Numbers can be shifted with the `<<` and `>>` https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/language-reference/operators/bit-shift-operators[operators], but the right operand of the operation needs to be an `int` or a type that has an https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/programming-guide/language-features/data-types/implicit-and-explicit-conversions[implicit conversion] to `int`. However, when the left operand is an `object`, the compiler's type checking is turned off, therfore you can pass anything to the right of a shift operator and have it compile. If the argument can't be implicitly converted to `int` at runtime, a https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/microsoft.csharp.runtimebinder.runtimebinderexception[RuntimeBinderException] will be raised.
This rule does not raise when the left or the right expression is https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/language-reference/nothing[Nothing].
* https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/programming-guide/language-features/data-types/implicit-and-explicit-conversions[Implicit and Explicit Conversions]