Netizens Share Things That are Technically Illegal But Not Ethically Wrong, And The Answers Are Very Controversial

In a world full of rules and regulations, it's easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the law without even realizing it. While some laws are put in place for our safety and well-being, others seem downright ridiculous.

Have you ever done something that is technically illegal but doesn't seem ethically wrong? Maybe you've jaywalked across a free road with no cars in sight or loitered in a park after hours.

You might have ridden a bike on the sidewalk or played your music a little too loudly.

While these actions may not seem like a big deal, they can technically get you in trouble—either through fines or even jail time. But that doesn't mean they're ethically wrong.

In fact, some people would argue that breaking these kinds of minor laws is a form of civil disobedience and that we should do it more often to stand up against unjust laws.

Sometimes, the line between what is legal and what is ethical can be a little blurry. It just depends on your personal beliefs and values.

So we asked people to share things that are technically illegal but not ethically wrong, and their answers did not disappoint. Here are some of the most controversial things they had to say:

The Buzzfeed community asked readers what was something that was illegal but wasn't wrong ethically, and received some incredibly interesting responses

Daniel Truta / Getty Images/EyeEm

1. "Ringing up two bananas instead of four to six at the grocery self-checkout. Produce is already inflated."

—hodgsam88

2. "Smoking pot outdoors. I use it for pain control and to help me walk. I have to carry it around, or I collapse."

—cr1stalfairie

3. "Riding your bike on the sidewalk."

—izabellad

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4. "In [at least] 68 different countries: being gay."

—five_star

5. "Leaving your ID at home. POC have been killed for not having ID."

—the-honest-truth

6. "In New York State, there are laws against 'fortune tellers' that are still on the books. I remember going through my penal code book in school and asking, 'WTF?!' It's just one of those old things that state legislature doesn't have time or incentive to change and goes back culturally to the racial stigma of 'gypsy' scam artists."

—deliverusfromnada

Semih Okmen / Getty Images/EyeEm

7. "Permits or anything that is punishable by fine just means it's legal for the rich."

—superbleak

8. "In my country, it's illegal to feed stray animals, which are mostly very friendly. On the other hand, it's perfectly legal, and I see it hundreds of times a day, to litter everywhere you want. Trash, plastic, and cigarette butts are everywhere; the air is polluted, and so is the water. Anyone can take down a tree or a row of trees and destroy a forest, but you can't feed stray puppies and kittens? Seriously?"

—trendytable80

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9. "Loitering, aka vagrancy, was criminalized as a way to arrest Black people, especially Black men."

—geneac

10. "Any sort of consensual crime. Drugs, prostitution, gambling, weird sex. If everyone is consenting, I think it being legal makes it more regulated and much safer."

—j11th

11. "Sex work! It's a consensual transfer of money for services. The only reason it became illegal is that it gave women independence, and the only reason it is dangerous now is that it’s illegal. Legalize it, regulate it, and make people in the industry feel safe to report crimes and abuse."

—emilyjoon

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12. "Assisted death. Terminally ill people should absolutely have the right to die with dignity on their own terms, instead of enduring drawn-out, painful, oftentimes expensive, slow deaths."

—novelthehuman

13. "Downloading college ebooks for free instead of spending $400 on the latest version. Usually, all they did was change the spelling of a few words and called it v87.12458281648391846 of the book, and then they required it for your college class."

—u/KnightRaiderDewd

14. "Pirating media that isn't available for purchase in your area. You weren't going to get my money either way."

—u/Aarondhp24

15. "Loitering in a park. I've always wondered why this is illegal in some places. The point of a park is to loiter."

—u/FireRussoNow

Blasius Erlinger / Getty Images

16. "There’s a stoplight on my commute where I need to turn left. The light is a hard red/not on a timer. It’s not motion-detected. So even at 5:30 a.m., when there is zero traffic in the lanes ahead or behind me, I must wait for the timer or risk a photo-triggered ticket. The left turn lane should be a blinking yellow arrow at all times, TBH."

—u/pugvox

17. "Jaywalking and crossing the street on a red light as a pedestrian when there are no cars around."

—u/ChibiSailorMercury

We're sure some of these responses surprised you. While you may not agree with all of them, they all provide an interesting perspective on what different people believe to be ethical and unethical.

What matters most is that you stay true to your own values and beliefs. Next time you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, ask yourself if it's really worth getting in trouble over.

Do you have any stories of breaking the law without feeling like you've done anything wrong? Share them with us in the comments below!