Has everyone done something illegal?

[PurpleHandledBasket]

Because according to my mum, everyone’s done something a little bit illegal and not been caught.

I really haven’t.

I didn’t try cigarettes until I was at University
I never tried alcohol until I was 18 or drank underage apart from the odd sip
I’ve never shoplifted
I never bunked school
I never used a fake ID to get into a club or get served in a pub or buy lottery tickets or scratchcards underage
I’ve never not paid for my train ticket or my TV license

I have plenty of other life experiences. I’ve been to university, I’ve been abroad lots of times, I’ve been through divorce and domestic abuse and I’ve owned pets. I’ve held down a job as a single parent (and I am still doing). I’ve had mental health issues.

But I’ve never done anything illegal.

My mum was surprised, she insists everyone has done something a bit illegal and you haven’t lived if you haven’t done at least 1 of the above. She says she’s done all of the above at one time or another.

So AIBU to think that not everyone has done something illegal?

@jaggynettles1

Something that springs to mind is nipping to the shop with my OH’s bank card (he knows!).

@jaggynettles1 Yes I used to do that, ExH would give me his card and I'd pay for it, but I didn't see that as illegal as it was a joint bank account.

I had sex on the beach once (discreetly). I’m pretty sure that’s illegal

Oh and apparently singing happy birthday publicly or in a video was illegal until 2016 because of copyright laws, that came up on a quick Google just now.

Oh and apparently singing happy birthday publicly or in a video was illegal until 2016 because of copyright laws, that came up on a quick Google just now.

It would only be illegal if the video was intended to make money. Filming your kids birthday for example would be fine. Plus singing other songs in public is fine, hence cover bands.

@Jedsnewstar

Oh and apparently singing happy birthday publicly or in a video was illegal until 2016 because of copyright laws, that came up on a quick Google just now.

It would only be illegal if the video was intended to make money. Filming your kids birthday for example would be fine. Plus singing other songs in public is fine, hence cover bands.

I stand corrected then!

@PurpleHandledBasket

If you include the driving over the speed limit, parking on yellow lines, paying for a job 'cash in hand' buying something that might be 'off the back of a lorry', blue badge use when disabled person not in car, working cash in hand, selling Avon etc and non disclosure of income (prior to the current minimum before declare), etc etc then the number of people that haven't done anything illegal would reduce further. The the amount of covid restrictions that were illegal.

I can promise you you have:-
Ever left a sofa outside without calling the council to collect or taken to the tip? Flytipping is a criminal offence punishable by a huge fine or prison
Ever had a bbq in the park or a kids party without a licence? Bad. Bery, very bad.
Ever let off fireworks in a public place? Criminal offence.
Ever sold food not cooked in a hygenic kitchen with two sinks? You are contravening food safety laws

Etc etc etc. There are hundreds of laws like this- you might not know about them which is exactly why you’ve probably broken them. Now say ten Hail Mary’s and I won’t grass you up. You criminal, you.

Like your mum I’d be surprised by an adult saying they’d never done a single illegal thing. But I’m sure it’s possible.

Broke the speed limit? (I'm sure every driver has done that, even if by 2mph absent-mindedly.
Been drunk in a public place? (even a pub)
Gone to fancy dress as a solider or policeman?
Driven without removing all ice from your windscreen?

(unless of course your mum is meaning to do something consciously illegal just for fun or self benefit etc then yes I would accept plenty of people are decent people who would never steal, do something dishonest or physically hurt someone)

I've never done any of the things on your list. Do you drive though? Because even though I do actually try not to speed, I've definitely found myself speeding once or twice. So I have done something technically illegal, and I'd reckon most drivers have at some point.

I've just seen that you don't drive. I suppose you might have broken the law as a pedestrian or cyclist but it is less likely.

I wasn't an underage drinker, have never taken drugs and have never had a cigarette - never appeals.

But I have driven over the speed limit, and this time last year when Ms Sturgeon made it illegal to leave your local council area except for "essential matters" I was breaking the law on a daily basis.

That's actually quite remarkable. Did you make an 'effort' to not break the law? I can reel off a list of illegal things I've done - of course I haven't murdered anyone but I definitely smoked and had a drink before 18. Rode public transport without a ticket etc.

@Changedmane

I can promise you you have:- Ever left a sofa outside without calling the council to collect or taken to the tip? Flytipping is a criminal offence punishable by a huge fine or prison Ever had a bbq in the park or a kids party without a licence? Bad. Bery, very bad. Ever let off fireworks in a public place? Criminal offence. Ever sold food not cooked in a hygenic kitchen with two sinks? You are contravening food safety laws

Etc etc etc. There are hundreds of laws like this- you might not know about them which is exactly why you’ve probably broken them. Now say ten Hail Mary’s and I won’t grass you up. You criminal, you.

Odd choices of example I've broken the law many times, but I've never done any of those! Is fly-tipping sofas that commonplace?

I'd be amazed if anyone between the ages of about 30-35 hadn't illegally downloaded music via lime wire or napster as a teen.

@sadpapercourtesan it was examples of ways in which people regularly break
Laws and do not know that they have done so as the laws aren’t widely publicised or well known.

I’ve done loads of illegal shit. Doesn’t make me a bad person, I’m actually a very good person!

Dropped a piece of litter?

Crossed the road not at the lights?

@jaggynettles1

Crossed the road not at the lights?

Not illegal in the U.K.

Gosh, yes, lots of relatively minor infringements - underage drinking, fake ID (our drinking age in NZ when I went to uni was 20, so pretty much everyone had fake IDs), a couple of mad, crazy, fun clubbing years and the accompanying class As, going over the speed limit, etc, etc.

I’m an upstanding member of society, other than that.

Broken Covid laws?

I think the only illegal thing I’ve done is drink alcohol in pubs/clubs under 18. And I’m sure I’ve gone a couple of mph over speed limit but rarely and would slow down when I realised. Doing illegal things isn’t anything to be proud of so it’s good if you haven’t done them.

I’ve never fly-tipped a sofa, what have I missed out on?! 😂