Do you think offensive slogans on T-shirts should be banned?

Question

I saw one guy walking around with a T shirt that said in big letters 'I'm a C***' , and I have seen others with the 'F' word large and legible. I am absolutely not a prude but I don't believe that this can be socially acceptable. Should the police be able to ask them to remove it or cover it up or should their own conscience tell them it is not acceptable?

I am all for freedom of speech, but does that mean people should be allowed to wear a t shirt with 'F*** all N*****s' on it, in public, where young children can see it? This country has a long tradition of freedom of speech, but that does not mean the freedom to insult or offend decent people.

Answer 1

Personally I think it is a question of taste and a persons own decision what they wear and where but at the same time I don't think it is very nice to show nasty words in front of kiddies. I think police should be able to ask them to cover up or remove and if found reoffending then issue a small fine just to set a standard. I don't think that arresting and charging people for it would serve a useful purpose really.
Dot x

Answer 2

Well, I am usually for freedom of speech but some of these shirts go a bit too far to be worn in public places. Sure, wear it at home, or over at a friends house thats fine, even wearing it in a bar would be cool, just don't wear it to a mall, or any other place with lots of children.

Answer 3

There is a big difference between freedom of speech and socially acceptable behaviour.

Perhaps I'm a prude but I don't find the C or F words socially acceptable so I don't want to see them emblazoned across someone's chest.

Answer 4

apparantly a few years ago, cradle of filth (awful metal band) had t shirts saying jesus is a c*nt on the back. the only reason i can see they did this was for publicity. some guy was apparantly arrested wearing it.. so i think there are laws against it. i personally am divided. i am all for freedom of speech etc.. but everyone knows swearing is the lowest form of intelligence ;)

Answer 5

I remember years ago how punks wearing badges promoting Stiff Records ("If it ain't Stiff it ain't worth a f***") being stopped and cautioned or arrested for 'offending public decency' or indulging in behaviour 'likely to cause a breach of the peace'.
Have these laws been repealed, or is it another case that the police just can't be bothered?

In those days such things were iconoclastic and rebellious, but these days tea-shirts with slogans are for boring old dads.

If these people want to make themselves look silly, let them. Sensible people can take an instant dislike to them and thus save themselves a lot of time!

(Much as we do with the slack-jawed imbeciles that wear baseball caps.)

I do think that tea-shirts are really VESTS, and as such, wandering about in public with one's underwear on show isn't really 'on'. These slobs probably smell too.

Answer 6

These people are trying to ruin the true idea of freedom.

Answer 7

Because of freedom of speech, they can do it. Because they have no morals, they do it.
I would just try not to look and make sure I roll my eyes at them when I pass them.

Answer 8

That is why this country has freedom of speech.

Answer 9

No I don't think they should be banned. However, some parents need to think before they let their children wear them. I saw a girl who must have been about twelve with a t-shirt on which said: PORN (with a 'star' symbol underneath) WTF?

Answer 10

we need to preserve our individuality in the first place... preference of clothing is a personal matter, i think we've got nothing to do with them. we just have to accept it, it's inevitable.