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.
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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.
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.
Most adults have no idea what they're doing, they just make it up along the way and go with it.
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.
Dollar store pregnancy tests are just as effective as their more expensive counterparts.
The reason they don’t put good pockets on girls pants is so they can sell you a purse.
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.
Healthcare in the US doesn't actually cost as much as we, the citizens, are led to believe.
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.
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.
That the Chinese Government murdered a bunch of it's own people in Tiananmen Square in 1989
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.
How alot of places just let you and a friend in if you wear a construction vest and helmet and carry a ladder.
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
But yet if you are a person with a uterus, you may not be able to make decisions on your own behalf when it comes to reproductive rights.
I'm a woman without a uterus and I'll still be damned if I'm going to tell anyone with one what to do with their bodies. I'm also someone that was a volunteer at a home for abused and neglected children. You pro-lifers all seem to care about embryos but once they are actual living, breathing children, they become "drains on society" and nothing is done for these neglected children. They are sent into the world with nothing when they turn 18. I'm so sick of the hypocrisy.
Load More Replies...In that case, I'ma decorate one gay a*s m***********g tank and go straight to Florida....What do you think they meant by "Bear"?
😄 Probably the animal kind, even though I hate to be a party pooper
Load More Replies...But not abort a pregnancy that's threatening your life. How does America still not realize everyone else thinks theyre a joke? Thats a whole new level of denial.
But you can't be gay or get an abortion or have equally rights for ppl of colour.
Even if you are a 10 year old raped by a relative. If this doesn't get people off their butts and to the polls in November I fear for the prison young women will be pushed to.
Well, with the small technicality of needing to be plugged to own an operational tank in the us, you can't. Also, stand your ground only applies if there is no other escape, and a tank that crushes anything under that fits the rule
Load More Replies...I HAVE to get a bear riding who rides a tank and fires a RPG!
Funny how conservative replies are hidden, but non-conservative views are shown, spouting hate and insults. People need to cut the hate and enjoy the original spirit of this Bored Panda article. It's supposed to be amusing.
I'll say I'm not a fan of abortion. I think there's reasons to get a abortion, as rare as they are they should be considered. But for the most part abortion is just a way to avoid having children or taking responsibility. Sure there's fear of pain, and fear not being loving parent's, but there's also adoption and pain meds. We definitely have to take woman's rights into account, but I guess that fetus has no rights because it's not technically human yet. Of course none of that matters because having any conservative views in anyway equals nazi. I think your just going to have to expect that abortion is going to be legalized because progressives are louder and much more energetic in mass, and conservatives are infested with Qanon and religious zealots. It's sucks but that's how the dice is rolling.
Load More Replies...Owning a tank and owning an rpg launcher are dumb people decisions— we get what we voted for. Wild animals do not get to vote about if they want to be kept in captivity. Go ahead and own all the weapons you want but keep your hands off the wild animals.
Fun fact, in WW2 wojtek, a polish bear, was part of an artillery crew and would help move ammunition for the unit, but later ended up in a zoo in a private enclosure and would drink and smoke with his unit if theycame to see him. He fully enjoyed his time there and still got along with other wild animals during his time.
Load More Replies...You need a special license for all three. D. is still illegal (i.e., reckless endangerment)
Not for owning a tank, you just need to get it plugged and get rubber treads put on it and it's legal with no paper, and can be driven with most licenses since no commercial license excludes them. However, if you drive it on a public road prepared to be pulled over by the most nervous cop ever(this is from personal experience, when you open the hatch and ask "what can I do for you officer" they nearly s**t themselves)
Load More Replies...I knew a guy that bought a rpg launcher cost him like 10'000 but he could have it
Fun fact, in WW2 wojtek, a polish bear, was part of an artillery crew and would help move ammunition for the unit, but later ended up in a zoo in a private enclosure and would drink and smoke with his unit if theycame to see min
Load More Replies...You can also hunt bears for their arms the second amendment say the right to bear arms
......it depends on the state that youre in for the majority of these, though im pretty sure the last one is legal wherever you are 😜
I doubt you could legally let a bear fire an RPG (maybe if you have like 3km safety distance and ask that land is yours)
You cant own a pet bear or other exotic animal in most stares I've lived in. If you can own an RPG why dont they display them at Cabelas, and why dont oeople use them during drive by shootings?
Is the bear firing the rpg or is the person doing it?
Knowledge is power (and a wise thing to have if you're going to argue a point): https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1375-when-does-the-fetus-s-brain-begin-to-work and https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/fetus-feel-pain-in-the-womb/
A. Depends on the state. B. The main gun has to be demilled OR you have to have an NFA tax stamp. Either way you can only shoot dummy rounds as the explosive ammo is illegal. C. The same as A and B Basically anything capable of firing a projectile larger than a half inch (without a sporting purpose) is a "destructive device" and is regulated under the NFA just like full auto firearms.
You can own a tank as long as the firing mechanism has been permanently disabled. You can not on an RPG without special licenses. This is what the left does. Make a statement without context. That way, people will believe it because they are too lazy to research it.
These are technically legal in America BUT: In only 6/50 states can you have a pet bear. It's illegal everywhere to have an armed tank. It's illegal everywhere to have an RPG, unless you have some rediculus permits, formal training, cash, and usually a defendable reason. Even then, it would all take many many years of dedicated hard work to have a chance of pulling it off.
But you can't call for an ambulance unless you can afford it unless your pretty sure your literally gonna die or are seriously ill and even then you probably can't afford it 😥😥
You can own RPG launchers, but I'm pretty sure RPGs are illegal
However, the tank is legally required to have all firing capabilities removed; it's illegal to obtain and use the rockets for the RPGs, and when it comes to laws we have some of the absolute dumbest on the books.
All is true if you have enough money. That's what it comes down to you can own a beer and RPG a machine gun a tank if you pay the tariffs on tax stamps you can pretty much have anything you want. In the USA freedom is not free.
Well this is absolutely b******t. No, i am not American and you can't own an operational tank rpg in probably almost any state
Yes, anyone can go down to the freedom mall in their tank to buy a new charger for their RPG launcher because their pet bear ate theirs. Seriously, most of the 330M people here will never even see those three items in their lives, let alone own any of them. 1. Bears are prohibited as pets in most states. They are allowed in certain areas of certain states and require a permit. No, you cannot just own a bear anywhere and endanger you neighbors. 2. NO you cannot simply own a functional tank in the US. You may only own a functional tank with a Destructive Device Permit, which is not something your average civilian is going to be granted. 3. Same with RPG launcher. To own a functional one requires passing a year long background check at your cost and you’re not likely to get one even then. And the same process for each piece of ammo, which can only be used in places that meet very specific criteria. But just keep spreading that misinformation and feeding into those stereotypes, BP.
The root question on abortion is when the issue becomes about balancing the rights of TWO people instead of one. At some point it's not just the woman, but also the child. This point is obviously before birth, as otherwise human rights becomes a function of geography instead of innate rights or development or capacity. Until you propose an answer to this question any judgments are without merit.
I didn’t expect a solid question around “when do you decide who’s rights are most important ?” In a bored panda thread. Thank you for acknowledging that life and giving life isn’t black and white. The question is so very complex I’m not sure we could or should find a legally enforced answer.
Load More Replies...I guess the little one has no rights at all. Maybe some of us should have been terminated. Rights is rights until they're inconvenient.
Also, if you don't fantasize about football or wear a baseball cap they'll shoot you for communism.
This is kind of like saying "on Earth, you can..." because I guarantee none of these things is legal in all 50 states.
Yet getting hormonal therapy if you dont bleed once a month is about to become a fight and a half for most women
Why is it if you kill a pregnant woman it's considered a double homicide and yet there's no charge when it's an abortion .
All these ignorant morons saying that women are using abortions as "a form of birth control" clearly have no idea what an abortion even entails. First of all, that's not even a thing - despite what Fox News tells you. And second of all NO ONE is getting abortions for fun, or just because they can. I hope none of you judgmental twats never have to face the horror of being forced to give birth to your rapist's baby!
This is not accurate on so many levels. The fact that it isn't wouldn't fit the narrative of "The message" though would it?
Abortions could prevent bad things from happening dumbfuck like you
Load More Replies...Thanks for that outburst of idiocy, which admirably demonstrates why anti-choice people aren't smart enough to be legislators.
Load More Replies...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.
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."
You can just take ducks from a park, the police won’t stop you.
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
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.
Nutmeg, when eaten in large quantities, is a psychedelic drug that can cause hallucinations, coma, or even death.
That there is no federal law preventing a private citizen from owning a flamethrower.
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.
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.
You’re allowed to rip the tag off your mattress.
It's illegal for the retailers to remove the tag. It's legal for the owner to remove it.
An 18 year old can legally adopt a 17 year old
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.
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.
If you google pizza hut, you get an ad for 30% off dominoes pizza (where I live anyway).
A decent number of popular youtubers' subscribes are probably deceased.
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)
That sometimes, science works a little like politics. It's sad and it doesn't feel good.
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
I'm trying to lockpick. I'm terrified how easy was pick my bicycle lock. My first attempt and it took 5 minutes.
I keyed household locks for a couple years...it takes seconds to get through them. Get some slide locks.
Swimming pools don’t release a blue chemical when you pee in it
The casino has a mathematical advantage
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.
If you dont consider things like rattlesnakes, bears, and wolves a lethal danger. .
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.
So you managed a pizza place, and you didn't expect for management to be so nonchalant about regulations? Something smells here..
I play tabletop RPGs and googled a lot about making bombs, security and guerilla warfare.
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.
I know how to make meth, anthrax, homemade claymore, among other explosives and poisons
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!
I missed the part where most of these seem like illegal knowledge. Most were just..huh, go figure facts.
It wasn't that most are illegal, it was just that it felt subjectively illegal...
Load More Replies...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.
Okay that formatting is really clever. But the Dreamcast had some real gems on it.
Load More Replies...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.
Yup...I started with zabasearch...was my fave...
Load More Replies...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 😆
I use ad free software for everything. If it doesn't work for commercials I speed up the video 5x.
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.
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...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!
I missed the part where most of these seem like illegal knowledge. Most were just..huh, go figure facts.
It wasn't that most are illegal, it was just that it felt subjectively illegal...
Load More Replies...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.
Okay that formatting is really clever. But the Dreamcast had some real gems on it.
Load More Replies...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.
Yup...I started with zabasearch...was my fave...
Load More Replies...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 😆
I use ad free software for everything. If it doesn't work for commercials I speed up the video 5x.
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.
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...