Clever People Who Got Their Way Without Technically Breaking Any Rules

Jul 2, 2024

Some say rules were meant to be broken. But according to these people, they were meant to be followed and exploited to your benefit. And it seems like taking their approach is much more fun than being a good ol' rulebreaker ever was. From outsmarting the neighborhood guidelines to kids who outwitted their parents, here's some (hilarious) inspiration for the next time you need to beat the system.

Clever People Who Got Their Way Without Technically Breaking Any Rules

Jess Scalisi

Shorts Were Banned so They Wore Skorts

These UPS workers were told that wearing shorts was no longer allowed by working employees, so they decided to wear something different. Instead of shorts, they opted for skorts, which are almost as comfortable and as close as it gets to the banned clothing item. They were so proud of their move that they decided to show off their brand-new outfits in this picture. Good for them; it's well deserved.

Shorts Were Banned so They Wore Skorts

Reddit

These guys wanted to have a bit of fun by playing the system, so they looked for the next best option after shorts. We bet their manager couldn't help but laugh out loud at their cleverness.

The Russian Government Doesn't Allow Protests

Protesting in Russia can lead to severe punishment, so these protesters turned to a paintbrush and easel to have their voices heard. Any authority passing by would probably think this group was doing nothing more than making art, which is why this form of protest was such a great idea. And even if the officers quickly realized what was happening, there were technically no rules broken. It's sad these civilians must resort to this, but they found a genius loophole!

The Russian Government Doesn't Allow Protests

Twitter

They were able to stand by their views while also being smart about it at the same time. Russia gave them sour oranges, and they managed to make sweet lemonade.

When the HOA Says No Pride Flags but Nothing About Lights

These people were determined to decorate their house for pride even though the Home Owner's Association didn't want to allow it. Putting out flags was banned, so they found a way to make their house the brightest on the block by bending the rules. They managed to put rainbow lights all around the perimeter of their home instead of flags which actually look way better than any flag ever could.

When the HOA Says No Pride Flags but Nothing About Lights

Reddit

We hope the Home Owner's Association took this as a sign that they should just give up and let each resident express themselves (respectfully) as they wish.

The NYC Subway Said Only Dogs That Fit in Bags Could Ride

Everyone in New York City knows that dogs have been banned from riding the subways unless they can fit into a bag, and this man has a big dog who wouldn't be able to fit inside any normal-sized bag. He managed to bend the rules by finding the most oversized one and putting his pup inside of it, who seemed pretty happy to be able to ride the subway again.

The NYC Subway Said Only Dogs That Fit in Bags Could Ride

Reddit

We don't see how any rules were broken here since that is a bag, and the dog seemed to fit inside. Who cares if it was a giant IKEA bag?

When Her Tinder Profile Says, "only Guys Six Feet and Up"

We're hoping this joke got him a date since this was probably the most clever comeback we could think of. A woman told this guy that she only goes out with men six feet tall or more, so he sent her this picture. He took what she said quite literally and made it look like he had six more legs and feet while hoping that would score him a night out.

When Her Tinder Profile Says,

Twitter

We love how he played with her words a bit while showing off his super funny editing skills. But if all men start to use this as a loophole to women's height rules, it won't be that funny. Okay, people?

She'll Watch the Game Even if Women Aren't Allowed in

Women aren't allowed to enter this sports stadium that is located in Iran due to super strict laws and regulations. But this woman figured out an ingenious way to enjoy the game just as much as the men inside the stadium. She could almost see everything from behind the fence, and it seemed like she was having a great time even though she had to look through the holes.

She'll Watch the Game Even if Women Aren't Allowed in

Reddit

The laws couldn't stop this determined woman from watching the game she loved. But we hope one day, not far from today, she'll be able to take a proper seat and see it without the fence in front of her.

HOA: "hide Your Trash Cans or Pay a Fine" the Residents: "say No More"

The people living in this house were told they would have to pay a hefty fine if they kept their trash cans visible. So, they came up with the most genius solution to the problem while making a thunderous statement. They built the tiniest fence, which barely covers up their trashcans, but whatever they did thoroughly got the job done since they're officially invisible from the front of the house. And that's not all.

HOA:

Reddit

If you think this fence looks like a middle finger or even a threat to the HOA, then good thinking because that was definitely the point.

He Wrote an Entire Book While at Work Without a Notebook

This writer was determined to complete his book while working a cashier job, and the rules couldn't stop him. Paper or notebooks weren't allowed, so he decided to be innovative while reducing waste. He grabbed all the receipts he could find and wrote down portions of his book whenever possible. He gathered enough receipts to almost write an entire story before being able to turn it into the real thing.

He Wrote an Entire Book While at Work Without a Notebook

Reddit

He was seriously able to make use of all of his time on shifts while also earning money. Eventually, the book was completed, published, and even sold.

No Sticks Allowed Inside

As you can tell, this smart dog is a very good boy and managed to follow his parents' rules while still being able to have his stick. He was able to find a way to get the best of both worlds, and while he's lying inside, the stick technically isn't. Based on this picture, we're guessing that mom and dad were super proud of their dog, especially since they didn't have any messes to clean.

No Sticks Allowed Inside

Reddit

Both dog and mom were satisfied with the entirety of the situation, and it's not hard to understand why. He got to have a bit of fun while his parents were able to relax.

He Advertised a "solar-Powered Clothes Dryer"

People were thrilled when they saw a local advertisement selling a solar-powered clothes dryer, but that thrill didn't last long. Disappointment quickly started to kick in when they opened up the package in the mail, only to find something unexpected. They were given nothing more than a clothing line, which technically isn't a scam if you think about it. We're pretty sure that the salesman would likely also agree with that statement.

He Advertised a

Reddit

This California man ended up making a ton of money before someone eventually caught him in his scheme, but playing with words doesn't technically mean that he did anything wrong.

Grandma Said, "no Cameras Allowed, No Problem"

Photography was banned from this art gallery to protect the quality of the paintings showcased there. But this woman really wanted to be able to remember the paintings she was viewing and loved, so she decided to replicate one of them herself. Clearly, she's a very talented artist. And it seems like she became another piece of art for lucky visitors to admire. Honestly, the museum should consider hiring her.

Grandma Said,

Reddit

Amazingly, the picture she painted looks exactly like the one that she used as a reference which means that this image is way better than one that any camera could have taken.

That Time the Belarus President Banned Pro-Democratic Flags

Belarus decided they wanted to ban democratic flags, and anyone raising them would have to suffer consequences. To avoid that, citizens in the country still found a way to show their political affiliations without technically breaking any rules and regulations. Since laundry has to be hung and dried anyway, why not unite by hanging them in democratic colors? Truthfully, the idea is genius if you really think about it.

That Time the Belarus President Banned Pro-Democratic Flags

Reddit

From bras and underwear to T-shirts and even umbrellas, the people of Belarus got creative when it came to figuring out how to annoy the government without breaking the law.

The Syllabus Only Mentioned a Font Style and Size Requirement

The teacher in this picture had some serious specifications regarding how his students should write their papers, as teachers usually do. So, this student decided to play a little joke since he didn't tell them that they needed to use paper as opposed to anything else. He used that to his advantage and printed the entire thing on a t-shirt before submitting it as his final assignment for the class.

The Syllabus Only Mentioned a Font Style and Size Requirement

Reddit

We can't really figure out this teacher's genuine emotions since his eyes seem to be saying something very different than the smile on his face, but this is pretty funny.

This Still Counts as Playing Outside, Right Mom?

What you're looking at in this picture is the modern-day version of playing outside. It's probably a lot different than your version while you were growing up since the digital age has kind of taken over at this point. Kids are a lot less active these days, which is probably why this boy's parents wanted him to play outside a bit. So, he simply stretched his console out the window and decided to game under the sun.

This Still Counts as Playing Outside, Right Mom?

Reddit

Every parent wants their kid to play outside just like they did in the days before technology, so at least this kid made an effort to somewhat fulfill his parents' request.

How to Get a Kid to Drink Medicine

This life hack might be the one you were looking for since we're guessing this could seriously come in handy for all the parents out there. She tricked her son into thinking that whatever he was drinking was actually a delicious can of soda when in reality, he was sucking down on some medicine to help him feel better. It was a brilliant tactic, mainly because most kids put up a fight when it came to taking their medication.

How to Get a Kid to Drink Medicine

Reddit

Clearly, this little guy is a big Pepsi fan, and his parents decided to use that to their advantage to get him to take a sip of his medicine.

He Saw Humans Were Feeding the Swimming Ducks

The hungry boy here couldn't watch his parents feed the ducks any longer, so he thought becoming one would be a good idea. Even though climbing into the lake meant he would get wet, he still made his way into the water to ensure he wouldn't be left out of whatever was going on there. But the only thing that happened was that the ducks were too scared to stick around.

He Saw Humans Were Feeding the Swimming Ducks

Reddit

Unfortunately, his human parents didn't fall for the last-minute sneaky disguise, and no duck food was being offered up to any swimming or hungry dogs in the lake that day.

Happy 27th Birthday!

Since his parents couldn't find the correct numbered candles for his birthday, they accidentally celebrated the big ninety-three. Well, not really, but it sure seems like that's the case since it's what's written on the cake. Nine and three were the only candles they were able to find, so that's what they used. But for those of us who know our multiplication tables, we see a whole different number there.

Happy 27th Birthday!

Twitter

The cake says, "9 X 3," which means nine multiple by three. Nine times three is 27, which is how old this guy turned. Nice one, mom and dad!

Satellite Dishes Are Banned but No One Notices Mr. Camouflage

Satellite dishes are banned from this apartment complex, so renters cannot install one that would be visible from the outside. But no one wants a satellite dish inside. So these people broke the rules but painted the dish so that it blended with the brick wall. The good thing about this is that nobody would really notice that there was even a satellite dish hanging out there unless they were standing super close to it.

Satellite Dishes Are Banned but No One Notices Mr. Camouflage

Reddit

The people living in this apartment couldn't live without satellite tv, which is why they went out of their way to ensure they would have it no matter what.

Who Said the School's "70's Day" Doesn't Mean the 1770's?

We can probably all agree that the best part about grade school is the dress-up days and holidays that seem to happen monthly. Some kids might not be into wearing costumes, while others use the day to their comedic advantage to have a bit of fun. We're guessing that's what the kid in the wig thought when he went to school in a 1770s colonial outfit for a '70s celebration.

Who Said the School's

Reddit

The two things to laugh about when looking at this picture are the old wig and the incredibly modern headphones this kid just happened to wear that same day.

When Your Teacher Gives You Lemons, You Make Lemonade

This student was happy when they learned they were allowed to bring notes to their exam. The only rule given to them was that the paper was only allowed to have one side. To make the best out of their notes, they found this technically single-sided and super-long piece. We're hoping their test was a success and the teacher only had positive things to say about this life hack.

When Your Teacher Gives You Lemons, You Make Lemonade

Reddit

The one thing that teacher wanted was for his students to use their brains, so this person did precisely that without actually breaking any exam rules or regulations in the first place.

"Mom Let Me Put Any Flag Except the Pride Flag, so 241 Flags Later... "

The person that sleeps in this room still lives with their parents, and their mom said that any flag was allowed on the wall as long as it had nothing to do with LGBT pride. They managed to slowly work their way around that rule by hanging up hundreds of different flags in the pattern of a rainbow. The total amount went over two hundred and looks both incredible and unique.

Reddit

They were able to showcase their pride while being subtle about it so that mom, who's a bit strict, would (hopefully) never realize that any rules were broken in the first place.

"He Hates Sitting on My Lap but I Found a Way to Beat the System"

It might look like the cat in this picture is happily sitting on his dad, but it took quite some thinking and a few life hacks for them to get to that point. Of course, cats love boxes, which is why this man used that to his advantage. All he had to do was put one on his lap, which eventually lured the furry guy into the box, and suddenly, they were spending some quality time together.

Reddit

The thing about cats is that they're only going to do what they want, and they don't love changing their ways, either. That's why this guy had to come up with a plan.

Oh, That's Not What the Sign Meant by Green?

Finding parking spots in any city can come with its struggles, so this driver decided that they had to bend the rules a bit to make it work. The sign says that the spot is for "green vehicles only," and they weren't breaking any laws when they pulled into it. As you can tell, the car's color is as green as it gets, which means that they're technically correct.

Oh, That's Not What the Sign Meant by Green?

Reddit

They took the parking sign to their advantage and realized that since only green vehicles were allowed to be in that spot, their car technically fit under that same category, even if it wasn't "green," as in eco-friendly.

Czech Ice Hockey Fans Support Ukraine Despite Flag Ban

Fans at this ice hockey game in the Czech Republic were told they had to remove the Ukrainian flag they held up during the championships. So, they showed their support differently yet somewhat similarly. Instead of traditional Ukrainian colors, they wrote them with literal words but still got the point across fairly well. It was easy for these fans to protest the invasion while ensuring they didn't get in trouble.

Czech Ice Hockey Fans Support Ukraine Despite Flag Ban

Twitter via Lumír Bednář

Most hockey games only allow the flags of the playing teams to be shown during the competition, but these fans were able to work around that with a ton of pride.

Cat Finds Way to Get Attention Without Breaking No-Table Rule

The cat that seems like it's hanging on for dear life on this chair is basically doing just that since they're not allowed to stand on the table. Apparently, their goal is nothing more than to get attention since they always seem to jump onto the chair when everyone is busy eating. It's a really smart begging tactic that may or may not be successful at times.

Cat Finds Way to Get Attention Without Breaking No-Table Rule

Reddit

Cats are just as clever as they are smart, which is why this cat even found a way to work around the house rules while being pretty confident about the scheme.

He Knows His Paws Belong off the Screen

This German Shepard wasn't always so aware of his size since he used to always put his paws on the screen, which probably caused some damage at some point. That's why his parents made it known that he wasn't allowed to do it anymore, and it seems like he does a really great job at following the rule. Due to the no-paws policy, he usually crouches in front of the door while ensuring he gets the best view.

He Knows His Paws Belong off the Screen

Reddit

This dog looks like he goes into full bunny mode while looking out the front door since he knows very well that paws aren't allowed to be anywhere near the screen.

The Counter Is Banned, but She's Technically Still on the Stool

This cat is named Roxy, and she's not allowed to be on the counter when her parents are around, but that doesn't stop her from getting comfortable. She fully knows that the only proper place for a cat to sit around there would be the barstool. So, she thinks that placing a singular paw on it distracts mom and dad from the fact that the rest of her body is on the counter.

The Counter Is Banned, but She's Technically Still on the Stool

Reddit

This is just another adorable case of cats pushing their limits while trying to be smart, and this girl did her best, but she still technically broke the house rule.

The Assignment Was, "only Using Food, Tell Us Where You Live"

There might be a specific reference here between Doritos and Glasgow, but the only thing catching our attention is the fact that the chip did an excellent job as a pointer. Usually, that's what fingers are for, but this tasty snack worked just as well, if not better. Especially since it seems like Glasgow is super tiny and hard to see on the map, so we're guessing he grabbed the best pointer he could find.

The Assignment Was,

Reddit

Doritos chips all already one of the best snacks on the planet, but you probably didn't know that the sharp side could also be used as a pointer at any time.

Don't Let Those Pesky Stains Ruin Your Shirts

A brilliant idea rushed through this guy's head after he stained his shirt w was drinking beer. He wanted to save it somehow, so he grabbed a black marker and made the stains look like islands. The end result was a fancy t-shirt that looked like it came out of a souvenir shop from an island somewhere in the world. It also created the perfect photo opportunity for so many different reasons.

Don't Let Those Pesky Stains Ruin Your Shirts

Twitter

We can't get over how professional and dapper this shirt looks after nothing more than a stain, a marker, and a smart man who made a piece of art.

Engineering at Its Finest

Bikes are made for riding, and when this one broke, the nine-year-old who owns it thought he would devise a way to keep it functioning. There was a broken piece of a lawnmower lying around, so he tied that part to the front of his bike, thinking it would work as well as ever. We're not sure how long those zip ties can last, so we hope he got a new bike at some point.

Engineering at Its Finest

Reddit

Someone's cousin came up with a genius way to fix his broken bike, and although it might not be functional, he still surely thought it deserved a picture.

When Your Dog Knows the Difference Between "on" and "in"

It might look like this dog is posing, but she's actually just pretending not to be guilty since she's technically not allowed on the couch. According to her, though, she isn't really doing anything wrong since being on the couch isn't the same as being on it. Her parents found the whole thing comical, so they took this picture and then happily shared it with the rest of the internet.

When Your Dog Knows the Difference Between

Reddit

This big girl is super aware that she's not allowed to be on the couch, but that isn't enough to stop her from finding a way to get comfy.

He'll Only Eat if Another Dog Is Watching

The hungry chihuahua here usually has someone around when it's mealtime, but his sibling was away on that specific day, so his parents had to devise a solution. They grabbed a stuffed animal and made it look like their chihuahua had some company. They weren't sure if it would work, but they decided to try anyway, and the whole thing ended up being successful while their dog was just as satisfied.

He'll Only Eat if Another Dog Is Watching

Reddit

Some dogs simply have their quirks, and although this might not be a common one, it's super cute. He just needs to have a friend around at all times, and we get it.

Mom Said No Paws on the Counter

This cute cat showed off his sneaky moves when he crawled into the green lunchbox in the picture. This act was considered sneaky because he knew that being on the counter just wasn't allowed. That's why he thought this spot was a safe zone, even though his parents didn't think that was the case. Although, can you really blame him? It does seem like a comfy spot.

Mom Said No Paws on the Counter

Reddit

The adorable kitten isn't allowed to crawl onto his parents' counter, so when there was a lunchbox sitting on it, he took his chances and turned it into a comfy seat.

She Woke up Early for More Screen Time and Got Caught in the Act

This girl admits that her parents didn't let her spend too much time playing video games, but that didn't stop her from actually playing them. She realized that there was a perfect time to play the PS1, and that was when everyone else was sleeping. For hours, she would have fun while making sure that the tv was silent so that nobody could know what she was doing.

She Woke up Early for More Screen Time and Got Caught in the Act

Reddit

She managed to get some good use out of the PS1 while everyone in the house was fast asleep until someone woke up early and caught her in the act.

When Work Doesn't Allow Ripped Jeans but Your Other Pair Is Washing

This girl's mother must have laughed super hard when she took this picture as her daughter found a solution to an annoying work rule. She was not allowed to wear ripped jeans, so instead of putting on a different pair of pants, she filled in the gaps with the darkest marker she could find. Truthfully, we doubt that her boss would be able to tell this difference, so this kind of works.

When Work Doesn't Allow Ripped Jeans but Your Other Pair Is Washing

Reddit

Ripped jeans might have been the only kind of pants that this girl had in her closet the day of her shift, which is why she grabbed a black marker.