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Article created by: Jurgita Dominauskaitė

People realized that knowledge is power very early on and the phrase is often attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General (1613-1617) and as Lord Chancellor of England (1617-1621).

Not everyone possesses the same knowledge, but not everyone is allowed to. At the same time, there are things that you think you shouldn’t know because it’s not your place, but actually it’s not classified information, it just sounds like it.

If you would like to hear some examples of such information, this list contains all sorts of cases when people think that it’s almost illegal to know what they know. The thread started when craftygalcreates asked “What's a piece of information you learned that now feels almost illegal to know?” In two days, the question got almost 40k upvotes as people were interested to read the secrets that are not really secrets.

More info: Reddit

#1

Close-up of an old wooden door handle and vintage key in keyhole, representing bits of knowledge people learnt online. When I was a kid, my dad taught me how to pick a lock. I became very interested in different kinds of locks and purchased a lock pick set. I practiced for years and became pretty good at certain types of locks. So over the years every now and then, if a neighbor locks themselves out of the house or a friend loses the key to a padlock or a lock box I’ve been able to help. But the reactions I tend to get from people, even while I’m helping them with their lock is mainly one of mistrust. I’m not a cat burglar. I just like locks.

Blameking27 , Ignat Gorazd Report

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    #2

    Close-up of a modern kitchen sink faucet with brushed metal fixtures and white tiled backsplash showing useful household knowledge. (This is England knowledge, other countries may vary) If you are struggling to pay bills, make water the first one you skip. Access to water is protected by law so the utility supplier cannot cut you off.

    FailedTheSave , dani0010 Report

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    #3

    Person closely examining a sample through a microscope, representing bits of knowledge people learnt that feel almost illegal. You can ask scientists for their research paper that you usually have to pay money to view in a journal. They are allowed to just email it to you no questions asked and they like to do it!

    SabreToothSandHopper , StateofIsrael Report

    #4

    A lion resting peacefully on a large rock surrounded by greenery, illustrating unique bits of knowledge about wildlife. Totally another route of what everyone else is posting but.... the lion at The Animal Kingdom safari ride isn't chained (Disney World park). He is fed a huge piece of meat every morning and sits on a rock that is changed to the perfect temperature for him everyday so he has no reason to attack anyone on the safari ride.

    Meganfaith10 , Kelly Verdeck Report

    #5

    Soldiers moving through a snowy forest with purple smoke, illustrating bits of knowledge that feel almost illegal to know. Creating Nitrogen triiodide. When in liquid form it is stable but once it dries so much as a fly landing on it creates a purple smoke explosion. It's so unstable that alpha radiation can be used to detonate the stuff. It's actually easy to get the materials and create the stuff. Filled my high school hallway stairs with purple smoke on the last day of school.

    RyanNerd , The U.S. Army Report

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    #6

    Police officer in tactical gear and helmet, seen from behind in an urban outdoor setting with people nearby. Police are allowed to lie to you. So are military recruiters.

    PiratesOfTheA** , G20 Voice Report

    #7

    A vast field of red poppy flowers under a blue sky with clouds, symbolizing bits of knowledge that feel almost illegal to know. It is legal to grow opium poppies in the United States, but only if you don't know they can be used to make drugs

    MakesCakesEatsMud , James West Report

    #8

    Close-up of a billing statement showing a total balance of 893 with focus on bits of knowledge shared online. Hospitals have but don’t tell you about a program to reduce your bills depending on how much you make. You can go to their website and find a usually hidden link for financial assistance policies and really cut your bill down

    Callyourmother_2113 , Alabama Extension Report

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    #9

    Laboratory flask with water beside purple gloves and a thermometer on a black lab bench illustrating bits of knowledge shared online. Well, I gave my 9th grade chemistry class a detailed report on diacetylmorphine (heroin) for a project about organic molecules, including how to make it. It was pretty interesting to do and fun to present, but I feel like I broke the law somehow.

    GoldH2O , US Coast Guard Academy Report

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    #10

    Close-up of various Swiss banknotes and coins on a wooden surface representing bits of knowledge about currency facts. When you have a debt with a collection agency you can pay the debt and then call back a few weeks later and say, “I was told when I called and paid that you’d remove this from my credit score.” And then you ask for documentation saying they’re gonna do it. Apparently collection agencies don’t keep super good records on stuff like that; they just want your money. It worked for me, and I hope it can work for you if you need it in the future.

    Travelercam , Dirk Olbertz Report

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    #11

    Pandora internet radio interface on a laptop screen displaying bookmarked songs and music stations. I don't know if it's still a thing, but if you listen to Pandora radio the songs download into your temp folder under your browser. Just add the. Mp4 after it and you can play it. I spent lots of college listening to Pandora, and if I liked a song I'd save it. If you paused the song in time then the most recent song was the top one in the temp folder.

    LeGama , Mr.TinMD Report

    #12

    Vintage Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder with large reels, showcasing retro technology as a symbol of unique knowledge shared online. In Canada you can record any conversation with someone without their knowledge, unless it is in furtherance of an offence. I had to do this with an auto restoration shop in order to do a Visa chargeback when they did nothing to my car but steal parts for almost a year (Curtis Customs in Nova Scotia - I don’t mind mentioning them because there are already news stories about their scams) EDIT: A lot of replies from people possibly misreading. If "you" are recording a "conversation with someone," you are part of the conversation and would be the consenting individual (one party consent). It's definitely wrong and illegal to record just any conversation between two or more other people

    TheKingOfDub , Uncalno Tekno Report

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    #13

    Truck labeled explosives on a highway captured from inside a car, illustrating knowledge that feels almost illegal to know. How to make explosives with everyday home products.

    mranderson2929 , evergleamy Report

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    #14

    FBI emblem on a building wall representing secretive knowledge people learnt that feel almost illegal to know. You can ask the FBI if they have a file on you

    Lexybabie21 , J Report

    #15

    Man in a red shirt analyzing data charts at a table with coffee cups, illustrating bits of knowledge shared online. When companies ask for your name/age/sex/race/occupation/salary/etc. you can just lie. You’ll never be able to remove the information about yourself off the internet, but you can muddy the water quite a bit.

    Tahoeclown , Lukas Koster Report

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    #16

    Kitchen scene with a foil-covered tray on a stove, illustrating bits of knowledge people learnt that feel almost illegal to know. Aluminum foil can block the thefts detection signals in super markets.

    inobody_somebody , Eric Hunsaker Report

    #17

    Man wearing large blue sunglasses relaxing on patterned couch, representing bits of knowledge people learnt shared online. Confidence can open a lot of doors. A lot of times, you can get away with more with some swagger than you otherwise would being meek about it.

    crappotheclown , Sirenz Lorraine Report

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    #18

    Close-up of an old lock on a weathered blue door, symbolizing bits of knowledge that feel almost illegal to know. 90% of home locks are easily pickable with a little know how and a couple pieces of metal.

    Training-Pop1295 , Marie-Louise Lynge Report

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    #19

    Tattoo of a teapot pouring tea into a cup, illustrating creative bits of knowledge people learnt shared online. That in Ireland there is no legal age to get tattoo. Legally you can tattoo a newborn as long as the parents consent. We can get done for bodily harm to a minor if their is no consent. We have an industry standard of 16 with parent or 18 with ID. I'm a tattooist in Ireland.

    KawaiiGoth666 , charcoal soul Report

    #20

    We can’t see the 4th dimension but the 4th dimension can see us.

    Mellopiex Report

    #21

    A large white military b**b displayed indoors with binary code projected on a blue screen behind it. I had a stats prof who used to work for the US government. I'm not sure exactly what his job was, but it definitely involved evaluating the status and readiness of nukes, both ours and the USSR's (he was probably at least 70 and had been retired from that job for a while). One day in class he just started talking about the percentage of nukes that fail (ours and theirs) and why they fail and all kinds of other, seemingly sensitive, information. I don't think he would have told us anything classified, but his personality was boisterous and irreverent enough that I am not sure. I literally expected a team of spooks to bust down the door at any minute and drag us all off for interviews in windowless rooms.

    punkinholler , aaron_anderer Report

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    #22

    Laboratory shelves filled with chemical containers and scientific equipment illustrating bits of knowledge people learnt. someNSFWprofile said: How to make a few different drugs. Organic chem at uni xk543x responded: How to make many illegal drugs Freelance Pharmacy institute of research and testing

    someNSFWprofile , UC Davis College of Engineering Report

    #23

    Empty courtroom with wooden paneling and blue chairs, illustrating bits of knowledge that feel almost illegal to know. LittleOrangeBoi said: When you're on a jury you can vote for someone as innocent even if you think they did it. Most common reasoning for this would be if you just think that they shouldn't be punished for whatever they did. I can't remember the term for it something like Third Option. rjlupin5499 added: Jury Nullification. It's definitely a thing in the U.S.

    LittleOrangeBoi , Patrick Feller Report

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    #24

    Military missile launcher vehicle displayed in a museum, illustrating interesting bits of knowledge people learnt online. In regards to military grade bombs and missiles, it takes actual effort to make one go off on the ground. Like, you literally have to go out of your way to arm the fuse, then sit around for a timer to detonate said bomb. Its not like in the movies, where a soft breeze or some nutjob with a hammer, will make a bomb just explode for no reason.

    cgtdream , John Crowley Report

    #25

    Cashier scanning groceries at a supermarket checkout, illustrating bits of knowledge people learnt that feel almost illegal to know. You can say no when cashiers ask for your email or phone number.

    Haniloo , Midnight Believer Report

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    #26

    Car key fob with lock, unlock, and alarm buttons on a patterned fabric surface, symbolizing bits of knowledge. 1284x is a Ford fleet key. Not chipped, can be found on Amazon for $7 and perfectly legal to replicate. Searching "1284x" filetype:.pdf site:.gov Will pull government bids that involve that key, and also show you what agencies you could open up or drive away a police car.

    Gregorofthehillpeopl , Tom Hentoff Report

    #27

    The last airplane you rode was likely assembled with parts not fully conforming to qc standards but passed through inspection anyways.

    Cstud_69 Report

    #28

    When you do a kfc survey you get free food, you can do them over and over again Steps- go in the survey site, it’s usually (franchise)listens on google Next enter a random code and keep refreshing for a good 15 seconds, then do anything on the survey because they don’t care, then just show them your code at the register, they also have to do it because it’s part of their job, this also works for crispy cream and other places to, don’t do it heaps because it’s sorta scummy (but enjoy)

    munchmunch69 Report

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    #29

    If you rent out your home for 14 or fewer days a year, you do not have to pay taxes on this income….Section 280A(g) of the Internal Revenue Code

    SlySkyGuy18 Report

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    #30

    Vintage Sony cassette recorder on wooden surface, illustrating bits of knowledge about retro music technology. Most large retail employers don’t have a policy against recording your interactions with your bosses.

    APe28Comococo , Joe Haupt Report

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    #31

    Man in white coat walking down a hospital hallway, illustrating bits of knowledge people learnt that feel almost illegal. The tricks doctors use to distract you when they’re trying to check your reflexes

    bottleglitch , Yuya Tamai Report

    #32

    Person sitting at table with powder on paper, demonstrating bits of knowledge people learnt that feel almost illegal to know. How to make Thermite. I don't know why, Thermite itself itsn't actually all that useful or destructive. It burns hot sure, but it's not going to melt anything very well without a proper vessel to contain and direct the heat into the thing you want to melt.

    Jhawk163 , tygerdsebat Report

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