Italian Farmer Lashes Out At Belching Neighbor

In Italian culture, name-calling is a punishable offense. This lesson has just been learned the hard way by Francesco A. of Ferrara, who was so sick and tired of his neighbor's loud belching habit while he worked his land that he called him a pig and threatened to beat him with a club if he didn't mind his manners.

According to an article in the Nuova Ferrara, the Cassation court found Francesco guilty and has sanctioned him with a fine. Insulting someone in Italy is a crime, even if that someone can belch louder than a tractor engine, as it would seem.