who doesn't want to see the zoo animals from inside the cage?
Redditor Specialist-Anybody3 wanted to discuss the aspects of life Americans found ordinary that others don't. So they broached the question:
"What things are normal for Americans but weird for non-Americans?"
We Americans have some funny ways to live.
And everybody notices.
Privacy First
toilet creeping GIFGiphy"Large gaps above, below and between the bathroom stalls..."
KimPTM
"Holy Jesus this! So nice to poop in private in Europe. I have no idea why the US does this!"
hhgfryhjkoo
Travel Tips
"If you drive for five hours in the United States, you’re pretty much still in the same place. If you drive for five hours in Europe, everyone’s talking funny and the cheese is different."
KaimeiJay
"In the US, 100 miles is nothing, 100 years is a lot. In Europe, 100 miles is a lot, 100 years is nothing."
"The stone retaining wall for the front of our property (here in Germany) is dated 1846, and it's nothing special. Many of the houses in the old part of our small town are 1300 and older."
insainodwayno
Dates...
"Writing the date format as mm-dd-yyyy instead of dd-mm-yyyy."
silkybow-
"This actually worked to my advantage. I’m a Brit and moved to the US when I was 20. I’m not a big drinker but was still mad I couldn’t get a beer. Then I realized that my DOB on my driving license would be read backwards making it appear I was a few months older and therefore 21. It never got turned down and I used it a lot."
UncleKodeia
"I work 911 dispatch. We have to write it at work as yyyy-mm-dd. Don't know why, but we do."
TheUnconfirmedk1ll
Mental Gymnastics
"Having to mentally add sales taxes on everything you buy. In Europe 9.95 means paying 9.95."
AaronBenne
"I thought we had this problem in Canada but I didn't realize just how much worse it was in the US until I moved here. In Canada, we have a VAT based tax so in Ontario, you just add 13% to the price to find the final price. Annoying, but not complicated."
"In the US, your sales tax changes based on your location increments smaller than a zip code because tax jurisdictions and zip codes were made separately. You have to basically use the exact address to figure out what tax jurisdiction you're actually in. It's practically impossible to know what actual tax you're gonna have to pay unless you've shopped there before or look it up."
BuccellatiExplainsIt
Nonsense
cbs wow GIF by Big BrotherGiphy"The fact that an 18 year old can drive and buy a gun while still being considered too young to drink alcohol."
Monika396
Some "rules" make no sense to many of us.
Years and Years
back to school college GIF by Rodney DangerfieldGiphy"Paying for college for 30 years after you graduated."
pingerlol
"That happens in England now, as well."
"But agree, for most developed countries, the idea of having an educated population is seen as a good thing that benefits everyone and should be affordable."
dannydevon
Attachments
"Attaching medical insurance to employment. One shouldn’t have anything to do with the other."
jimjamjimmerson
"Also, having a co-pay when you are covered, and a limit on what is paid. So, people are discouraged from seeking treatment early and for preventative care and can get financially ruined despite having coverage. It is a disgrace."
NameOfUserOfReddit
"I know, I've always thought that was odd. That is one thing I will never understand, America's healthcare system. How can your job be linked with your healthcare?"
BabySham8
Control
"HOAs like wtf. No other people who don't pay your mortgage telling you how to maintain your home."
throw_away_17381
"I've always thought this was the dumbest s**t. It's usually the fancier neighborhoods too. If I ever strike it rich, I'm buying a plot of land in the middle of nowhere and doing whatever the hell I want with my house. What's the point in having all that money and a house of your own if you decide to move somewhere where your property isn't under your control?"
Notthesharkfromjaws
'Hey, you need surgery'
"Seeing a possible serious medical problem with yourself and going 'ehh.'"
xx_Fiddler_xx
"I straight twisted a testicle. Since I didn't know this was possible, and I grew up on a farm so apparently my pain tolerance is pretty high, I thought it was no big deal."
"11 hours later is when I finally got off work and decided to go to urgent care."
"A total of 16 hours before I went in for surgery. I haven't gotten all the bills yet, but the one I did get has a doctor charging me $500 just to tell me I needed surgery. Not for the ultrasounds, or the surgery itself, or the follow-ups. Just to tell me 'hey, you need surgery.'"
"The worst part is, this is after the bill was run through 2 insurance programs."
StrayAI
Security
the mystery files of shelby woo nicksplat GIFGiphy"My friend attended his cousin's high school graduation in LA a while ago and he had to go through metal detectors and all that, as if he was going through airport security. So I guess metal detectors at school."
yeetgodmcnechass
We Americans are an interesting people.
Do you have anything to add? Let us know in the comments below.
In all likelihood, we all may have broken the law without realizing it.
Simply by streaming our favorite movie.
Surprising as it may seem, password sharing on streaming platforms is a federal offense, but is done regularly.
But that is indeed one of the many surprising things which is, in fact, illegal.
Leaving one to wonder, what other illegal activities are there out there which may surprise us?
"What is surprisingly illegal?"
Resist The Urge For French Fries...
"If in Western Australia, possessing more than 50kg of potatoes."
"Yep, you read that correctly."
"Potatoes."- Eldaas
Remember That Change Of Clothes
"In Germany it's legal to break out of prison, but not in your prison uniform, because that would be stealing."- Limp-Sundae5177
Someone Was Ahead Of The Curve
"It is illegal to parachute inside St. Peters basilica in the Vatican after a person did it."
"They had to create that law specifically for him."
"He walked away with no charge, as the law did not exist."- Lexinoz
Here We Go Discovery GIF by Shark WeekGiphyWatch Your Language!
"In the most southern island of the Caribbean, Trinidad, and Tobago, it's illegal to curse publicly."- 15Blins
Good Hygiene Is Important!
"In my country, not having at least one bidet installed per home."
"The country is Italy."- maseioavessiprevisto
Dress Codes
"A lot of European countries have really old laws that were never repealed so they look really odd today."
"For example, in France a woman must first get permission from the police if she wishes to dress like a man."
"And in the UK it's illegal to wear an 'outrageous" double-ruff within 100 yards of the Queen."- BitFlippery
A Hose Will Have To Do
"You can't put a donkey in a bathtub in my state."- obi-juan-kenobi_66
Oh No Deal With It GIF by DreamWorks AnimationGiphySo Much For Generosity!
"Paying expired parking meters that aren't your spot."- Little_Lahey_Show
Be On Your Best Behavior!
"Alarming the Queen."
"Section 49 of the Criminal Code of Canada."
"Sentence of up to 14 years in prison."- ScamboOfDoom
Bored Queen Elizabeth GIF by Madman FilmsGiphyBest To Stay On A Boat
"In several states, it's illegal to fish from horseback."
"Just google stupid fishing laws."
"There are lots of them."- SnootchieBootichies
It's especially important to know these laws when visiting a foreign country.
As you always want to be on the right side of the law.
But if you still don't feel ready to stop using your friend's Netflix account, no judgment at all.
So much of this world makes no sense.
Don't you agree?
Why do some laws even exist?
How can doing good deeds land one in jail?
Yet actual criminals walk free.
Nonsense.
Ah... The yin and yang of it all.
Redditormonsterhunter128 wanted to discuss what the things we see as sort of the Robinhood method.
"What is something ethical but illegal?"
I feel like a lot of these rules are only going to apply to the lowly of us. The rich will be able to do all of these. Let's see...
Unreal
all that nicksplat GIFGiphy"Paying off kids school lunch debt."
shunkamunka
"I remember there being a school district with some kids who weren't allowed to graduate cuz of their school lunch debt so a local millionaire offered the district the money to pay off their debt. They refused it."
Segendo_Panda11
Oh America
"Apparently American pharmacists subsidizing insulin for their regulars. I remember reading about one who bought a month’s supply for a customer and she ended up fired and charged with like black market drug dealing."
rasha1784
"Technically, your job isn't to mess with the prices of the life-saving drugs, even if they're manufactured and inflated to 2000% of the cost of production. You're just supposed to give the people whatever prescription they need at whatever price the company says its worth. It's awful."
'Cl0udSurfer
Ridiculous
"Feeding the homeless. You can get fined in my city."
Ok_Relationship_705
"How do they define 'homeless?' Also, it's not like operating a charity soup kitchen is illegal, you just need to follow the same food safety rules and permitting requirements as any restaurant. The main complaint was people violating certain food safety laws and handing out discarded stuff. The idea being you can't use homeless destitute people to discard of food waste for free."
W_O_M_B_A_T
Jump In
"Dumpster diving behind grocery stores."
cellocaster
I totally get it but also keep in mind most grocery stores sell bleach and as far as I know if there is a leaking bottle they have to throw it out and if they do that they probably open it and drain it in the dumpster. There are other reasons as well such as sharp objects and so on."
G1ngerBoy
Good Night
Sleepy The Tourist GIF by HBO MaxGiphy"Apparently sleeping it off in your car is still considered operating while intoxicated."
HybridS9ldier
"Change my mind: The car should actually have to be in motion, or at least the ignition on, before it's considered DWI/OWI."
Comprehensive-Ad3963
The world really has ludicrous rules.
Toss It
Hungry Night Court GIF by LaffGiphy"Taking food that was going to be thrown away, especially as an employee."
the-keen-one
"The employee reasoning is because there was always 'accidental' food at the end of the night. That being said typicaly good restaurants will give their employees a meal for their shift."
goodoleboybryan
No Adding
"Putting money in other people's parking meters which are about to expire."
YodasTinyGreenPenis
"Similarly. In many states (including mine, Oregon), it's illegal to park in prohibited spots even if they're unmarked. Think that through for a second."
"You could park somewhere that is totally legal looking. Nothing saying you shouldn't park there. Nothing saying it's a protected spot (like a carpool spot or one reserved for on-call doctors or something) and it'd still be illegal, even if you had no way of knowing."
haroldtitus425
Thieves
"Pirating media no longer available for sale."
PrednisoloneX252
"Combine that with the fact that the cracked versions of some games work better/are less likely to mess up your computer because the developer used drm like SuckuROM, sometimes for the consumer, it’s better to get the pirated version anyways."
LuckyDuck4
Books
"Pirating college textbooks. Half the time you don’t need them, and when you do, they’re often marked up 500% against what they’re worth. Downloading free digital copies may be illegal, but you bet your a** college kids share those links."
ChallengeLate1947
"Adding onto this, pirating any piece of media that has been abandoned or otherwise no longer obtainable through legal means. A lot of software is probably going to be lost forever because the companies behind them simply don’t care enough after a certain point."
Rickrolled767
Sour Options
Music Video Money GIF by DRAMGiphy"Children selling lemonade without a license."
SuvenPan
"I've seen videos of grown adults calling the cops on kids selling lemonade, it's pathetic. Those adults should get charged for wasting time and resources."
flanderdalton
Homing
"Housing a child that ran away from their abusive/stressful situation at home. I still don't understand this to be honest."
zzshockerzz
"Because unfortunately if the child runs away and the parents are looking for them, it could be considered kidnapping I believe."
CheesyTacos68
"Many many many many many predators target children and teens from abusive or neglectful homes. Legalizing this would be incredibly dangerous."
GaimanitePkat
Pirates
"Downloading pirated movies that either aren't available for sale or for which you have already purchased a DVD or other copy."
UnspecificGravity
"And video games as well."
krazykris93
"I say as long as you own a legitimate copy, and you are not planning on distribution, you should be allowed to."
NoneYours
Morocco
"In Morocco, you cannot hurt or kill someone to stop them from hurting you, even with the presence of thousands of witnesses or if that person was trespassing, you will simply have to hold back and gently let him hurt or kill you while you can't do anything because he has the right to sue you when he gets caught."
Apostorial
find a space...
"Putting money in strangers parking meters."
katastatik
"Why is this illegal??"
ManyBoysenberry6655
"Because meters are supposed to keep people from parking in one place all day so that other people can park there. If you could just keep filling the meter, it’d be cheaper daily parking than most garages and would be full 24/7 and no one would ever be able to park anywhere."
Noob_DM
Thieves
Hungry Season 6 GIF by FriendsGiphy"If you work in a restaurant and the owners want you to throw away unused food, taking it for yourself or giving it away could technically be considered theft."
BewareNixonsGhost
Let's Heal
"Healing plant medicines/paychedelics. Yet alcohol and cigarettes kill millions yearly, yet are still legal. Completely Immoral laws. What I do with my exploring my consciousness is my business if it does not hurt others."
Libertos
"I can't stand drug laws. Sure let's have a drug that makes 99% of people be calmer than buddha himself be illegal and put you in jail. While allowing a drug that makes someone not have any sense for 'Oh wow I should not do this' be legal."
Lucas_2234
Horrible
"In some cases, killing your kidnapper/rapist."
19bluestars
"Imagine being kidnapped for week, hell months and killing your kidnapper to get away and getting locked up for murder. Freaking horrible."
Im_Camman
Home Issues
"In Spain, it is illegal to hurt in any way a home trespasser. If you find someone at your house in the middle of the night and you hurt him, he is able to sue you and, depending on the case, you might end having to pay a fee or even get to prison."
"If someone squatters your house when you are away (they change the lock and stay inside) and you cut off the light service, you will get sued for threatening. You aren't also allowed to use the force to get them out, you would get to prison. Your only chance is to sue them and wait for maybe years to a Judge to give you your home back."
SPSeal
Survival
"Wow. 99% of these are people with no money trying to survive in a way that doesn't actively hinder others. Taking food/recycles from the trash, eating food at work that a customer didn't want or that otherwise couldn't be served, pirating college textbooks, is it just illegal to help the poor?"
StevieMcGhoul
This list is ridiculous. I say feed the homeless and let the kids sell lemonade!!
Do you have similar experiences to share? Let us know in the comments below.