Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share The Craziest Things That Are Somehow Legal In Certain Countries

Person in handcuffs
niu niu/Unsplash

Reddit user fittingpenguin asked: 'What’s the craziest yet still legal thing in your country?'

As foreigners who travel, it's easy to be overcome by culture shock while taking in the sights of different countries.

But we may behave in ways that are completely normal for us back home but are not acceptable in the places we're visiting.


Which makes sense.

There are rules and restrictions we should be aware of before we arrive in a foreign country.

Redditor fittingpenguin solicited input from strangers online to weigh in on conflicting international rules by asking:

"What’s the craziest yet still legal thing in your country?

You probably didn't know these were actual rules.

No Complaining

"A direct ancestor/descendant or spouse of an individual cannot file a theft complaint against that individual except if it's essential documents, like an ID."

– ObjectiveMountain900

Who's The Baby Daddy?

"I always thought the paternity test one was worse for France. Your not allowed to perform one even if you've good suspicion the child may not be yours and you could be liable to child support for another person's kid."

– SoloWingPixy88

Bees Take The Lead

"In Germany, you are allowed to enter private property to follow your honey bee swarm if the swarm is escaping and looking for a new hive."

– lizaahunn

"this is actually the case in lots of countries, where I am they can legally enter your yard to come to get them."

– WRA1THLORD

Things get very specific and downright shocking.

Gotta Be Pitch-Perfect

"In Belgium, anybody can sing or play an instrument in the Streets. In the city of Leuven however, you can be fined if you play your instrument off-key."

– Zuid-Dietscher

"To be fair to Leuven, with all the students running around doing it, I don't blame them."

– Blasmere

Careful The Things You Say

"Someone can be found guilty of defamation even if what that person said or wrote is 100 percent true."

– EHonda92m

" Japan. e.g. if you expose someone for having an affair, that person can sue you for defamation. I suppose it's an expectation of privacy. The only exception is if it's in the "public interest" to know this information."

– TheOvy

Everyone's Playground

"You can freely walk, bike or ski in the nature on any private property. As long as it's not counted as a breach of domestic peace or you are not ruining their crop field or something. For example, even though you see a sign 'private property' in the forest. You are free to go pick mushrooms and berries there. Or you can even fish there freely (only with basic worm fishing rod though) if there's a lake on the property. You can even set up a tent on someone's private property for a short time (1-2 nights) as long as you aren't littering or disturbing anyone for example being noisy or on the way. The country is Finland, and these things are in the Finnish constitution as 'every man's/everyone's rights.'"

– RamuPamu1

What happens if you break the law? There doesn't seem to be consequences here.

Prison Break

"I don't know if it's really crazy, I personally think it's good and reasonable, but here in germany it's not punishable to escape from prison."

"Of course in reality they might charge you with other things like property damage or assault etc. if you damage something or someone on the way out but the act of breaking out itself can't prolong your sentence because the need to be free is a fundamental human desire."

– PetrosiliusZwackel

The Warden's Story

"I watched a doc on European prisons some years back and in a Croatian prison they talked to the warden. He told a story about a man who escaped. A week or so after the escape the prison received a package containing the man’s prison uniform."

"Since he had committed no crimes while escaping (just walked out the doors) and while an escapee, the only thing they could have charged him with was stealing his prison uniform. But since he returned it, there was nothing to charge and he just had to finish out his original sentence."

– CornyCornheiser

Leaving Civilly Is Not A Crime

"Basically, the normal rules of society apply. If you punch a guard to get past them, that's still a crime. If they leave you unattended with the door open or you sneak out under a lorry, that isn't a crime. They can still catch you and return you, but you can't be charged with attempted or successful escape, just any crimes committed in the process."

– Death_God_Ryuk

It's The Soldiers' Call

"Also Germany, soldiers are allowed to disobey orders if they think it violates human dignity. There are other nations with similar rules or even obligations regarding human rights and violation of geneva convention, but protecting even their own dignity is unique (I think)"

– f_cysco

This doesn't have legal consequences but slurping noodles at the dinner table is perfectly acceptable in Japan.

As a matter of fact, the Japanese encourage it.

The Japanese believe that eating noodles while they're piping hot is the best way to enjoy them.

Also, what is perceived as rude etiquette in other countries is actually a sign of validation that the cook prepared the dish well.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Sabre; Nancy Mace
@bottleneckloser/Instagram, Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project

Trans Influencer Speaks Out After She's Randomly Targeted By Nancy Mace Online

A trans influencer fired back at MAGA Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina for mocking her about her trans identity on social media and subsequently making her vulnerable to attacks.

Sabre, whose Instagram handle is @bottleneckloser, posted a video stating that the lawmaker "bullied" her recently for being "hot on Twitter.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk
Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

YouTube Becomes Unlikely Hero After Play Button Is Perfectly Placed Over Musk's Face

Call it kismet or divine intervention, but sometimes the fates align to inadvertently create something wonderful.

Or hilarious.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk and Jim Jordan
Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

GOP Account Hit With Blunt Reminder After Shaming Dems For Celebrating Tesla's Downfall

Minnesota Democratic Governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz joined many Americans in a bit of schadenfreude regarding White House advisor Elon Musk’s recent reversal of fortune.

Musk, the self-described leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has seen protests against his actions on behalf of Republican President Donald Trump. Part of those protests include Tesla owners getting rid of their vehicles, buyers boycotting the brand, and stockholders dumping their shares.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Zegler
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/GettyImages

Rachel Zegler Claims 'White Executives' Questioned Her Latina Heritage During 'West Side Story' Casting

Actor Rachel Zegler claimed that skeptical producers questioned her Latina heritage during the casting process for the 2021 West Side Story remake directed by Steven Spielberg.

In the remake of the classic 1961 film adaptation, Zegler starred opposite Ansel Elgort as the star-crossed lovers, Maria and Tony.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Hilariously Melts Down Over Awful Portrait Of Him Hanging In CO State Capitol—And People Can't Stop Trolling Him

People can't help but troll President Donald Trump after he complained about a truly awful portrait of him hanging in the Colorado State Capitol building.

On Sunday night, Trump lashed out against Colorado Governor Jared Polis for hanging what he called a "purposefully distorted" portrait of him in the Colorado State Capitol building.

Keep ReadingShow less