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The things that you know, all the skills that you’ve honed over the years—all of these can give you a massive advantage in life. Sure, pretty much everyone knows the phrase that knowledge is power, but how often do we realize how true that is? And sometimes that knowledge can make people feel guilty that they know it at all. The burden’s just too big to bear.
Some bits of info feel practically illegal to know even if they’re technically not. From being able to pick locks to knowing how atomic bombs work and how people taste and more, Reddit users opened up about the most esoteric, ‘forbidden’ pieces of knowledge they’ve accidentally stumbled upon.
We’ve collected the most honest and intriguing insights from these two r/AskReddit threads right here and here to give you a glimpse into a darker, more uncomfortable side of real-life, Pandas. Read on, upvote the answers that impressed you the most, and share your own bits of info that feel illegal to know in the comments. But before you do, take a look around to check if the FBI and CIA aren’t nearby in an unmarked white van.
Pssst, Pandas, if you’d like even more captivating but dark facts, you should definitely check out Bored Panda’s earlier article right here.
Bored Panda reached out to Steven Wooding for a chat about 'forbidden' knowledge, limiting access to information, and responsibility. Steven is a member of the Institute of Physics in the UK and part of the Omni Calculator Project team. He created the Weird Units Converter.
"There have to be some limits to information, for the protection of the general public and those trying to use such information," Steven shared with us. "One area where this is common is in the field of computer security. The fine details of how to do an exploit are withheld to stop low-level hackers from simply following a recipe to cause havoc on the internet. We mustn't make it too easy for bad people to do bad things." Read on for the full interview.
This post may include affiliate links.
Steven absolutely believes that people have more and more responsibility, the more information they know. "If you know potential dangerous information, you should protect it from the general public, or more specifically, people who would do bad things," he explained to us.
"That's why government labs in sensitive areas keep the information they have a secret to protect the general public from threatening uses of that information," he added.
RELATED:
#2
The little “i” in a circle on YouTube ads is clickable and if it’s an unskipable ad you just click it and click stop seeing this ad and your back to your video.
#3
Most adults have no idea what they're doing, they just make it up along the way and go with it.
Ivica Nikolov 2 years ago
Mate, all adults have no idea what they are doing. I guess being adult, is owning what you do!
Bored Panda wanted to know if scientists have a duty to figure out the truth about how the world works or if there have to be some limits in place. "You probably can't stop things from being discovered. If you ban it in one country, another will pursue it to gain a competitive advantage. And if all countries agree on a ban, some curious people will probably continue to work on it," Steven shared his opinion.
"In general, I think we should learn about everything about how the world and universe work. It's how that knowledge is applied later on that is debatable," he said that the focus has to be on how that knowledge is then used, not the actual fact that you know something.
You could argue that human beings are hardwired for curiosity. We want to know as much about the world as we can because our survival depends on it. And the more fringe the knowledge, the more obscure the facts, the more curious some of us get. This applies both to real-life facts, as well as to entertainment. ‘Forbidden’ knowledge and learning about the dark side of humanity are hard to resist. Especially in the digital age where so much information is just a few internet searches away.
#4
Dollar store pregnancy tests are just as effective as their more expensive counterparts.
#5
The reason they don’t put good pockets on girls pants is so they can sell you a purse.
#6
The fact that whales have a 42 inch anus and that their fart bubbles can hold a horse
"When considering why the darker side of humanity and entertainment are so compelling, we have to first look at our evolutionary journey as human beings. For the majority of our existence, we were prey and always hyperaware of threats to our safety, which created a negativity bias that we are drawn towards," psychologist Lee Chambers told Bored Panda earlier.
"But in today's safe and often sanitized world, we are rarely threatened significantly, and the ability to explore evil, frightening and gruesome entertainment is one of the few ways we can visit this part of humanity while remaining safe and comfortable. There is a level of novelty to it, it removes boredom quickly, and it helps us to discover our emotional limits while understanding the minds of those who go beyond social norms and potentially gaining knowledge of how we might avoid being victims ourselves. They also offer closure, with many stories ending with the mystery being solved, and the criminal being brought to a level of justice," the mental health expert explained to us why exploring the darker aspects of humanity hooks and reels so many people in.
#7
Healthcare in the US doesn't actually cost as much as we, the citizens, are led to believe.
#8
There’s a website called SciHub that allows you to access scientific papers for free. I’m fairly sure it’s legal, but it feels like cheating to go around the paywall.
alwaysMispelled 2 years ago
You can also look up and directly email the authors and most oftentimes they will gladly send you a copy of their paper. They don't get a cut of the profits when copies of their papers are sold.
#9
That the Chinese Government murdered a bunch of it's own people in Tiananmen Square in 1989
Wang Zhuang 2 years ago (edited)
What's sad is that most Chinese kids who were born after that massacre probably know absolutely nothing about it, as the government has totally swept it under the rug
The psychologist pointed out that some people find it comforting when they’re exposed to evil things being done in the form of entertainment, e.g. on screen. The audience feels safe but can go on an emotional inner journey.
"It can take us on an emotional rollercoaster, have us trying to solve the puzzle and test our fear in a controlled way. The permission to explore evil is powerful, as we so rarely get the chance elsewhere, and in itself, it is healthy and normal in moderation," Lee said that this is why so many folks love true crime entertainment. It’s the forbidden aspect of it that entices so many viewers and listeners to tune in day in, day out.
#10
How alot of places just let you and a friend in if you wear a construction vest and helmet and carry a ladder.
#11
In America, you can
A. Own a pet bear
B. Own a tank
C. Own an RPG launcher
D. Own a pet bear which is riding a tank while practicing firing an RPG
#12
Statistics are super easy to manipulate to say whatever you want. I see so many commercials and other companies that try to claim their product is the best according to these statistics, but really, they fail to meet basic rules and ethics in statistics. Still, even if they were to follow all the rules of statistics, there are many ways to manipulate it to your advantage.
Wilko Lunenburg 2 years ago
There's lies, damn lies and there is statistics. Oh, and then there is Boris Johnson....
However, consuming too much dark content isn’t all that healthy for us. “The challenge we face is the fact that consuming too much of this can desensitize us, and cause us to become less empathetic to the suffering of others, more fearful of our own environment, and potentially be more likely to use aggression ourselves,” the psychologist warned.
“It can also cause us to be triggered by our own previous adverse experiences, make it harder to manage our own emotional balance, and increase our stress levels, so moderating our consumption is something we should have front of mind, even when we get embroiled in the latest series that is pulling us in."
#13
You can just take ducks from a park, the police won’t stop you.
#14
Social media tracks you to the point that it records every message you write and stores it in a database, every call, message,voice message,image and posts are recorded. You are being monitored to the point that the computer even times the amount of time you spend looking at each post and the longer the time is on topic the more of those types of videos you get, just to keep you engaged in the app and entertained. Over time the computer learns everything about you and knows you better than you know yourself
#15
Even though the joke is 'tastes like chicken', humans actually taste like pork according to cannibals e.g. Arthur Shawcross.
Which made perfect sense to me when I found out. In med school we dissected cadavers including human muscle and fat, and xenografts (tissue transplants from one animal to another) are generally pig (or cow) e.g. porcine heart valves are still used for heart surgery in humans.
#16
Nutmeg, when eaten in large quantities, is a psychedelic drug that can cause hallucinations, coma, or even death.
#17
That there is no federal law preventing a private citizen from owning a flamethrower.
#18
Jury nullification. In the US at least, even if all of the members of a jury are convinced that the defendant is guilty, if they don't like the law, they're allowed to vote not guilty.
#19
Jeff Bezos works on the 6th floor of his building Day 1 in Seattle. He has his own private security on that floor (different from building security). A silent alarm goes off when you press the elevator button and you're not Jeff Bezos and his security will be waiting to arrest you when the elevator opens.
#20
You’re allowed to rip the tag off your mattress.
Yettichild 2 years ago
It's illegal for the retailers to remove the tag. It's legal for the owner to remove it.
#21
An 18 year old can legally adopt a 17 year old
Alex D. Y. 2 years ago
I'm not sure about this information... Or it depends on the country. Because here, in Canada, the law is very clear on this subject : if you want to adopt someone, you have to be AT LEAST 18 years older than this person.
#22
We can all easily find out what people paid for their house. Seems kind of personal, but it’s very public. Same with divorce records.
#23
If you google pizza hut, you get an ad for 30% off dominoes pizza (where I live anyway).
#24
A decent number of popular youtubers' subscribes are probably deceased.
#25
It takes minimal negotiation and paperwork to set up a vending machine. You can probs stock it up for 100 bucks buying bulk and then you'll make like twice that back.
Edit since this has a decent amount of upvotes, a bonus fact! The Ford F-150 is the smallest vehicle that can be used as a tax write-off up to iirc a $1.2 million return, but it only applies if you use it for commerce. (I'm no tax expert so I may have gotten something wrong)
#26
That sometimes, science works a little like politics. It's sad and it doesn't feel good.
Shaista Afridi 2 years ago
ye my chem teacher said that when he did his doctorate in polymers, he discovered a new polymer or something and he submitted it and they said they wouldn't accept it bc it wouldn't make enough money for them
#27
I'm trying to lockpick. I'm terrified how easy was pick my bicycle lock. My first attempt and it took 5 minutes.
Raiden Prime 2 years ago
I keyed household locks for a couple years...it takes seconds to get through them. Get some slide locks.
#28
Swimming pools don’t release a blue chemical when you pee in it
Alicia M 2 years ago
However, if you're looking at the water when someone is actually peeing, you can see yellow coming from that region of their body. It dissipates quickly so that's why you have to catch someone in the act or it will go unnoticed. I've witnessed it myself. Have fun with this useless knowledge. 😆
James Tomlinson 2 years ago
Chloramines, not free chlorine, are the smell most associated with a pool. A properly cared for pool usually has no smell. Peeing in the pool is a sure-fire way to make chloramines.
Jay Son 2 years ago
Yup, the worse the chlorine smell, the more people likely peed.
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Somewhat-Guilty 2 years ago (edited)
It's a myth that started in 1958 to deter children from peeing in pools. In 2000 they proved the dye didn't exist. Edit: Grammatical error. Thank you Nicole!
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RatherLoopy 2 years ago
Perhaps not, but the guy behind with the bottle of food coloring will never admit it.
Tyler Schommer 2 years ago
The generic pool smell is not the chlorine. It's the chlorine mixed with pee
FrozenCorvidae 2 years ago
Yeah I stopped going to public pools once I found out that urine is what triggers chlorine to make that '(grossly) nostalgic' pool smell
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Celtic Pirate Queen 2 years ago
My husband & I refer to pools as "people soup" and refuse to get in one.
Downunderdude 2 years ago
I was at the pool the other day and I did a pee in the deep end. The lifeguard saw me and blew his whistle so loudly that I was startled and fell in.
Andre Blue 2 years ago
I went to a very ritzy social club in Mumbai. The pool had no chlorine but quite a lot of bleach.
🧶𝔹𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕂𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣🪡 2 years ago
😅 My husband, son, and I recently stayed at the Embassy Suites in downtown Pittsburgh with my mom so we could see the St. Patrick's Day parade. Their pool is up on the 25th floor of the hotel so it's definitely not huge or anything but when we went, there were like 9 people there and 6 of them were kids. We stayed about 1.5 hours and within that time another 8-12 kids showed up (in a pool that was MAYBE 20' x 10'). I was doing short laps in the tiny section we'd eked out for ourselves and stopped to say to my husband, "man, at this point the water HAS to be more pïss than water 🤣". He said ever since then that's all he can think about when he gets into a pool now, that it's just filled with kid pee (and definitely some adult pee, too).
Jonathan Nichols 2 years ago
Why would they? On the other hand, it just smell like "pool water" when the ammonia in the pee reacts to the chlorine. A clean pool smells clean
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
My army buddy was devastated to learn that our (Navy) old blue cammies didn't turn bright orange when exposed to water (urban legend that they'd turn orange when wet to aid in locating someone who fell overboard)
Kelzbelz79 2 years ago
The threat alone though is enough to not make people wanna test the theory.
Adrienne Mcginley 2 years ago
This is our OOL. Notice there's no "P" in it. Please keep it that way.
Upstaged75 2 years ago
They always told us it was pink at my summer camp. :) And it would form a circle around you so everyone would know!
Pamela Andrews 2 years ago
Also if a pool smells strongly of chlorine it means there's not enough chlorine in it.
Bob Standen 2 years ago
I lived in a resort and every school holidays the residents children and grandchildren would mass in the pool, at the end of the day the pool would have a greenish hue from all the urine in it.
Erin r Jones 2 years ago
BUT that iconic chlorine pool smell is actually the smell of chlorine when it is mixed with urine! All by itself chlorine in water won't have nearly that potent of a smell, so the more you smell it, the pissier it is😀👍
Telmo Belo 2 years ago
Also the "swimming pool smell" we all know isn't chlorine. Chlorine itself doesn't smell like that. It's chlorine AND URINE.
Lydia Owen the Bi-tch 2 years ago
The chlorine has a very light bleach smell, and that smell at public pools that we think of as chlorine is actually chlorine mixed with urine. The chemical reaction of chlorine and ammonia.
CMDR unematti 2 years ago
Since do some don't, pretty sure it's just too expensive for it to be used all the time
Daniel Allen 2 years ago
Someone believed that because of a movie?? Wow! We really are in trouble
Somewhat-Guilty 2 years ago
Actually, this myth is much older if you're talking about the movie I think you're talking about. This myth started back in 1958 to scare children from peeing in pools.
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#29
The casino has a mathematical advantage
#30
In my town, there are some mountain paths that have a big "ENTRY BANNED - LETHAL DANGER" sign.
The truth is that:
Entry is not banned, it's just that you can't count on public services if you get hurt
The danger exists only from Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM - it's caused by the construction of avalanche barrier. Outside of that hours, it's safe to enter.
Richard Black 2 years ago
If you dont consider things like rattlesnakes, bears, and wolves a lethal danger. .
#31
That restaurants often do really disgusting things and have disgusting issues.
I used to waitress and then later manage a pizza place — mosquitos in the drain, nests of mice, stink bug infestations, flies feasting on food that falls behind the appliances that isn’t cleaned up frequently like it’s supposed to be, mold in the soda machine, expired ingredients still being used, etc.
It’s just.. a lot. I was very, very surprised. I knew that most restaurants naturally deal with these things from time to time, but I didn’t expect it to be this often. I also didn’t expect for management to be so nonchalant about going against inspections and regulations.
Other restaurants that friends of mine have managed/otherwise worked at have also had similar issues and it’s pretty wild.
I’ve never eaten at the restaurant that I worked at since quitting. I wouldn’t trust it.
Ivica Nikolov 2 years ago
So you managed a pizza place, and you didn't expect for management to be so nonchalant about regulations? Something smells here..
#32
I play tabletop RPGs and googled a lot about making bombs, security and guerilla warfare.
#33
Really (before 1997/98 or so) old microsoft product keys relied on a REALLY simple validity check.
They were numbers in the form XXXX-YYYYYYY. The first 4 digits were specific to the software (I think Office 97 was 0402?) and fixed. The last 7 .. the check was just that the sum of all digits has to be able to be divided by 7 without rest.
So 1111111 worked all the time. 1234567 worked all the time, 7777777 did.
#35
I know how to make meth, anthrax, homemade claymore, among other explosives and poisons
What do you think ?
TheKrucifix 2 years ago
On those annoying sies that show part of the article and then block it asking you to turn off your ad-blocker, just go to the site's properties (right click the URL) and turn of JavaScript, then reload the site, no more popup asking you to turn off your pop-up blocker!
It's Me 2 years ago
I missed the part where most of these seem like illegal knowledge. Most were just..huh, go figure facts.
Scarlett Barbee 2 years ago (edited)
It wasn't that most are illegal, it was just that it felt subjectively illegal...
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Troux 2 years ago
Years ago I used to know someone who would copy video games. For the sake of privacy I'll call this person "I". For Playstation 2 or Xbox, I would have to mod the console (buy a $40 chip, open the console and solder connections onto the motherboard) to get the copied games to work, because those systems and all games had a proprietary encryption on them. Sega Dreamcast wasn't so wise and had no encryption. I just bought a regular Dreamcast, downloaded a copy of the game from Napster or Limewire or whatever totally illegal software I was using, and then burn it onto a CD and I was ready to go. Unfortunately, most Dreamcast games weren't worth playing.
Metallicd3ath 2 years ago
Okay that formatting is really clever. But the Dreamcast had some real gems on it.
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Aaron Matye 2 years ago
I've got one. Your address and phone number is not private information. My job has taught me how to find that information on just about anyone as long as you have a first and last name, or some part of the information already. Plenty of sites will offer you information as a subscription service, but will give you enough for free that you can check it with other sites. Just about every piece of information on the Internet will connect with something else, allowing you to easily find someone's address and phone number, including their living history for themselves and family.
Scarlett Barbee 2 years ago
Yup...I started with zabasearch...was my fave...
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Bob Belcher 2 years ago
I work as an audit manager for a financial institution and also over see all branch audits. I know where all the cameras are. My fob works on all doors. I know where all the dye packs are and where they are kept in teller drawers. I know the location of all secret alarms and the security phrase that the police will use under a hostage situation to call in for all clear signal. The only thing I don't physically have is the dual combo to the vault. Most bank vaults have 750K or less in them. As an auditor, I could easily walk in before the branch opens, force the two tellers to open the vault and then leave. Sure I'll be on camera, but I'll smash the phone box that controls the alarms and take their cell phones. That will give me a good amount of time to run 😆
Tim Pierce 2 years ago
I use ad free software for everything. If it doesn't work for commercials I speed up the video 5x.
Adam Sherrill 2 years ago
My friend's dad is an EMT, and my friend found the handbook on how to make medicine. It tells you how to make many illegal substances in there.
APL 2 years ago
Bollocks. EMTs aren't pharmacologists, they don't make medicine themselves. More likely your friend found a formulary, which is merely a book containing all current drugs, their usage, known side-effects and interactions/contraindications.
Load More Replies... TheKrucifix 2 years ago
On those annoying sies that show part of the article and then block it asking you to turn off your ad-blocker, just go to the site's properties (right click the URL) and turn of JavaScript, then reload the site, no more popup asking you to turn off your pop-up blocker!
It's Me 2 years ago
I missed the part where most of these seem like illegal knowledge. Most were just..huh, go figure facts.
Scarlett Barbee 2 years ago (edited)
It wasn't that most are illegal, it was just that it felt subjectively illegal...
Load More Replies... Troux 2 years ago
Years ago I used to know someone who would copy video games. For the sake of privacy I'll call this person "I". For Playstation 2 or Xbox, I would have to mod the console (buy a $40 chip, open the console and solder connections onto the motherboard) to get the copied games to work, because those systems and all games had a proprietary encryption on them. Sega Dreamcast wasn't so wise and had no encryption. I just bought a regular Dreamcast, downloaded a copy of the game from Napster or Limewire or whatever totally illegal software I was using, and then burn it onto a CD and I was ready to go. Unfortunately, most Dreamcast games weren't worth playing.
Metallicd3ath 2 years ago
Okay that formatting is really clever. But the Dreamcast had some real gems on it.
Load More Replies... Aaron Matye 2 years ago
I've got one. Your address and phone number is not private information. My job has taught me how to find that information on just about anyone as long as you have a first and last name, or some part of the information already. Plenty of sites will offer you information as a subscription service, but will give you enough for free that you can check it with other sites. Just about every piece of information on the Internet will connect with something else, allowing you to easily find someone's address and phone number, including their living history for themselves and family.
Scarlett Barbee 2 years ago
Yup...I started with zabasearch...was my fave...
Load More Replies... Bob Belcher 2 years ago
I work as an audit manager for a financial institution and also over see all branch audits. I know where all the cameras are. My fob works on all doors. I know where all the dye packs are and where they are kept in teller drawers. I know the location of all secret alarms and the security phrase that the police will use under a hostage situation to call in for all clear signal. The only thing I don't physically have is the dual combo to the vault. Most bank vaults have 750K or less in them. As an auditor, I could easily walk in before the branch opens, force the two tellers to open the vault and then leave. Sure I'll be on camera, but I'll smash the phone box that controls the alarms and take their cell phones. That will give me a good amount of time to run 😆
Tim Pierce 2 years ago
I use ad free software for everything. If it doesn't work for commercials I speed up the video 5x.
Adam Sherrill 2 years ago
My friend's dad is an EMT, and my friend found the handbook on how to make medicine. It tells you how to make many illegal substances in there.
APL 2 years ago
Bollocks. EMTs aren't pharmacologists, they don't make medicine themselves. More likely your friend found a formulary, which is merely a book containing all current drugs, their usage, known side-effects and interactions/contraindications.
Load More Replies...
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