# Awful things that you believe should be legal **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259 "2009-11-04T05:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/21 "2009-11-04T16:22:46Z")
Personally, I’m very much in favor of cruel and unusual punishment in some cases. Bernie Madoff, for instance, I think should be on tour, being pilloried all around the country. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/22 "2009-11-04T17:06:34Z")
I generally disapprove of adultery but firmly believe it should not be illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/23 "2009-11-04T17:11:52Z")
Abortion, in my opinion. Legal but wrong. ---
**Author:** ![MizTina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MizTina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizTina)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/24 "2009-11-04T17:15:00Z")
Add me to the group that believe drugs should be legalized and taxed. However, my awful belief is that if any individual is found to selling drugs illegally, they should have to eat the carcass of anyone that they might have even possibly caused to die. Every last little bit and with no A1 sauce. And use the bones for soup. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/25 "2009-11-04T17:38:39Z")
Generally, emotional revulsion by itself is never a good reason to ban something. There are a lot of things I dislike which are perfectly legal. Cheese, for example. But personal tastes make bad law. 🙂 In order to ban something, you should be required to demonstrate that the banning would reduce overall harm to society. I’m another one who says that recreational drugs should be legal and taxed. I also agree that anything done under the influence of said voluntary drugs should be treated as though it was done deliberately, unimpairedly, and with clear-eyed foresight. I would explicitly include alcohol and tobacco among recreational drugs; there’s no reason to treat them differently because they’ve been traditionally available. Part of the taxes should go to addiction research and treatment programs. Bestiality. I really don’t like this, but I’m having a difficult time coming up with a coherent reason for banning it. Either you ban sex with entities not capable of giving full adult consent, and deem animals to be incapable of giving such consent, or you treat the animals as chattels, and anything goes. We already raise, kill, and eat them, and in doing so pen them in conditions of great cruelty. I can’t see that using them for sex would be _worse_. Of course, there are training issues. Is the specially-trained SexBeast trained well enough to not hump anyone who has not invited it? Given the way my aunt’s dog would hump anything that paused in its vicinity long enoigh, I have my doubts. And what if the animal wants to partake? I don’t like abortion either, but I’m glad it’s legal… and I’m glad I never have to make the decision to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/26 "2009-11-04T17:39:04Z")
Mandatory national service. Upon graduation from high school, or reaching age 18, whichever comes first, at age 18 you enter national service to your community for three years. You have a choice of the military or civilian service. The needs of the military should be obvious and don’t require a detailed explanation here. If you choose civilian route, after a 12 week training period (with similarities to military boot camp) you will be posted somewhere in America (but at least 500 miles away from your home). You may find yourself working with the elderly, the disabled, building trails, picking up trash, fixing up homes, building new homes, serving as a counselor to young kids, babysitting, etc. In return you will be furnished with tax-free room and board, medical care and a limited stipend (again similar to the military). You will also receive regular training in how to budget, insurance, plan for retirement, and other life skills (operate a cash register and learn that ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ will get you far in life). (If you go AWOL from your national service, you will have the option to return or select the alternative national service. If you just want out of the system, you will be banished to the north slope of Alaska – at the Spring or Fall Equinox – with full survival gear and 90 days of food and water. If you survive and make it to the designated welcome center within 90 days you will have the option to complete your service with a clean record. If you choose not to return to service, you will be stripped naked, placed in stocks in Time Square for 24 hours. Upon release, you will be provided with $500, a vehicle with a full tank of fuel and sent on your way. Oh yes, and a lifetime ban of no government benefits of any kind.) Upon completion of of service you will be entitled to full room, board, tuition and books up to the equivalent time spent in service at public vocational school, college or university. If you maintain at least a “B” average during the three years, you will be entitled to additional support so that you may complete an undergrad degree. Formal tertiary education will include math, the sciences and a foreign language, regardless of the field you choose. (So if you go for a ‘degree’ in underwater basket weaving just to slide through with a ‘cheap’ degree, you will still get stuck with real coursework.) If you drop out prior to your three years you will pay it back through additional community service equivalent to the time you spent in school before dropping out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/27 "2009-11-04T19:41:37Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Welfare recipients that have been on the dole for continuous 5 years (yes I have known people where welfare is their primary means of support and are happy that way) have a choice; **sterilization, or continued benefits**. If you’re not going to contribute to society, you don’t get to reproduce. I think they will all choose the continued benefits! Who would choose being cut off, AND cut off? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/28 "2009-11-04T21:25:11Z")
I think they following things are disgusting but I don’t see any good reason to ban them. Non-addictive drugs Incest Beastiality Necrophilia Some things do not really disgust me but are in a similar category are: Suicide Polygamy ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/29 "2009-11-04T21:29:15Z")
God-damned furries. ---
**Author:** ![Livardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/43a26b/32.png) [@Livardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Livardo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/30 "2009-11-04T21:41:16Z")
Forget awful things… I’d be happy if they get rid of stupid crap like not being able to hang out at a public park after 10pm. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/31 "2009-11-04T22:16:59Z")
Sauerkraut, bestiality, and being an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/32 "2009-11-04T22:53:28Z")
> [@runcible\_spoon](#): > > Sauerkraut, bestiality, and being an asshole. I know a guy who IS an asshole and loves sauerkraut on his hot dogs, and he isn’t in jail yet, for bestiality or anything else! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/33 "2009-11-04T23:25:43Z")
> [@Livardo](#): > > Forget awful things.. I’d be happy if they get rid of stupid crap like not being able to hang out at a public park after 10pm. What are you doing in a public park after dark, son? Up to no good, I bet. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/34 "2009-11-04T23:28:26Z")
Religion. I loathe it, but don’t think it should be outlawed. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/35 "2009-11-04T23:32:02Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Mandatory national service. > > Upon graduation from high school, or reaching age 18, whichever comes first, at age 18 you enter national service to your community for three years. You have a choice of the military or civilian service. The needs of the military should be obvious and don’t require a detailed explanation here. If you choose civilian route, after a 12 week training period (with similarities to military boot camp) you will be posted somewhere in America (but at least 500 miles away from your home). You may find yourself working with the elderly, the disabled, building trails, picking up trash, fixing up homes, building new homes, serving as a counselor to young kids, babysitting, etc. In return you will be furnished with tax-free room and board, medical care and a limited stipend (again similar to the military). You will also receive regular training in how to budget, insurance, plan for retirement, and other life skills (operate a cash register and learn that ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ will get you far in life). > > (If you go AWOL from your national service, you will have the option to return or select the alternative national service. If you just want out of the system, you will be banished to the north slope of Alaska – at the Spring or Fall Equinox – with full survival gear and 90 days of food and water. If you survive and make it to the designated welcome center within 90 days you will have the option to complete your service with a clean record. If you choose not to return to service, you will be stripped naked, placed in stocks in Time Square for 24 hours. Upon release, you will be provided with $500, a vehicle with a full tank of fuel and sent on your way. Oh yes, and a lifetime ban of no government benefits of any kind.) > > Upon completion of of service you will be entitled to full room, board, tuition and books up to the equivalent time spent in service at public vocational school, college or university. If you maintain at least a “B” average during the three years, you will be entitled to additional support so that you may complete an undergrad degree. Formal tertiary education will include math, the sciences and a foreign language, regardless of the field you choose. (So if you go for a ‘degree’ in underwater basket weaving just to slide through with a ‘cheap’ degree, you will still get stuck with real coursework.) If you drop out prior to your three years you will pay it back through additional community service equivalent to the time you spent in school before dropping out. > > 🙂 I thought this was supposed to be “awful things” that should be legal. Your entire idea sounds totally plausible and not “awful” in any way. I’d do my mandatory civilian service without so much as a peep! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/36 "2009-11-04T23:32:34Z")
In reference to a current Pit thread, swastikas, whether flags or tattoos or armbands or however they are displayed. If the people who own/display them commit a crime, arrest or harass them for the crime, but swastikas banned today could well be gay pride flags banned tomorrow. Another for prostitution, though I _would_ limit it to brothels or “room service/housecalls”. Marijuana: I never use it and I can’t stand talking to stoned (or intoxicated) people, but I think it’s silly to keep it illegal when we should be regulating and taxing it instead. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/37 "2009-11-04T23:51:08Z")
As a self-described civil libertarian who believes that the right of government to restrict individual action is limited to those actions that directly and intentionally affect others against their will…a whole lot of shit, most of which I haven’t yet conceived of and fervently hope I never do. The list of things I believe should be illegal would probably be a lot smaller. Without going into my full-length rant on this (more out of post length limitations than anything else ;)), the troublesome thing about rights and freedoms is that, when combined with human fallibility, they can lead to situations that the majority consider suboptimal. That doesn’t grant anyone the moral authority to legislate them away. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/38 "2009-11-05T00:23:56Z")
Pornography. I don’t like it, I think it has horrible effects on the people that use it, and I wish that using it was just about as socially acceptable as beating your spouse. Nonetheless, there are many reasons it should be legal. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/39 "2009-11-05T02:35:05Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I think they will all choose the continued benefits! Who would choose being cut off, AND cut off? 😉 If they figure that one out, we could just offer them cake or death. ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259/40 "2009-11-05T03:31:17Z")
Marijuana. It’s really bad for you, is also bad for anyone having to inhale your smoke, smells disgusting, makes you act like a god-damned idiot, and should be legal, taxed (like tobacco, and for the same reasons) and regulated. Maybe a few of the other “soft” drugs too. All non-photographic pornography (drawings, text, etc), regardless of content. (This may require a clause forbidding the use of the name or likeness of an actual individual without their consent.) This includes any depictions of minor children that do not involve actual minors in their creation, or depict actual identifiable minors. Photographic / video pornography that is created using consenting adults and under proper disclosure, even if it doesn’t pass the [Miller test](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_test) (excepting things that involve animal cruelty or other criminal behavior). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-things-that-you-believe-should-be-legal/516259.md?page=3)