Humans are curious creatures. Our craving to know and understand is the driving force behind our development as individuals and our success as a species. But we’re also dumb.
So when Reddit user Ryyi23 posted this question on the platform: “What oddly specific rules have you seen that are probably only there because someone actually did it in the past?” the replies came flooding in.
From a warning not to fill a water gun with urine to a suggestion to remove a child from a piece of clothing before washing it, continue scrolling and check out some of the funniest ones!
#1
At my last job, we had a sign on the back door that said “you must walk trash all the way to the dumpster; DO NOT TRAIN THE RACCOONS!!!”
The story behind that is the facility I worked at does dog daycare and training, and Darcy the Human (not to be confused with Darcy the Poodle) didn’t like having to walk all the way across the parking lot at the end of the night to take out the trash, and trained about three raccoons to drag the bags to the dumpster because he couldn’t be bothered to walk 50ft to it. He got away with it for about a year, and even named them. The manager only found out when she opened the back door to throw out some boxes and saw a bunch of raccoons immediately run up and cart them off.
Image source: Monster_NotWar
#2
If the water between Denmark and Sweden freezes, and the Swedes walk over we (the Danes) are allowed to hit them with sticks.
Image source: drillepind42
#3
On an AirFrance flight from Morocco to Mauritania, the flight attendant gave the safety brief in French at first. My french is not good but my ears pricked up when I heard the words “feu de camp.” I obviously discounted my translation as misunderstanding the brief until she went into the brief in English.
We were given the standard safety brief on all aircraft, but at the end we were specifically reminded that there are to be no cooking or camp fires lit on the plane at any time.
Can you imagine your seat mate getting hungry and deciding to start a fire on an airplane to cook up some snacks?!?!?
Image source: Filthy_rags_am_I, unsplash
#4
We once got a piece of clothing for one of the kids and right on the label, I kid you not, ‘remove child before washing.’
Image source: randomredditor12345, bdunn1272
#5
In my lease, I had a clause to properly dispose of my used tampons.
I asked why and apparently my landlord had a tenant that caused $50,000 of damage because she threw her used tampons into the cabinet under the sink. She rented the apartment for years and there were 3+ years worth of used, bloody tampons in there.
The, uh, blood caused a bunch of damage akin to water damage to the bathoom. The floor under the cabinet was rotted through. From bloody tampon storage.
The thought of a steamy, gelatinous glorb of blood gooping through the sh**ty linoleum and blooming a bloody Clicker from The Last of Us makes me want to actively die.
Image source: salty-MA-student, unsplash
#6
In Florida ” You may not have sexual relations with a porcupine”.
Image source: Drunken_Scott , unsplash
#7
In rehab our cottons swabs were taken away because a guy decided to jam one into his eardrum to get sent to the hospital and get painkillers. Every seemingly dumb rule we had in there had a backstory to it.
Image source: itsvic27, unsplash
#8
‘Absolutely no roller skates in the lab.’ My husband worked for a private lab startup and half the women there did roller derby. The lab was (as many are) a repurposed warehouse with nice smooth concrete floors. One of the women thought it would be fun to skate between machines. She got a lot done but the boss figured osha wouldn’t be too thrilled so the sign went up a few days later. You could still wear your skates in the break room.
Image source: TheBrontosaurus
#9
“Don’t take (prescription drug) if you’re allergic to (same drug).”
Image source: wpascarelli, pexels
#10
On a package of precision screwdrivers “Do not insert into penis.”
Image source: StarChaser_Tyger
#11
in NZ it is illegal to name your kid “Pink panties” …
Image source: BlightPaladin, pexels
#12
“Do not fill with urine” on a water gun.
Image source: beesuz, unsplash
#13
Do not pick up this lawn mower and use it as a hedge trimmer.
Image source: chasepna, fllickr
#14
Never iron clothes while they are being worn.
Image source: MisfitMishap, flickr
#15
My father’s hometown, Marion, Ohio, had a rule that you couldn’t eat a donut while walking backwards. If I remember correctly, it had something to do with attracting police horses to lure them away from the police.
Image source: cakeishsnake
#16
At my company’s picnic outing: “Anyone who jumps in the lake will be fired.”
Image source: cats_n_things, flickr
#17
“Do not use for drying pets” on the microwave.
Image source: MisfitMishap, flickr
#18
No rings on ship decks. They can get caught and deglove your finger, which is exactly as horrid as it sounds.
Image source: kickassnchewbubblegm
#19
For my fellow scientists: Transferring chemicals by mouth (mouth pipetting) is forbidden.
Image source: iworethedressforhim
#20
Pharmacy worker here. We have to specify to unwrap suppositories BEFORE insertion. Apparently someone thought the foil was part of it.
Image source: macyxpress17
#21
Remove baby before collapsing stroller.
Image source: AsboZapruder
#22
You’re not allowed to bring vuvuzelas into a Metallica concert.
I really just want to know the story.
Image source: bongokapiguana
#23
Do not stop chainsaw blade with genitals.
Image source: galactica_pegasus
#24
“Do not put 14 rolls of toilet paper in the toilet” -Walmart 2019
Image source: SteveCorpGuy4, unsplash
#25
There’s a town in Alabama where it’s illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your pocket.
#26
Last year’s company christmas party email specifically stated to bring an extra pair of pants if you will be urinating in the first pair.
Image source: aiyahhjoeychow
#27
Back in the 90s, I used to work in a convenience store in New Jersey. Once a year I’d have to go to the health department and get certified as a food handler. It is in this capacity that I learned that there is a law on the books in the state of New Jersey that you cannot store food under a leaking sewage pipe. You just know health inspector went into a store and said “what the hell?! You can’t store food under leaking sewer pipe!” And the store owner said “cite the statute!”
Image source: CreatrixAnima
#28
Used to work in a big name book store. In the office we had a huge sign saying “no boiled eggs allowed in staff office”
Image source: rawr_nickie_rawr, flickr
#29
Do not dress game (e.g. deer, pheasant) in dormitory kitchens.
I wonder who dragged a deer into the dorm and cut it up for venison…
Image source: SchnarchendeSchwein, flickr
#30
Please do not add dish detergent to the water fountains.
Image source: Somkeythedog591, pexels
#31
No bouncing balls on city sidewalks…it scares horses.
Image source: MagicMushroomFungi
#32
Do not smoke when applying hairspray.
Image source: silkysue
#33
Curling iron instructions: Do not use while sleeping
Image source: RandomUser951t
#34
I worked at a video rental store and we had a big sign at the front of the store that said “CONTROL YOUR CHILDREN” because kids are an organizational nightmare
Image source: lilmissscum, unsplash
#35
In church, there was a sign above the votive candles that read:
“Light only one candle – $7 each.”
Apparently, for $7, someone had lighted all 50 votive candles in the stand.
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