Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

You are given the power to make three things illegal. What would you choose?

705 replies

SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 08:40

I know people will post silly things that irritate them but think seriously. What three things would you make completely illegal right now?
Here's mine:

  1. The right to buy your council house
  2. Owning more than one property.
  3. Not keeping your cat contained in your own home. With hefty fines if it is caught killing any wildlife.
OP posts:
JenniferBooth · 27/04/2025 16:46

SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 08:40

I know people will post silly things that irritate them but think seriously. What three things would you make completely illegal right now?
Here's mine:

  1. The right to buy your council house
  2. Owning more than one property.
  3. Not keeping your cat contained in your own home. With hefty fines if it is caught killing any wildlife.

If a social housing tenant loses their job due to the incompetence of the HA. Constant no shows from contractors, Or endless visits the tenant has to take time off for (on one of my threads an MNer was on the 7th visit and repair STILL wasnt done) it should be law that the HA should NOT be allowed to evict when they have caused you to lose your job.

user1497787065 · 27/04/2025 16:42

Swearing

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:35

Morningup · 27/04/2025 16:17

Like hankies!

Show quote history

Yup😉

Anjo2011 · 27/04/2025 16:30
  • Having your phone on loudspeaker in a public area
  • Vaping
  • Dynamic pricing on tickets
Original poster
SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 16:30

SoOxon · 27/04/2025 09:52

and impossible

Show quote history

It's not impossible. I'd enforce it in the exact same way we enforced roaming dogs. It would soon become a thing of the past, just the same way dogs no longer roam.

People only think it's ridiculous because they are not used to it. And they only don't want it because they don't want to have to take responsibility for their pet.

OP posts:
Hastentoadd · 27/04/2025 16:27

SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 15:23

  1. Because it takes it off the social housing market forever and its not fair. We need social housing to be there for people that need it, as a safety net, not for people to buy and even make a profit from. Several people I know have sold theirs for market value when they bought it for a ridiculously cheap price, downsized and pocketed the huge profit. Why should people be allowed to walk away with £100-200k while there are homeless families who need that house? A house given to them when they needed it?
I also have strong opinions about people staying in homes they no longer need. Once you're earning above a certain threshold, you should be expected to move out. Empty besters living in 3 bed homes needed by families should be offered smaller houses and kicked to the curb if they refuse them.
  1. Yes.
  2. No, not necessarily, just keep them contained in your own land. I don't have any suggestions, I don't have a cat. That's the responsibility of cat owners to figure out. Just as I have to with my dog.
Show quote history

I also have strong opinions about people staying in homes they no longer need. Once you're earning above a certain threshold, you should be expected to move out. Empty besters living in 3 bed homes needed by families should be offered smaller houses and kicked to the curb if they refuse them

I completely agree with this but, it should be reviewed every few years

Ddakji · 27/04/2025 16:23
  1. amplified music etc in public places, e.g. public transport (people’s phones), public streets (buskers and street preachers with amps turned up to max.)
  2. chewing gum
  3. Hardwood flooring on anything above the ground floor.
comeandhaveteawithme · 27/04/2025 16:22

Aprilweather · 27/04/2025 16:14

Apparently they don't bury especially when there is a territory dispute.
😒 I always laughed that I am complimented that my garden is so popular, but it would be nice not having to deal with 5 cats shitting in open there. Very nice

Show quote history

I do not appreciate having to clean poo off my own carpet after my kids tread on it in their own garden because someone else can not control their pet.

comeandhaveteawithme · 27/04/2025 16:20

Berryslacks · 27/04/2025 09:31

I understand the concern regarding birds. We have lots of hedgehogs I have never seen them the slightest bit bothered by cats. I have seen both hedgehogs and cats happily munching hedgehog food together. Endangering rodents do you mean mice and rats? They can endanger those furry bastards as much as they like. I don’t have a cat anymore but loads where we live we have a large garden and I like to see various cats pottering about.

Show quote history

It's not up to us to decide what lives and what dies. The ecosystem is a delicate balance and while you may not like rats and mice, they're an important food source to birds of prey, reptiles, snakes, larger mammals etc.
It's quite arrogant for humans to just say, well birds are pretty and I like hearing them sing so they can stay but I think mice are ugly and smelly so I don't care if this unnatural invasive predator I decided to unleash into the wild rips them apart for fun.

WanderleyWagon · 27/04/2025 16:20

I sympathise with your point about cats. They are terrible for biodiversity and are basically tiny feline serial killers.

Morningup · 27/04/2025 16:17

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:07

Oh well as long as your happy with empty shelves. They have a job to do and I can think of much worse things to make illegal.

Show quote history

Like hankies!

DoubleShotEspresso · 27/04/2025 16:16

Dangerous dogs of any type
Processed foods being available or cheaper than raw ingredients
No fault evictions

Morningup · 27/04/2025 16:16

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:07

Oh well as long as your happy with empty shelves. They have a job to do and I can think of much worse things to make illegal.

Show quote history

Yup

JoshLymanSwagger · 27/04/2025 16:14
  1. Donald Trump.
  2. Cycling on pavements or on roads where there is a designated Cycle path/lane.
  3. Dogs being allowed outside their owners home without being muzzled and on a harness/lead and reintroduction of the Dog License.
Aprilweather · 27/04/2025 16:14

SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 16:05

This "they bury their poo" excuse from cat owners is the weakest argument they have.
First of all, they do not. It seems that cats rarely do this anymore, it's frequently left on the lawn and on gravel and yes, I do know it's cats because I've seen them both in person and on my wildlife cameras.
And even if they do Bury, I don't want them digging up my garden either.

As for the "chill" argument, fledgling birdshat will die this spring without their parents to feed them after they've been tortured to death by Tiddles the "good little hunter" tabby cat would probably disagree.

Show quote history

Apparently they don't bury especially when there is a territory dispute.
😒 I always laughed that I am complimented that my garden is so popular, but it would be nice not having to deal with 5 cats shitting in open there. Very nice

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:13

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:09

Before the pedants arrive yes it's you're not your.
I'd ban pedants.
Is that why they have a corner?

Following from another thread on here I'd add hankies to the list.
Just grim.

Candlesandmatches · 27/04/2025 16:09
  1. No dog ownership without a licensed and mandatory training to own a dog and mandatory insurance. The costs of this covers more dog poo bins and wardens to make sure dog mess is binned.
  2. Dogs in places where humans eat - both inside and outside. fines for violators.
  3. E-Scooters.
Pabbel · 27/04/2025 16:09

Vehicles parked on the pavements.
Social media banned for under 16s,
The smell of Spice everywhere!!!

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:09

Before the pedants arrive yes it's you're not your.
I'd ban pedants.
Is that why they have a corner?

Original poster
SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 16:08

godmum56 · 27/04/2025 16:04

but they do pay more for the roads than non car owners, they pay both council tax and VED

Show quote history

That's for emissions, not the roads. That's why it's based on CO2 bands.
Council tax pays for roads, everyone pays it.
Car drivers are kinda leeching off everyone else if anything. They cause the most damage, yet everyone pays.

OP posts:
Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:07

Morningup · 27/04/2025 16:04

Yup

Show quote history

Oh well as long as your happy with empty shelves. They have a job to do and I can think of much worse things to make illegal.

Original poster
SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 16:05

LadyHexham · 27/04/2025 16:00

Cats are chilled, mostly go around unnoticed, bury their poo usually, move slowly.

Yep, then I get it on my hands when I'm gardening.
Lovely.

This "they bury their poo" excuse from cat owners is the weakest argument they have.
First of all, they do not. It seems that cats rarely do this anymore, it's frequently left on the lawn and on gravel and yes, I do know it's cats because I've seen them both in person and on my wildlife cameras.
And even if they do Bury, I don't want them digging up my garden either.

As for the "chill" argument, fledgling birdshat will die this spring without their parents to feed them after they've been tortured to death by Tiddles the "good little hunter" tabby cat would probably disagree.

OP posts:
Morningup · 27/04/2025 16:05

I’m making the laws so my way or the highway 😂

godmum56 · 27/04/2025 16:04

SpringSunshineanddaffodils · 27/04/2025 16:01

Are you suggesting they cycle on the pavements?! Or are you advocating for more cycle paths? Because I can get behind that.
Either way we ALL pay for the roads, through our council tax, and we should therefore all be allowed to use them. Car drivers do NOT pay road tax, and have no more rights to the road than anyone else.

Show quote history

but they do pay more for the roads than non car owners, they pay both council tax and VED

Morningup · 27/04/2025 16:04

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2025 16:04

Does that include all the lorries that fill the shops up with food and clothes etc?

Show quote history

Yup

Swipe left for the next trending thread