[lostalex]

It depends what you mean by "okay". Do you mean should it be illegal to joke about certain things? or do you just mean in terms of politeness? or political correctness? Morally okay?

Obviously offending people is not nice, but I wouldn't say it's morally wrong or should be illegal.

As long as you are not threatening people.

I think the mohammed cartoons are the big example, is it wrong to do something that offends muslims, knowing that muslims will overreact and get violent? Personally I side with freedom of speech. The only ones to blame for violence are the people who commit violence. I don't think you should blame or censor comedians or artists at all just because some people will be offended.