ADVERTISEMENT

We’ve all been faced with a moral dilemma before. Should you be honest with your partner when you know something that will hurt them? Maybe in college your best friend asked you to help them cheat while they were in danger of failing a class and having their scholarship revoked. Perhaps you caught a colleague stealing, but if you reported it, he would get fired and would be unable to pay his rent. Unfortunately, life is full of difficult decisions, and ethics are not black and white. 

What tends to be a little clearer is what is against the law, regardless of our personal feelings. 3 days ago, Reddit user Dr_vinci reached out to Ask Reddit and posed the question, “What is moral but illegal?” Readers have since flooded the responses with questionable laws that seem to contradict many people’s moral compasses. Below, you can read some of the answers, as well as an interview with Dr_vinci, and decide if you think these laws are justified or not. Then if you’d like to continue pondering the morality of certain laws, check out this Bored Panda piece next.

#1

“What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Where I live, euthanasia. Having had to watch a relative waste away as they could no longer eat properly, had no clue who they were or who anyone else was, and was just so scared…how is making them live or wait until they starve/dehydrate the moral choice?

MissEvieMoo , Adhy Savala Report

Add photo comments
POST
Beth S
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am actually passionate about this topic. I believe this is a hard one for so many people, but I believe that the choice should be up to the person when they are of sound mind how they choose to go. As someone that suffers from a handful of conditions that will vastly limit my quality of life and my health as I age, I feel like I should be able to choose not to suffer. I believe that we should have the right to die with as much compassion and dignity as possible.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

There’s no question that morals vary from person to person. Most people would be horrified if you mentioned taking your dog outside and shooting it. But when it comes to other animals, public opinion greatly varies. Ask a farmer if it’s okay to kill cattle and use their meat for food, and you’re probably going to get a different answer than if you asked a vegan the same question. Or if you asked someone who is Hindu. What’s interesting about morals is that not only do they vary across cultures and religions, but they also change over time and within the same person, depending on the gravity of a situation.

Morality is even an evolutionary trait, according to some psychologists. Dr. Jean Decety, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Chicago, wrote in an article exploring the topic, that "our morality has been formed over thousands of years from the combination of both our genes and our culture, rather than just one or the other. This genetic and cultural evolution has shaped our brains to care for others, react to those who try to harm us, and to create moral rules that help us to live together successfully.”

ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED:

    Dr. Decety went on to say that there are “three main lines of evidence that support the view that our brains are wired for morality”. The first being that “the building blocks of morality have been observed in non-human animals”. Rodents and primates exhibit “prosocial behaviors”, opting to help and console one another when someone is in trouble or distressed. Chimpanzees console victims after fights, and rats choose to help fellow rodents before seeking a food reward. Although monkeys and rats don’t have the same depth of moral code as humans, the fact that they display empathy towards each other suggests that morality is a product of evolution.

    #3

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In many countries, being LGBT it's illegal. Loving someone or being yourself is against the law.

    gonze11 , Stavrialena Gontzou Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Jerry The Joker
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah if the crooked right wing has their way it will be illegal in United States too.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #4

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Grabbing thrown out food from a groceries shop's dumpster.

    Clouddancerr , Kevin Butz Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The next reason Dr. Decety cites to support that we are “wired for morality” is the fact that even babies exhibit early signs of having morals. Psychologists who study human development note that babies start forming social relationships before they’re even a year old. And toddlers as young as 18-months realize when their mothers are upset and try to comfort them with patting, hugging and sharing toys. Impressively, babies even understand the concept of fairness by the time they’re a year old. When a group of 1-year-olds witnessed cookies being distributed to a group, they understood and expected everyone to receive the same amount. 

    #5

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Imagine going to war at 18 for 2 and a half years and you come back home, but still can’t go get a beer.

    TheAGolds , BENCE BOROS Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Scagsy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine living in a country where you can be sent to war at 18 and not be able to point to your own country on a map. Or the country you're invading. Or why.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #6

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In Russia now: talking about PEACE and STOPPING WAR. Lots of examples when people are getting arrested because it counts as "justification of Nazism" or "humiliation of russian army and special operation". Savage.

    r0b_b0TT , Katie Godowski Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Sue Hazlewood
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think the Russian army is doing a pretty good job of humiliating themselves. Well the commanders are.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Next, Dr. Decety mentions that “the parts of the brain involved in moral judgments are beginning to be identified”. Neuroscientists have examined how moral behaviors change in people who have brain lesions, and it has been determined that our brains don’t simply have one moral center. Various parts of the brain handle different aspects of making moral decisions (emotional reactions, self-control, intelligence, caregiving behaviors). When someone experiences trauma to their ventromedial prefrontal cortex in early childhood, they’re more likely to break moral rules and cause physical harm to others. People who have suffered damage to their ventromedial prefrontal cortex “also tend to experience less empathy, embarrassment, and guilt”.

    #7

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Sleeping in your car when your too drunk to drive.

    Yuaskin Report

    #8

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Pirating content that has been abandoned and can't even be purchased any more. E.g. an out of print book, or a game that isn't sold anymore.

    ofsquire , Soumil Kumar Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Chucky Cheezburger
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Something that chaps my a$$ is having to pay for a digital copy of music when I have paid for a physical copy. I have CDs and,dare I say cassettes that are damaged or worn out, but still I have to buy a digital copy to hear it.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT

    We reached out to Dr_vinci to hear where the inspiration for this post came from, and he told us he had heard the question somewhere else and was so curious that he decided to start his own discussion around it. When asked if he trusts law enforcement, he told us that he still does, but that the government makes questionable calls sometimes. "I'm fairly happy with the laws we have, other than some weapon regulations." He also notes his frustration with the banning of airsoft guns and "Black Rifle Coffee Company" due to its name. While gun control laws are a controversial topic, Dr_vinci does not consider them a moral issue. "I think there's no problem with us having better guns or switchblades," he told us. Whether you agree with him or not on these issues, it is a great reminder of how relative morality is.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Collecting rain water in my state.

    Ginger_Anarchy , Georgi Zvezdov Report

    While morality is in our nature, various factors play a part in moral relativism, including cultural differences. Aside from my earlier example of eating meat, a few other topics that can be controversial depending on the culture and religion are dancing, polygamy, gambling, drinking alcohol, abortion, sex before marriage, having children outside of marriage, assisted suicide and gay marriage. Many of us know exactly where we stand on those topics and may not even consider some to be moral issues, but a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center surveyed 40 countries on some of these subjects to see just how opinions varied across the world. Views on extramarital affairs, for example, were similar in most countries. But in France, only 47% of those surveyed considered having an affair unacceptable, and 40% did not consider it a moral issue at all. 

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #11

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World As an American doctor who takes Medicare, I am not allowed to waive fees for procedures or charge a patient less than what our officially set rates are, even if they don’t have insurance. I’m also not allowed to ask a doctor from a different practice what a certain insurance company pays them for a service, as this has been deemed “anti-trust.”

    bryantuga , Online Marketing Report

    #12

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In some states, feeding the homeless.

    rovirb , Ev Report

    Morals also shift over time. At one point in time, unmarried men and women could not even be alone in a room together without it being considered sinful. And while slavery is now viewed as an atrocity, it was once widely accepted in the United States and many other countries. Both racism and homophobia were normalized for many years behind the guise of religious morality, but times are changing. Sadly, there is still progress to be made in combatting racism, homophobia and transphobia, but hopefully eventually, these hateful beliefs will be unanimously regarded as immoral.

    #13

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Donating unsold/uneaten food to shelters at the end of the day at a fast food joint i.e. the donuts at dunkin, we’d have to throw them out every night.

    zeroxtx , Hao Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Mark Alibozek
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know of a grocery store near me that used to donate food but then got sued by the place because some bread had a little mold on it. So now they don't donate anymore.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #15

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Defending against a bully in school, apparently.

    insecure_alt-acc , Keira Burton Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Aran Lindvail
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are schools with "zero tolerance to violence" policies. Which leads to the bullied kid getting punished for fighting back, with the bullies usually being good at provoking them and not getting noticed by the teachers.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    Morals can also be fluid for individuals, depending on the desperation of their current situations. When asked point-blank if stealing is wrong, most people would probably say yes. But if you ask a single mother fleeing from an abusive relationship who’s unsure where her child’s next meal will come from, she might justify stealing a sandwich from a grocery store for her daughter. Viewing morality as too black and white and ignoring the nuance of individual situations can lead to dangerous decision making.

    #16

    Giving thirsty people water in election lines in a certain state in the United States.

    SadisticSavior Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Jerry The Joker
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once again, looking at you Republicans. It's sad that you can only win by cheating.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #17

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Grabbing thrown out clothes from clothing stores/furniture/appliances, brand new stuff that just didn’t sell or was out of season. Truly wasteful and probably a terrible. My mom used to drive behind strip malls with me as a kid and we’d find all sorts of good stuff, Pier 1 Imports used to have some good stuff, so did Burlington Coat Factory.

    All_Usernames_Tooken , Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Boreddd🇺🇦
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Romania, aka where I live, they are mostly sold in thrift shops, I think. I once found 3 brand new jackets from h&m for a third of the price

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #18

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In many countries speaking out against the malicious and corrupt actions of the government would certainly fall under the category of moral but illegal.

    HappiHappiHappi , EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Jo Johannsen
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I bet a lot of Russians can testify to this. Not just them, of course, just a timely example.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    Many of the laws mentioned on Reddit may seem harmless at first glance, but they can disproportionately target poor and homeless individuals. In the United States in particular, homelessness has been notoriously criminalized, despite the fact that there are over 550,000 people without homes. Being homeless itself is not illegal, but there are plenty of restrictions around where individuals can camp, loiter, and panhandle. Many businesses also will not allow people to use their restrooms without purchasing something first, leaving homeless people with no access to toilets and running water.

    #19

    Breaking a car window to save a dog in a hot car.

    greeneyedgirl626 Report

    #20

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World You can be fined 135 € for giving food to (non-ukrainian) refugees in Calais, France.

    The irony is that the fine for giving food to pigeons in the same city is ~100 €.

    systemasis , George Becker Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Maciej Zajaczkowski
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's just sick. How can giving food to anyone be a crime. Also, what if you give it as friend to friend?

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #21

    Publishing evidence of government war crimes and other illegal activity.

    ronflair Report

    Taking food out of trash cans and picking up clothes retailers dump behind their stores seem like perfectly harmless ways for the poor to gain resources and reduce waste, but even those acts are illegal in certain places. With no access to food and no money for clothing, it’s ridiculous to criminalize acts of survival. Even those who have cars but are living in poverty are faced with a mountain of restrictions. It can be extremely challenging to find places that allow overnight parking, and sleeping in a car is illegal in many places as well, with the risk of racking up exorbitant parking tickets. For individuals who don’t feel safe returning home, perhaps due to an abusive partner or parent, they should feel secure knowing that there is somewhere to go.

    #22

    Removing those metal beams that stop homeless people from sleeping on park benches.

    Miia_best_snake Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Marco Hub-Dub
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wasn’t it Santa Cruz, CA that voted out all city council or county supervisors who voted for “anti-humanity” (not inhumane, for whatever reason) public development?

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #23

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In Japan? Recycling someone's garbage without permission. Touching their garbage at all. You could use a discarded couch and save it from the garbage dump, but be arrested for it.

    InvisibleMe21 , Anna Shvets Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Hphizzle
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I feel like this needs a bit more of an explanation. In Japan, you don’t just throw anything away. Garbage is sorted into no less than 3 categories (but usually closer to 6-8 categories). There is a size limit to most of those. No one would put a couch out to the curb. You would either have the city pick it up from your place or you would have to bring it to the dump yourself (and pay a butt ton of money for either of those services). Most still-usable items can go to the resale shops. Also most other items have to stripped down and divide into the different garbage types. Like an umbrella. Plastic pieces would go in non-burnable, cloth goes in burnable, metal parts go in the metal/glass bag. So finding a whole item with all its parts would be hard to find anyway. And yes, it takes a while to learn how to sort your garbage here.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #24

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Lemonade stands. Your child's lemonade stand can teach them valuable lessons and are pretty harmless but can be shutdown without permit and department of health inspections.

    coroff532 , rachaelvoorhees Report

    Lastly, sometimes individuals need to break laws intentionally to fight against discrimination. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested five times during his life, fighting for equality. Susan B. Anthony was arrested for voting in New York in 1872. In 2020, over 17,000 people were arrested during Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd. In times of injustice, doing something illegal can be the best way to illustrate your strong morals.

    #25

    Saying gay in FL, assisting trans kids in TX and ID, protecting womens lives with medical care, etc

    cymbaljack Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Bill cipher
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FVck the patriarchy when I’m of age I’m leaving this sad excuse for a country

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #26

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Taking a child from a abusive parent while they have custody.

    Floompydoompy , Pixabay Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Anna Lessens
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So it's illegal to save children now....good luck when they go down a path of self hate

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #27

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Sharing medication. I understand that it can be dangerous in some circumstances. But, for example, I work in childcare, and if a child was dying of an asthma attack, I wouldn't be allowed to share my inhaler to potentially save their life. Most people with asthma use the exact same medication, and I don't think a couple of pumps of inhaler would endanger anyone unless they're severely allergic. If I was ever actually in that situation, I think I'd struggle not to share mine. Having the life-saving medication right there and not being allowed to use it seems crazy to me.

    vario_ , Sahej Brar Report

    While we can be certain that morals will never be universally agreed upon, let's not forget that it's okay to question the laws that are in place. Sure, we agree to abide by them, but that does not require abandoning critical thinking. Let's all weigh the pros and cons of breaking some silly laws, and consider what our consciences think. I listened, and my conscience is saying that adding a quarter to someone else's parking meter will bring some good karma.

    Have you ever been caught breaking a law by doing something you considered moral? We'd love to hear about it in the comments, and don't forget to upvote all of the responses you found most shocking.

    #28

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In my country, feeding street dogs.

    Fruit_Punch96 , yawan sahu Report

    #29

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In Germany: putting your empty beer bottle next to the trash can in cities instead of into the trash can. It's in principle littering, but it makes it so bottle collectors don't have to crawl through the trash (there is a deposit on the bottles).

    Shinlos , James Sutton Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Laura Ketteridge
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It isn't just littering that the problem. The bottles can break and cause a hazard. I've seen many smashed bottles.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #30

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World In my state, KY, it is illegal to marry the same person 3 times. So I would say that would qualify as moral but illegal.

    Amaranthe1971 , Jeremy Wong Weddings Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    James
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If it's not worked out after two attempts then i'd say that this law is to protect people from themselves. :)

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
    Unlimited content
    Ad-free browsing
    Dark mode
    #31

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Allowing the homeless to live in empty and/or abandoned buildings.

    gofyourselftoo , Darcy Lawrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Laura Ketteridge
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would not be happy about anyone living in the building in the picture! It looks desperately unsafe.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #32

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Refilling parking meters for other people.

    Years ago, I worked in an affluent town where parking spots where at a premium. This town also had a notoriously efficient parking enforcement troupe. As I mentioned this was an affluent town, so the real crimes (domestic abuse, assaults, etc.) were rarely reported to keep property values high…

    I digress.

    Sometimes I would get to park a block or two out of my way to park on a residential street that didn’t require a permit. Otherwise I would be forced to feed the meter two dollars for two hours, then after four dollars for four hours if you didn’t move your car then you would find a citation on your windshield without exception.

    So, I would take the change out of my cup holders when I had some and feed meters I saw going low in my walk to work.

    One day this parking attendant saw me from across the street feeding a meter, and shouted for me to stay where I was. She darted towards me completely ignoring the crosswalk (haha). Asked me if that was my car, I asked, what did that matter?

    She persisted in my answering her question, but ignoring mine. So, I just told her I had to get to work and went about my day.

    The NEXT day it was like a sting operation, I fed two quarters into a meter I saw had only twenty minutes remaining. No sooner did I turn the handle than she came up behind me from the side alley.

    She’s shouting at me like I had smashed storefront windows with Molotovs. Next thing I know she is berating me about how much I was costing her personally and the town in lost revenue by doing this for the past few weeks. She wrote me a damn citation for almost a hundred dollars.

    I of course went to the magistrate to fight it and he dismissed it without a thought. Felt good until she found out what car was mine and was Johnny on the spot with parking tickets from then on.

    Fun Fact:

    The town soon after raised enough money to install digital solar powered meters. So they could just automatically fine you the microsecond the time limit lapsed. However, by accident I realized that the machines where inoperable on overcast days.

    So, on my way home from work (town was almost deserted by 9pm) I took egg and charcoal from the kitchen I worked and would rub that s**t on every meter I walked by.

    Never once was I stopped for vandalism.

    BigKitchen84 , Braeson Holland Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Chucky Cheezburger
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, this is just a craphole town wanting revenue. That's what alot of "policeing" is nowadays...revenue collection.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #33

    Letting the unhoused sleep in their cars or have a camp setup.

    We could just provide basic services and housing for folks but since we as a society refuse...

    muerta Report

    #34

    I haven’t seen this one..

    Stealing an abused animal, I understand ‘stealing’ is illegal, but there’s a lot of animals and pets the world that aren’t taken care of, or abused, so people who want to help them don’t have a way to do it without possibly taking the animal into proper care.

    isahillvaults81 Report

    #35

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World A city in my state was having a city cleanup, where they put stuff on their curb to send to the landfill, Fridges appliances couches etc. the city workers reminded everyone it was "illegal" to take these instead of letting the city workers pick them up.

    ChamberlainSD , Michal Matlon Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #36

    Consensual sex work.

    rcsheets Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Jo Johannsen
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #37

    Whistleblowing. Supposedly legal...but you know the drill.

    Shnast Report

    #38

    In Europe, rescuing african people adrift in the mediterranean to prevent them from drowning.

    Daerun Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    User# 6
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's not illegal to rescue them, it is illegal to take them in to the EU afterwards.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #39

    In the US in some states I believe, it's illegal to stop your car if you see a cat in the road.

    Education_Weird Report

    #40

    Be a russian politician against Putin.

    Low-Ic Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Scagsy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Being anything Russian against Putin. I heard that he got his schoolteacher sent to the gulags for giving him homework once.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #41

    Banksy artwork.

    eelsinmybathtub Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Mir Adwari
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A lot of places in the UK try and protect it when it appears now. Generates interest.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #42

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Any form of nonviolent resistance.

    If you're born into a country where the government has arrogated to itself a monopoly on violence, you really have no option except nonviolent resistance/protest.

    mrgabest , Harrison Haines Report

    #43

    Beating the living daylights out of someone who breaks into your home.

    jboy2018 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Sareaesque
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had a case in the UK of an elderly gentleman who accidentally killed a home intruder because his informed wife was in the other room and he feared for her safety so he fought back. The court found him innocent on the grounds of self-defence, but he was forced to move because the family of the man he had killed started hounding his home.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #44

    Self defense in half of America. Unless your assailant survives and admits in court to attacking you specifically at your trial...

    blacksideblue Report

    #45

    Telling prospects looking for an apartment if there are kids living upstairs.

    Whitestealth74 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    LagoonaBlueColleen
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thing is, that could change when couples without kids start having kids, or when a new family moves in. Who knows. You might get a dancer practicing, especially a ballet dancer with their hard pointe shoes. Or you might get a weight lifter, someone with a treadmill, a Wii Dance Revolution mat, a clumsy person that drops everything, a heavy footed walker. Tbh, it would be a pain the a**e for a landlord to meticulously place tenants on floors based on lifestyles and family status. That's why there are rules for reasonable noise levels during certain times that are realistic for everyone. Or maybe the landlord could install better soundproofing in the walls and floors.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #47

    It's not exactly good samaritan moral but smoking Marijuana is still illegal in most of the developed world, despite all the scientific studies showing it's lack of negative consequences.

    TheGreatLineMan Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    donna peluda
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not saying it shouldn't be regulated but to say it has no negative consequences is not true. Paranoia, depression, long term loss of cognitive abilities, lack of focus, memory loss etc. Plus the damage to lungs. I'm not saying alcohol is good either.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #48

    “What Is Moral But Illegal?”: 30 People Are Sharing Some Of The Dumbest Laws Around The World Taking broken apple products, salvaging the parts that still work, and then selling the refurbished parts to someone in another country.

    Emergency_Paperclip , Pixabay Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Anna Lessens
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yet the company does that and it's called, " recycling" and " eco-capitalism"

    #49

    In my country, it is illegal to offer a lift in a private vehicle.

    wouldnt-u-like-2know Report

    #50

    Apparently eating ice cream while walking down bank street on a Sunday is still considered illegal! Gotta love old laws

    curtisee Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Beck
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Having an ice cream cone in your pocket at the movies! And your must have a lantern tied to your hood going the wrong way down a one way.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #51

    Stashing water and food on the USA-Mexico borders desert area.

    ToasterToastsToast Report

    #52

    Registering your child in a different school district for better benefits, whilst also being in a different district. This can cause people to be charged with fraud(which makes absolutely no sense).

    Moobly-RS Report

    #53

    Allowing your child to have gender affirming healthcare in texas.

    sturgifur Report

    #54

    Grabbing your elderly neighbors mail out of the mailbox for them.

    PullFires Report

    #55

    Fixing someone's car in an apartment parking lot. They have to get to work.

    Distributor127 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Adrienne Mcginley
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As long as a person isn't running an auto-body shop out of a parking lot that should be allowed. A neighbor got fined because it took too long to get his car fixed.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #56

    Denmark:

    Taking back in items once trashed by you or others (for reuse, for example if someone threw a piece of furniture out that you want to have)

    Signaling (with headlights) oncoming vehicles that they're missing a light

    Honking if the car in front of you hasn't noticed the traffic light has become green

    baden27 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    RP
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm all in support of the third. Needless honking sucks when it catches you off-guard as a pedestrian. I am sure the world will not end if you have to wait an extra 5 second for the person in front of you

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #57

    In these countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe) it's illegal to wear camo.

    fella_guy Report

    #58

    Pirating Adobe products. It's always morally correct

    touchstone1112 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Phil Vaive
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There should be a follow-up post to this one about things that are legal but shouldn't be. Paying monthly fees to use a product should be number one on that list.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #59

    Minor rule-breaking like jaywalking in a quiet residential neighborhood, putting a dog poop bag in a 7-11 dumpster, playing with your dog off leash in an empty park, etc. The people in my neighborhood HATE all of these things but like... What's the harm. C'mon.

    QuadsNotBlades Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Duncan Rogers
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this right here is my son's left leg. And this is why there are (and should be) leash laws for public spaces. As you might expect the owner of the bull mastiff that did this to my son told us he was peaceful and would "never bite anyone". It wasn't even 15 minutes later that I was holding a compress on my sons leg while waiting for an ambulance. So when you ask whats the harm...look at the photo and try to imagine the trauma being attacked by a 'friendly' dog would inflict on a 10 year old boy. IMG_0371-6...f52656.jpg IMG_0371-62729c5f52656.jpg

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #60

    Overthrowing the government.

    Wonderful_Net_8830 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Jerry The Joker
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looking at you Donald Trump. Can't wait for you to pay the price. But let's not forget, you failed. Again.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #61

    Running a Red Light if someone's life depended on it.

    ronnie6660 Report

    #62

    Stealing food from Walmart because you're starving.

    manderifffic Report

    #63

    Flashing your high-beams to warn oncoming drivers they are approaching a speed trap.

    All_Your_Base Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    John Carr
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here in Ireland the Garda (police) commissioner stated that it's legal but immoral

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #64

    hanging anything in your rear view mirror while driving (those car scent things)

    tynamite Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    User# 6
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How is this morally right? Doing anything that takes away your attention whilst driving is just dumb.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #65

    Lying to the police. After all, they can lie to you.

    Truckngirl63 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    LagoonaBlueColleen
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you can lie to police, they're taking down your statements for court and those lies are gonna come back to bite you in the end.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #66

    Selling drugs to adults. The adults are fully aware that they are buying drugs, they're aware of the results of taking the drugs and have consenting to those things when buying the drugs. The drug dealer is only selling a product to people who want it and usually seek the drug dealer out for that sole purpose.

    Obviously pushing drugs is wrong and selling drugs to anyone underage is also wrong, but what consenting adults choose to do to themselves should be entirely up to them.

    For anyone who says drugs fund worse crimes, they only do that BECAUSE they're illegal. That means the illegality is at fault for that, not the drug sales.

    Silverlisk Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    User# 6
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, no. I can assure you addicts are not fully aware of the results and consequences of their choice. When you're addicted, all logic goes out of the window.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #67

    Tax evasion.

    SerratedDerk Report

    #68

    Driving with an expired license, you can be the safest driver ever and havya flawless record, you'll still get a really unfair punishment in some US States such a Virginia.

    Alive_Maintenance943 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    James
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't agree with this one - you have a moral obligation to confirm that you are a safe driver.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu