for example:

$ TZ=IDIOT date
Wed Jan 19 19:54:58 IDIOT 2000

here it's harmless. but for 
$ TZ=PST date
Mon Feb 12 09:34:02 PST 2007

it's not ast the correct value is:
$ TZ=PST8DST date
Mon Feb 12 01:34:14 PST 2007


Attached is a patch that do not reuse TZ value if no offset was provided, and 
that instead clearly state that UTC was the chosen timezone to display the 
date.

------- Additional Comment #1 From Pierre Habouzit 2007-02-12 09:38 -------

Created an attachment (id=1548)
proposed patch

------- Additional Comment #2 From Ulrich Drepper 2007-02-12 15:00 -------

The existing behavior is as valid as any other.  Any change will disrupt things,
though.  No change.

------- Additional Comment #3 From Aurelien Jarno 2009-05-10 13:12 -------

This bug has been solved in version 2.10, despite the WONTFIX tag.