7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

1/10

11 Things You Won't Believe Governments HaveBanned

Published on 9/14/2011 underMisc - by Jill Harness - 267,555 views

TAGS: banned, governments, laws, rules, restrictions, china, banning

Australia: Porn Featuring Small Breasts

Are you an adult woman in Australia with a cup breasts? According to Australia, you don't exist. Do you happen

to be a man who likes to watch adult films starring small-breasted women? According to

the Australiangovernment, you secretly love child porn. If none of this makes sense to you, then you must not

work for the Australian Classification Board who has banned multiple adult films from distribution because, in

their opinion, the actress' smaller breasts made them appear to be under 18.

While the law doesn't outright ban porn featuring small breasts, the ABC has the right to ban all adult films that

depict a woman as being under 18. While this idea sounds fine in theory, the group has actively rejected some

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

2/10

films based solely on the breast size of the actresses involved.(Link 1|Link 2|Photo)

China: Game Consoles

Most game consoles are made in China and Chinese prisoners are often forced to play World of Warcraft so the

government can collect their loot and sell it to other players, which is why it seems so utterly bizarre that Chinadoesn't allow the sale of gaming consoles. The ban took place back in 2000, when the government expressed its

concern that the country's youth would waste their time playing games instead of working. Even so, gamers are

still permitted to buy non-console games, making the ban notably ineffective which is probably why it is not

extensively enforced.(Link|Photo)

Greece: Video Games

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/28/australian_censors/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/28/australian_censors/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/28/australian_censors/http://jezebel.com/5458674/rumor-australia-bans-porn-with-small+breasted-womenhttp://jezebel.com/5458674/rumor-australia-bans-porn-with-small+breasted-womenhttp://jezebel.com/5458674/rumor-australia-bans-porn-with-small+breasted-womenhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/65560000@N06/5968484589/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/65560000@N06/5968484589/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/65560000@N06/5968484589/in/photostream/http://www.life.com/gallery/59111/banned-in-china#index/8http://www.life.com/gallery/59111/banned-in-china#index/8http://www.life.com/gallery/59111/banned-in-china#index/8http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashitaka96/2084470525/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashitaka96/2084470525/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashitaka96/2084470525/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashitaka96/2084470525/in/photostream/http://www.life.com/gallery/59111/banned-in-china#index/8http://www.flickr.com/photos/65560000@N06/5968484589/in/photostream/http://jezebel.com/5458674/rumor-australia-bans-porn-with-small+breasted-womenhttp://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/28/australian_censors/

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

3/10

China's not the only country to ban video games. Greece did too, although for a much different reason. In 2002,

the government tried to crack down on electric gambling machines, but their legislators wrote the law so

broadly that it managed to cover all forms of electronic gaming machines meaning all video games.

Amazingly, someone was even caught and arrested for violating the poorly written law by playing an MMO in

an internet caf. They were actually forced to serve time in prison for playing games.

Fortunately, after receiving pressure from the EU and video gamers everywhere, the law was found to be

unconstitutional by the end of the year.(Link 1|Link 2|Photo)

China: Avatar in 2D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2238242.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2238242.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2238242.stmhttp://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-957519.htmlhttp://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-957519.htmlhttp://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-957519.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandli/4246651801/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandli/4246651801/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandli/4246651801/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandli/4246651801/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-957519.htmlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2238242.stm

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

4/10

While the army in Avatar is undoubtedly American, the idea of people siding with an indigenous populationagainst an imperialistic force is something that China was not comfortable with. That's why shortly after the

release of the movie in China, the authorities decided the movie could only be shown in 3D. Since there are very

few 3D theaters in China, the move was effectively a ban on the film. (Link| Photo)

Russia: Emo Clothing

http://www.life.com/gallery/59111/banned-in-china#index/10http://www.flickr.com/photos/juehuayin/4282548033/http://www.flickr.com/photos/juehuayin/4282548033/http://www.life.com/gallery/59111/banned-in-china#index/10

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

5/10

Plenty of people don't like emo fashion, but while it's not that weird for a parent to tell their kids they can't wear

that crap outside the house, it's entirely different when the whole government takes such a drastic stand. When

the Russian government was trying to stop high suicide rates amongst teens though, they decided emo fashion

were to blame.

The government went so far as to dub the style a threat to national stability before banning people fromwearing emo clothing to public schools or government buildings. Don't worry sullen teens of Russia, you can

still listen to all the forlorn emo music you want, you just can't dress like you listen to it. (Link| Photo)

China: Reincarnation Without Prior Consent

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/22/russian.emohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/saneboy/4110838168/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/saneboy/4110838168/in/photostream/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/22/russian.emo

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

6/10

On the face of it, the idea of banning someone from reincarnating without obtaining the state's permission is

preposterous and something they absolutely can't control. In reality though, the measure is their way to trying

to take control of the Tibetan Buddhists (including the Dali Lama himself) by trying to rule over one of their

most sacred beliefs. (Link| Photo)

Iran:Western Hair Cuts

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2194682.ecehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/anniemyers/17913414/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniemyers/17913414/in/photostream/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2194682.ece

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

7/10

Like many Middle Eastern governments, Iran hates the impending spread of decadent Western culture. In

order to better protect their people from the depraved culture of Europe and North America, the government of

Iran has banned all hair cuts that are not included in their list of government-approved styles. Banned styles

include mullets, ponytails and spikes. Barber shops that fail to follow the law can be shut down and penalized in

the years since the law took effect. (Link| Photo)

Saudi Arabia: Valentine's Day

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/7873621/Iran-government-issues-style-guide-for-mens-hair.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/pirasteh/2521164302/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pirasteh/2521164302/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/7873621/Iran-government-issues-style-guide-for-mens-hair.html

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

8/10

Similarly, Saudi Arabia finds Valentine's Day to be in violation of Muslim beliefs. In order to ensure residents

don't secretly send gifts to their Valentine's, the government orders all florists and gift shops to remove

anything red or otherwise considered to be a symbol of romance prior to the holiday. Apparently the ban on the

holiday isn't entirely successful and the country now has a thriving Valentine's Day black market where lovers

can buy red roses and other tokens of romance at around six times their ordinary prices. (Link| Photo)

Denmark: Ovaltine and Marmite

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/02/12/saudi.valentine/index.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/75001512@N00/2253853372/http://www.flickr.com/photos/75001512@N00/2253853372/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/02/12/saudi.valentine/index.html

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

9/10

In America, it's practically impossible to purchase milk that isn't fortified with vitamin D, but in Denmark, this

would be completely illegal. That's because the country has put a ban on all fortified foods, effectively banning

fortified breakfast cereals, Ovaltine and Marmite.

Update: According to the Denmark Embassy in England, it's not illegal to sell or possess Marmite, just to

advertise it. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)

Denmark: Most Baby Names

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/24/denmark-bans-marmitehttp://www.amblondon.um.dk/NR/exeres/8A56692E-1780-495E-8176-F0E366653F52,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Publishedhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/celestehodges/3544547604/http://www.flickr.com/photos/celestehodges/3544547604/http://www.amblondon.um.dk/NR/exeres/8A56692E-1780-495E-8176-F0E366653F52,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Publishedhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/24/denmark-bans-marmite

7/31/2019 11 Things You Won

10/10