No Breaking Wind and Other Outlandish Laws

Feb. 25, 2011— -- As natural bodily functions go, breaking wind in public ranks up there as a displeasing, although hardly punishable, offense.

Well, that's now debatable in the southeast African nation of Malawi, where legislators reportedly want to include public farting among a set of misdemeanor crimes that would be enforced -- and punished -- in a new local court.

The others? Insulting the modesty of a woman, challenging to fight a duel and pretending to be a fortune teller, according to the British Daily Mail.

But in case one assumes that the Malawian government would monopolize outlandish laws aimed at curbing objectionable behavior, consider these seven other ordinances, some marginally justifiable, some clearly meant for days gone by and some just downright hard to fathom, let alone enforce.