[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rule_34_large_8682.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:It's the law of the internet that makes some think "ThereShouldBeALaw".[[note]]And, yes, there are porn versions of this image. Like the rule says, NO EXCEPTIONS.[[/note]]]]
->[-(For the Charles Stross novel, see ''Literature/{{Rule 34}}'')-]
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'''''If it exists, there is porn of it -- no exceptions.'''''
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Supposedly originating and popularized by the 4chan {{imageboards}}, this was the first near-universally agreed-upon [[RulesOfTheInternet Rule Of The Internet]]. It is so well founded and documented with ''irrefutable proof'' that even those with only a cursory awareness of the Internet are aware of this rule even if they don't know it has a name.
While the original architects of the Internet had grandiose goals of research and data sharing, [[TheRuleOfFirstAdopters the second it fell into the hands of Joe Everyman]], it became a tool for one thing and one thing only: [[TheInternetIsForPorn pornography]]! Now, it's not that everyone online is just looking for pornography; it's just that it's very ''very'' easy to [[HehHehYouSaidX come]] [[DoubleEntendre across]]. Even if you're not looking for it! Don't believe us? [[SchmuckBait Do a Google image search (filters off)]] of, well, pretty much anything. Sometimes even with the filters ''on''. Odds are pretty certain the results will include something NotSafeForWork.
The key reason the scope of it is so wide and bizarre lies in what some have come to call '''''Rule 36''''': "If you've thought of it, then there's somebody out there with a {{fetish|fuel}} for it." (And incidentally, by "it" we mean "anything that exists in the world.")
There's also ''Rule 35'', basically [[MortonsFork a guarantee that Rule 34 will remain true]]: "If there is no porn of it, it will be made". This basically means that if you notice you can't find porn of something, and point it out, [[SelfFulfillingProphecy somebody will be happy to draw/write/find it for you in pretty short order]], if only to maintain Rule 34.
Finally, there is the concept of quantum porn. "Referring to a type of previously non-existent porn will cause online porn of that type to come into being retroactively." Nobody takes this seriously, so far as is known.
You may wish to keep a bottle of BrainBleach handy while proving (or [[SchmuckBait attempting to disprove]]) Rule 34. [[YouHaveBeenWarned Don't say we didn't warn you]]. And if you DO [[IdiotBall go hunting to prove this rule false]], [[HarmfulToMinors say good-bye to your childhood]] first...
Compare SexyWhateverOutfit (a non-pornographic SisterTrope), FreudWasRight, FetishFuel (and [[http://fetishfuel.wikia.com/wiki/Fetish_Fuel_Wiki the wiki for it]]), RuleThirtyFourCreatorReactions (a list of creator reactions to this applying to their work). See also RuleSixtyThree, which gets mixed up with this.
[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] (though overlap with this rule is guaranteed):
* US federal courts' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Request_for_production Rule 34]].
* Rule 34 of the EvilOverlordList (dealing with the trope ScaledUp).
* ''The 34th Rule'', a ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' book (the 34th Rule of Acquisition reads "[[WarForFunAndProfit War is good for business]]").
* [[http://xkcd.com/505 Wolfram]]'s Rule 34.
* CharlesStross's novel ''{{Literature/Rule34}}'' (although it is the origin of the Stross title).
* [[http://lths.net Lyons Township High School]]'s rule book #34: No Pornography (which may or may not be a huge coincidence).
* [[http://deathnote.wikia.com/wiki/The_Rules_of_Death_Note Rule XXXIV]] of the Manga/DeathNote ([[OnlyICanKillHim Death Note Owners are protected from other Gods of Death]]).
See also GoneHorriblyRight. (You wanted porn? [[BrainBleach You're welcome]].)
%% '''No examples, please.''' Not only would such a list cover potentially every work ever, but we're also not really interested in being the Net's %% "How To Find Rule 34 Stuff" -- you will need to look elsewhere if you want to find that kind of thing.
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