[ma-skis.com]

I was under the impression junction boxes were required behind all electrical lights or fixtures, I needed to change the lights in my bathroom and took the old one down and behind it was nothing but a hole in the drywall. with the wires popping out. The fixture that was there was affixed to the wall via drywall screws and dried paint.

Now the connections were stuffed between the wall plate and the actual light fixture so none of them were in the wall and if there was a short, it was grounded but still seemed... off. Is this an old standard in home building? Anyone else ever see this? I googled it and a similar story seemed to pop up, but just figured I'd throw it out to the CP oracle.