Remember folks, legal and moral are not the same thing.
There are lots of legal things you can do that still make you a total scuzzbucket.
There are plenty of memes and graphics going around reminding people that things like slavery, the holocaust, and countless different genocides have all been legal. It's easy to think of those sorts of things as relics from a backwards past ... but are they?
These sorts of things still happen - sometimes even on just as grand a scale. But it's not just the major monstrous moments that are both legal and awful. On an everyday basis people do things that just ... suck.
Reddit user Zachp787 asked:
"What's the worst LEGAL thing you can do?"
Allow us to remind you, once again, that legal does not mean it's okay.
Nor does it mean you will be free from consequences from your fellow human beings.
Here are some of the worst legal things people could think of.
Truck Parts
"Changing a part or part number slightly only to mark it up 50-100%."
"I'm a heavy diesel mechanic and see this every damn day. Truck parts a real racket. I feel sorry for the contractors out there."
A 20 Year Game
"Develop a wonderful loving relationship with someone for a majority of your life. Kids, pets, trust, everything included."
"One day, tell them all you never loved them, it was all a game you were playing for the last 20 years. Divorce your partner and leave with the stash of cash you've been putting away for the last 20 years, moving to a new country never to see them again.
"I see we had the same dad."
- cb148
The Craigslist Prank
"When I was still in college someone posted my number alongside a lengthy request in the women seeking men section on Craigslist. (Pretty sure CL has since shut down the personals section.)"
"Immediately, and constantly for about week I began receiving texts (and pictures..) from strangers about the ad -which I discovered quickly- and was horrified."
"The poster claimed to be a blonde, busty, white chick who was graduating soon, and was regretting not experiencing enough in college. So to expose herself more to more of what she had been missing out on, she was looking to have sex for the first time with a guy, preferably black, or maybe a few. The poster said he had to have a huge package, so it was encouraged that they send a demonstration."
"A girl I'm friends with who'd been through this told me all I can do is report the post, try to contact Craigslist, or the person who posted it to take it down. But I never heard back from anyone."
"So for the next week, right before finals, and occasionally over the that month, I would get texts from people trying to talk dirty and sending me dick pics. It grew to a point where you had to just ignore them because there were so many people responding to the ad."
"It drove me crazy for the obvious reason of unsolicited genitalia in my inbox, but also because I wanted to know who was responsible for this. I tried to think of anyone whom I had wronged, or argued with recently, or ever. The only possibility was one person I randomly and drunkenly talked trash to on Twitter, then blocked before they could respond. But even that was weak."
"After seeing my distress over the issue and finding it funny, one of my friends let it slip that he knew who posted it, but promised it wasn't him. That proceeded to shatter my trust for everyone in my circle of friends and people I interact with - I was alot more closed off for a long time."
"Not just because someone I'm close to would do this to me as a prank, but that even the people around me knew this embarrassing thing was happening constantly, and who caused it; but just weren't telling me. I was embarrassed enough that I didn't want to ask if people knew who it was because I'd have to tell them what was happening."
"I found out a long time after that it was another friend of ours that was actually one of my closest and best friends."
The Yellowstone Murder
"Murder someone in that one corner of Yellowstone National Park."
"There's a part of Yellowstone that's technically outside the populated judicial area of any state, so there's no one to form a jury from."
"That doesn't mean it's legal, however, it just means they can't technically hold a trial."
"I imagine they'd patch it up quick if it ever became relevant.
- Joe_Jeep
Equifax
"You can leak the names, addresses, email addresses, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and payment card details of nearly half of all Americans (and more than half of all American adults) and then settle for about $5/person."
("Hold Equifax Accountable, yo)"
- bman214
MLMs
"Be part of an MLM (Multi Level Marketing.. aka Younique, Mary Kay etc) & make money by being higher up in their uplines while struggling women/men below them work their ass off to not make jack in return."
Why We Need New Laws
"There was a guy a while back who took a photo up a 13 year old girl's skirt. The judge had some choice words to say but the guy got let go because, technically, it wasn't illegal. In a lot of places they pass new laws after stuff like this."
Gay Panic
"In some places in the USA, beating a trans or gay person to death, then claiming gay or trans panic defense to get out of murder charges. Cause apparently being unaware of someone's gender or orientation is legal grounds for murdering them."
Cannibalism Waivers
"The act of cannibalism itself is legal in most nations. It's just getting the meat that is usually illegal."
- JimmyL2014
"So if you had permission from the family, or In the deceased's will it said you could, you could eat somebody?"
"Most places, yes. There was also that fairly popular Reddit thread, about a guy who had his foot amputed, then cooked and ate it with some of his friends. The pictures were seriously not safe for life. lol."
Inconvenient Pets
"I know a woman who had a perfectly fine Yorkie put down because she was moving and didn't want to deal with a dog during the transition. Then she immediately buys a maltipoo puppy upon arrival at the new destination."
"Now she's moved again and has a new dog, but no longer posts about the maltipoo. I suspect the worst, and it's a shame because we would have gladly taken him if she didn't want to move with him."
- otisanek
Giphy
Help - Or Call Someone Who Can
"Standing idly and filming people who desperately need help, instead of helping. Like those kids that filmed and laughed as a disabled guy drowned and died."
"Prosecutors talked about trying them for "failure to report death to a medical examiner", but ultimately no charges were filed and they got to walk away like nothing happened."
The Business Of Breastfeeding
"Claim that access to water isn't a human right and then forcing people in third world countries to buy your crappy products at exorbitant prices because there's no alternative."
- Berdfan
"Didn't they also tell mothers in Africa that they would be provided with baby milk and after a while, when the moms stopped producing breast milk, the company (it's a HUGE one) was like "lol we thought we made it clear that those were only samples"?
"It was a large smear campaign about how breastmilk can be poisonous or dangerous for babies. Many of the people didn't have consistent access to clean water or a way to sterilize bottle parts in the first place. So incredibly evil."
"I always get so angry thinking about this. I live in a third world country and people ended up using things like coffee creamer or rice water because they ran out of formula samples. To correct this, our government had to make a law that basically took away the choice whether or not to breastfeed—in the hospital we're all forced to breastfeed, and hospitals that have formula in them face consequences."
"It's equally sucky because some women can't produce enough milk and momming is hard enough as it is, but I get that it's really a hypercorrective measure taken because of the bull that formula companies like Nestle pulled. It's also why, despite breastfeeding being a literal pain and me being incredibly privileged in my country (so I have access to formula and clean water), I still breastfeed. Not because breast is best or some bullshit like that but because it feels like a personal f-you to those companies that hurt so many moms and babies."
Surprise Divorce
"Here in the Philippines, we have annulment and legal separation, no divorce. One big thing is that no "collusion" can occur between the spouses. That means that one of you must be surprised that the other has filed for this. You cannot be in agreement that your relationship as a married couple has ended; it can't be amicable and a joint decision."
"If the court finds any evidence of collusion, your case can be thrown out and dismissed and you are forced to stay married."
Giphy
Let's be better people.
If it's horrible, a law shouldn't be needed to stop you from doing it.
- People Share The WORST Legal Things People Can Do - George ... ›
- People Break Down The Most Poorly Designed Parts Of The Human Body - George Takei ›
- People Divulge The Things That Are Legal But Completely Evil - George Takei ›
- People Share The Best Side Hustles That Are Totally Legal - George Takei ›
- People Break Down Which Things Are Moral Yet Illegal - George Takei ›
- People Explain Which Things Are Normal Today That Weren't 50 Years Ago - George Takei ›
- People Explain Which Illegal Activities Everyone Does Openly Without Consequences - George Takei ›
- People Describe The Most Annoying Things Drivers Do On The Road - George Takei ›
- People Debate Which Things Will Be Illegal 50 Years From Now - George Takei ›
For many childhood memories are overrun by living nightmares.
Yes, children are resilient, but that doesn't mean that the things we see as babes don't follow us forever.
The horrors of the world are no stranger to the young.
Redditor -2sweetcaramel- wanted to see who was willing to share about the worst things we've seen as kids, so they asked:
"What’s the creepiest thing you saw as a kid?"
Serious Danger
"Me and my best friend would explore the drainage tunnels under the Vegas area where we grew up. These were miles long and it was always really cool down there so it was a good way to escape the heat of our scorching hot summers. We went into this one that goes under the Fiesta casino and found a camp with a bunch of homeless people."
"Mind you we are like 11 years old lol. And we just kept going like it was nothing. It wasn’t scary then but when I look back at it we could have been in some serious danger. Our parents had no idea we did this or where we were and we had no cellphones. We could have been kidnapped and never have been found."
oofboof2020
Waiting for Food
"I was at a portillos once when I was 12 and I was waiting with my little brother at a booth while my parents got our food. This guy was standing with his tray kind of watching me then after a couple of minutes he started to walk over really fast not breaking eye contact with me."
"He was 2 feet from the table and my dad came out of nowhere and scared the s**t out of him. He looked so surprised and just said he wanted to see if I’d get scared or not. He left his tray full of food near the door and left. My folks reported him but we never went to that location again since we found a better one closer to home."
nowhereboy1964
Captain Hobo to the Rescue
"When I was a pretty young teen, my friends and I were horsing around in San Francisco and started hanging out to smoke with some homeless guys. Another homeless dude came up and began aggressively trying to shake us down for anything (money, smokes, a ride, drugs- all of it) and wouldn’t take no for an answer."
"We got in over our heads and could tell this guy was now riling the other 2 guys up and they were acting like they wanted to jump us. Some grandfather-looking old homeless man appeared out of nowhere and yelled at us to get the f**k out of here- nice kids like us don’t belong down here at this hour!!"
"Captain Hobo saved our lives that night. My parents sincerely thought we were at a mall all day lol."
FartAttack911
Survival
tsunami GIF
Giphy
"I was 7 and survived the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. Witnessed the wave rise way above the already massive palm trees (approx. 40ft?) and my family and I watched/heard the wave crash into the ground from a rooftop."
faithfulpoo
These Tsunami stories are just tragic.
On the Sand
Scared The Launch GIF by CTV
Giphy
"We were a group of kids who went to swim in a local lake. And there was a dead body on the beach with their hands raised and their legs bent unnaturally that local police just took out of the same lake. I've never put my foot in these waters again."
oyloff
Be Clever
"I was walking to school and I was about 5 or 6 years old and some guy pulled up beside me in his car and asked if I would get in. He also offered me sweets to do so. I said no. The creepy bit was when he calmly said ‘clever boy’ to me, then drove off. I’ve never even told my parents or anyone else about this as it would most likely freak them out."
OstneyPiz
Bad Jokes
"Dad's side of the family pranked me by burying a fake body on our back property and had me dig it up to find valuables. Was only allowed to use a lantern for light. They stuffed old clothes with chicken bones. Sheetrock mud where the head was... Random fake jewelry as the treasures... I was like maybe 10 or 11.. I remember digging up the boot first and started gagging because it became real at that point."
Alegan239
YOU
Who Are You Reaction GIF by MOODMAN
Giphy
"Woke up to find my little brother staring at me in the dark, asking, Are you really you?"
PrettyLola2004
Siblings can really be a bunch of creepers.
No one should talk to others in the dark though.
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
Giphy
What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
Giphy
Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
sleepy kitten GIF
Giphy
Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official
Giphy
Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...