For some strange reason it counts as correct when I print certain things and then times out completely when I remove the print statement.

This is very strange.

The problem seems inherently a human trait -- the tendency to defer to the "wisdom" of the crowd. It's not uncommon for people to agree with a larger group on something even when their gut (and brain) tells them otherwise.

People need to think for themselves.

Up voting is inherently cancerous and promotes hivemind groupthink instead of individuality.