Eisboch wrote:
The tee-shirt printing made a political statement, which is fine, but also
included a profanity that, to social standards supported by numerous court
findings, is not fine in a public venue. I did a long google on this one.
In every case that I found where a person who was refused entry or service
because of a printed profanity on their clothing, who then filed a civil
complaint to protect their " right to free expression" --- lost.


Which is as it should be, assuming that one trusts the courts to follow
community standards.


Practically, it is a common sense issue to me. Profanity is not shocking or
particularly offensive to me personally, however I don't think it is
appropriate around young children, my wife or others who may be influenced
or offended.


Personally, I don't care who gets offended. But the over use of
profanity shows a small vocabulary, and it's unpleasant to listen to...
or to see plastered in large print in a public place.

I also think that those who wear items like this in public places are self
absorbed with little respect for others or for standards of social behavior.


Or they're insecure and want to attract attention to themselves.

However, it is certainly a free speech issue, and a community standards
issue. It should be pointed out that any time political opinions are
supressed, it doesn't matter why. And any time one person loses freedom
of speech, we all lose it.

Many of the regular political posters here would have stood up and
cheered if 6 ~ 14 years ago they saw a person wearing a T-shirt saying
'F**K CLINTON' and now they are insisting that a similar expression
regarding our current President cannot be allowed. That's childish
partisan malarkey, pure & simple. And if this sentiment prevails in our
gov't then we have lost the freedom of speech, pure and simple.

As a matter of community standards of behavior, that's entirely a
different kettle of fish. It's entirely up to you if you vote to outlaw
Pepsi T-shirts because you like Coke, or Rolling Stones T-shirts because
you like the Beatles. It's dumb & intolerant, but it's pretty much
standard human nature. And that's why we need to draw the line carefully
about protecting free speech.

DSK