# (Politically) Offensive t-shirt opinion: how do you react?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 10, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471 "2012-05-10T03:32:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/41 "2012-05-29T16:17:29Z")
Taking issue with every tee shirt and bumper sticker expressing beliefs counter to my own would leave me no time to do anything else. Too many people are wrong about too many things for me to be able to correct the situation in any meaningful way.
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### Author:  [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/42 "2012-05-29T16:59:38Z")
If the situation were reversed, and you were wearing a “Marriage: Rated ‘E’ for Everyone” tshirt (yes, this exists): How would you react to someone coming up to you in line at a store and trying to fight your “ignorance?” They’d likely feel it was their duty to help you see where you’ve gone wrong. Would that be helpful for you, work toward changing your mind? Or would it just piss you off?
Me? I don’t take kindly to strangers trying to undermine my belief systems, whatever they may be. Course, that’s why I don’t sport anything that would ever give anyone a clue as to my stance on these kinds of controversial issues, which are best left for quiet conversations with good friends, IMHO.
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### Author:  [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/43 "2012-05-29T17:08:49Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#):
>
> People who advertise their crazy are more likely (in my mind, at least) to be rude, nasty, and quicker to get violent
Yeah, I don’t need my retail experience enhanced by some freak with a knife. I keep my mouth shut and buy my box of Oreos in peace.
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### Author:  [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/44 "2012-05-29T17:11:11Z")
> [@Leaper](#):
>
> A guy in front of me in line at a store was wearing a t-shirt for a “Mayday for Marriage” event. I knew I couldn’t assume it was an \*anti-\*gay marriage event (though I was pretty sure it was, and Google later proved me right), not to mention the fact that it’s really not prudent to get into a shouting match at a store with a random stranger (AND pointless, since if you’re wearing the shirt in public, you probably aren’t going to be swayed by someone you don’t know tapping your shoulder and expressing his opinion), so I said nothing.
>
> Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but feel guilty and cowardly for it, for not at least _trying_ to, er, fight ignorance. Has anyone else in a similar situation ever reacted differently?
What discussion does do is help those that are undecided. Two people of opposite opinions discussing the issue, gives the opportunity for lurkers to read, digest and hopefully come to a conclusion.
So while you probably wouldnt have taught the person in the Tshirt that hate is horrible in any media, someone nearby might have heard what you said, and enjoyed their own private, quiet epiphany…
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### Author:  [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/45 "2012-05-29T17:17:27Z")
> [@msmith537](#):
>
> I don’t react because I’m not a fucking psychopath. If people want to exercise their First Amendment right to say something stupid, that’s their business.
> [@olivesmarch4th](#):
>
> Maybe some people want to exercise their First Amendment right to tell bigots that they’re bigots.
Unless the OP is acting on behalf of the Government, Im not sure how the 1st Amendment comes into play?
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### Author:  [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/46 "2012-05-29T18:02:14Z")
> [@dngnb8](#):
>
> What discussion does do is help those that are undecided. Two people of opposite opinions discussing the issue, gives the opportunity for lurkers to read, digest and hopefully come to a conclusion.
>
> So while you probably wouldnt have taught the person in the Tshirt that hate is horrible in any media, someone nearby might have heard what you said, and enjoyed their own private, quiet epiphany…
But there already is plenty of such discussion, on the internet. Then people who are interested in the issue can seek out information about it when they want it, rather than having their grocery shopping interrupted by an altercation. It’s harder for an online discussion to turn physically violent, so it is safer for the participants.
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### Author:  [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/47 "2012-05-29T18:33:59Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#):
>
> But there already is plenty of such discussion, on the internet. Then people who are interested in the issue can seek out information about it when they want it, rather than having their grocery shopping interrupted by an altercation. It’s harder for an online discussion to turn physically violent, so it is safer for the participants.
Still not sure what the 1st Amendment has to do with this topic…
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### Author:  [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/48 "2012-05-29T19:13:39Z")
> [@dngnb8](#):
>
> Still not sure what the 1st Amendment has to do with this topic…
Nothing, unless the government is trying to keep people from wearing offensive T-shirts. As far as I can tell, they are not.
I suppose you, as someone offended by said T-shirt, have a First Amendment right to tell the wearer what you think. But it’s not fear of the government doing anything that keeps me from saying anything to these people. It’s knowing that they are very probably too set in their opinions for me to change their minds, and not being sure that the wearer _isn’t_ the type to start a fight in the grocery store. I have no interest in having a physical fight with anybody over anything, so I’m not going to do anything that might provoke one.
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### Author:  [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/49 "2012-05-30T07:46:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> I think it’s great when idiots proclaim their idiocy on their shirts, it helps me avoid them.
> It ought to be mandatory.
What do we call it when we think we are absolutely right and those who disagree with us are absolutely wrong?
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### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2012, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/50 "2012-05-30T07:58:56Z")
I don’t think there’s much to be accomplished by arguing with random strangers in a store.
That being said: Mayday ? With the blossoms, and the maypoles, and the Morris dancing ? That’s a pretty darn gay day to be advocating homophobia on if you ask me.
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### Author:  [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/51 "2012-05-30T09:14:05Z")
Better to keep your thoughts to yourself, and avoid getting in an altercation.
As someone who drives a bus for a living, and has to hear every mind-numblingly stupid conversation between passengers, keeping ones opinion to themselves is the safest course of action. I think some people are just looking for a fight, and will wear/say things to try to provoke people into arguing with them. Like others have said, this won’t really change anyone’s mind, and rather it will just escalate the situation.
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/52 "2012-05-30T14:40:30Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#):
>
> I wouldn’t have said anything to someone simply wearing a T-shirt with a message I didn’t agree with.
>
> If you feel like it, perhaps the best “reaction” would be to wear your own T-shirt, with a counter-message.
Appropriate to this thread, I thought:
> **[Skub](https://pbfcomics.com/comics/skub/)**
>
> The Perry Bible Fellowship
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### Author:  [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/53 "2012-05-30T21:05:50Z")
If I’m by myself generally I won’t say anything. If I’m with someone else I’d start a conversation with them concerning the shirt, never actually talking to the person. Then if they say something to me or my friends we get to pile on without feeling as guilty for an unprovoked attack.
I do mean verbal confrontation, I’ve never had anything get physical from that.
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### Author:  [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/54 "2012-05-30T22:37:22Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#):
>
> Nothing, unless the government is trying to keep people from wearing offensive T-shirts. As far as I can tell, they are not.
Just curious why someone brought it up then other then they dont understand what the 1st Amendment protects them from.
> [@](#):
>
> I suppose you, as someone offended by said T-shirt, have a First Amendment right to tell the wearer what you think.
The Government cannot stop me from speaking my opinion, wearing the shirt etc. The Grocery store can.
> [@](#):
>
> But it’s not fear of the government doing anything that keeps me from saying anything to these people. It’s knowing that they are very probably too set in their opinions for me to change their minds, and not being sure that the wearer _isn’t_ the type to start a fight in the grocery store. I have no interest in having a physical fight with anybody over anything, so I’m not going to do anything that might provoke one.
But that has nothing to do with Freedom of Speech. The 1st Amendment protects us from Government. Other laws protect us from assault.
That being said, the grocery store has the right to refuse service to them.
Many people interpret Freedom of Speech’s protection to say anything, anywhere, and nobody can stop them. That interpretation is not accurate.
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/55 "2012-05-31T00:25:11Z")
> [@dngnb8](#):
>
> Many people interpret Freedom of Speech’s protection to say anything, anywhere, and nobody can stop them. That interpretation is not accurate.
Best way I’ve heard it put: “You have the right to say anything you like. However, I’m not obligated to provide you with a forum in which to say it.”
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### Author:  [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/56 "2012-05-31T01:18:23Z")
> [@madsircool](#):
>
> What do we call it when we think we are absolutely right and those who disagree with us are absolutely wrong?
“Zealotry”? “Fanatacism”?
> [@MostlyClueless](#):
>
> Which is why I want a programmable Tshirt that says whatever I want it to say at the press of a button.
Ummm…I thought there was one with a programmable LED in the middle.
[This](http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/interactive/ebb6/)is the closest I could get on short notice.
–G!
Never try to teach a pig to sing.
It’s a waste of your time – and it annoys the pig.:dubious:
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### Author:  [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/57 "2012-06-01T17:54:00Z")
> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> That being said: Mayday ? With the blossoms, and the maypoles, and the Morris dancing ? That’s a pretty darn gay day to be advocating homophobia on if you ask me.
Is this a woosh? Mayday is also used as a distress call.
Anyway, getting into an argument with a stranger over his T-shirt is an extraordinarily bad idea. Roll your eyes if you must, then get on with your day.
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### Author:  [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-offensive-t-shirt-opinion-how-do-you-react/621471/58 "2012-06-01T22:47:46Z")
Definitely roll your eyes. Sneering is also good. If you’re with friends, pointing and giggling is fun too.
But trying to have a \*conversation \*with the troglodyte is, at best, a waste of your time and energy.
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