13 Old-School Vacations, Hobbies and Pastimes That Would Be Illegal Today
![13 Old-School Vacations, Hobbies and Pastimes That Would Be Illegal Today](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/9/8/894098_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the days of yore. When people would engage in activities that would make modern-day safety advocates shudder. From bear-baiting to fox tossing, from sheep fighting to dwarf-tossing, we have come a long way in terms of safety regulations and cultural norms... thankfully. We look back on these activities with a mix of nostalgia and horror, remembering the thrill of the risk (well, sometimes) but also definitely, 100% understanding why they are no longer acceptable.
This list is a compilation of some of the most outrageous activities that have been outlawed over the years. From the Statue of Liberty's torch balcony to the Tidal Wave Pool at Action Park, these activities were once considered fun and daring but are now prohibited for safety reasons. We can only hope that the lessons learned from these activities will help us create a safer and more responsible society... and we do, indeed, live in hope.
"Atomic box lunches" no more.
![CRACKED NUKE-WATCHING PICNICS In the 1950s, people in Nevada used to go on trips to places near ground zero of atomic explosions. They'd bring atomic box lunches and have picnics (although Uncle Sam wouldn't let them get too close).](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/2/4/893524.jpg)
Venice: Keeping Fast-Food Out, Traditions In.
![CRACKED EATING KEBAB IN VENICE Venice passed a law in 2017 that stopped any new fast-food places, including kebab shops, from opening up. They wanted to keep the city's traditions and culture alive.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/2/3/893523.jpg)
Cruel sport: Goose Pulling.
![CRACKED GOOSE PULLING People in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany used to enjoy this cruel sport that involved a tied-up goose and humans trying to yank its head. It was popular from the 1700s to the 1800s, but would - mercifully - be illegal now.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/8/893518.jpg)
Fox tossing: the 18th century's strangest sport.
![CRACKED FOX TOSSING Back in the 18th century, German aristocrats had a really weird sport called Fox Tossing. Basically, they'd let foxes, badgers, and wildcats into an arena, then fling them by pulling a cloth tight and releasing it.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/2/1/893521.jpg)
Safely settling disputes, 1900-style.
![CRACKED DUELING WITH WAX BULLETS In the early 1900s, people used to settle disputes by having a duel with wax bullets - a safe way to protect their pride. Nowadays, though, this kind of dueling is extremely against the law.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/9/893519.jpg)
Octopus wrestling: illegal, but not forgotten.
![CRACKED WRESTLING OCTOPUSES In the past, people used to wrestle octopuses as a sport in the US from 1949 to the mid-1960s, but now it's against the law in many places. Thankfully.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/7/893517.jpg)
Smoke-free since '86.
![CRACKED SMOKING IN HIGH SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA In California, it's against the law to smoke in public high schools since a bill was passed in 1986. Until that time, though, schools had smoking areas for students.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/6/893516.jpg)
No more torch balcony visits.
![CRACKED ENTERING THE STATUE OF LIBERTY'S TORCH Until 1916, people could go up to the balcony of the Statue of Liberty's torch, but it was shut down because the arm was getting weak and it wasn't safe anymore. Now only National Park Service staff can go up there.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/2/0/893520.jpg)
Explicit dancing leads to... broken dongs.
![CRACKED DAGGERING Daggering is a dance popular in Jamaica. It looks like rhythmic dry-humping, and daggering music has been banned from broadcast because of how explicit it is. It's caused a lot of serious injuries, including (don't laugh) broken penises.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/5/893515.jpg)
Sheep fighting: the new rebellion.
![CRACKED SHEEP FIGHTING Sheep fighting is still popular among the younger generation in Algeria, even though it's technically illegal. It's like cockfighting, but a bit more sedate, and authorities usually turn a blind eye to it.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/4/893514.jpg)
Dwarf Tossing: A '80s classic.
![CRACKED DWARF TOSSING In the 1980s, people with dwarfism were sometimes paid to be thrown at a wall with a target on it. They wore special padding and the wall was covered in Velcro but, damn, still.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/2/2/893522.jpg)
Barbaric pastime: Bear-baiting.
![CRACKED BEAR-BAITING In 16th and 17th century England, people used to have a cruel game called bear-baiting. They would, as the name implies, tie a bear to a stake and then let a pack of dogs attack it. Yes, it's as dumb and cruel as it sounds.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/2/893512.jpg)
Action Park: Thrills, spills, and 30 rescues a day.
![CRACKED ACTION PARK Action Park in Vernon, NJ, was one of the first modern water parks in the US. It was known for its risky attractions, like the Tidal Wave Pool, nicknamed The Grave Pool because it needed 30 rescues a day. Just imagine that kind of thing today. K A on P](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/3/893513.jpg)