Just what can you print on a T-shirt?

Is this political correctness gone MAD?

Today, the BBC published an article about a man risking a fine for having an "offensive" slogan on his T-shirt.

It reads, "Who the f**k is MICK JAGGER?"

He thought it was a bit of a laugh, but Peterborough City Council failed see the funny side of the T-shirt.

Note: Even I "starred out some letters" maybe, I think it's offensive...

It seems the "JAGGER" T-shirt was originally bought in Los Angeles, where the local cops seem to be OK with the statement.

The BBC got an opinion from a criminal solicitor; "It is not necessary for someone to have made an official complaint for the police to act, they just have to think it might offend a hypothetical third party".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6944008.stm

This got me thinking.

There is nothing inherently offensive about any word it just depends on the context and company.

In Ireland "Feck" is often used as a substitute, while in England "Flip" is sometimes used.

A basic bit of Internet research reveals that there's quite a few T-shirt printers quite willing to provide custom printed T-shirts and they even supply a whole range of "offensive T-shirt" designs.

Examples:

• AK47, for when you absolutely, positively need to kill every motherf**ker in the room
• Any Hole is a Goal! Except a Manhole...
• Today's word is legs, Spread the word
• Curry makes you Shit Hot
• If you don't believe in oral sex, keep your mouth shut!
• Viagra is for pussies
• Fanny magnet

More examples and pictures:

http://www.chargrilled.co.uk/t-shirts/products.asp?cat=51&pass=1

I guess most of the examples above are mildly offensive in certain circumstances and even have a certain amusement value. I wonder which ones would incur a fine or an ASBO from the local police?

Why is it an offence to wear a T-shirt for the police to act; "It is not necessary for someone to have made an official complaint for the police to act, they just have to think it might offend a hypothetical third party" while publishing a picture (which probably will have a far wider impact) on the Internet?

In conclusion:

The offensiveness or perceived intensity or vulgarity of the various profanities can change over time, with certain words becoming more or less offensive as time goes on. For example, in modern times the word piss is usually considered mildly vulgar and somewhat impolite, whereas the King James Bible unblushingly employs it where modern translators would prefer the word urine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity#Western_History

2 Kings 18:27 (King James Version)
But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2018:27;&version=9;

Man barred from flights over 'offensive' t-shirt... strewth an Aussie makes a stand on his T-shirt statement

Airline staff argued the t-shirt, which bears an image of the US president with the slogan 'World's number 1 terrorist', was a security risk or an item likely to upset passengers.

The bloke cleared security and was ready to board, when he decided to really "rub some Quantas nose". Unfortunately, he should have waited until he actually got to London! Full Story