74 replies to this topic

[BW199148]

Jeremy Clarkson is a first class c**t, and what he said yesterday, taken out of context, was reprehensible, but in context he was very clearly joking. Still, the man's really horrible; anyone who has seen Top Gear being recorded (or, well, has seen any of his shows or heard any of his "real" views) will agree with me there. Nasty piece of work, really nasty.

I personally I don't agree with everthing he says but I wouldn't say he's nasty.

[Flyboy Fox]

BW, are you really going to ignore my question as to why it's a horrible thing when someone says non-PC nasty things to you, but you admit to liking a guy because he upsets certain other people with his nasty non-PC statements?

I have nothing against people liking or disliking certain brands of personality or humour, but it does bother me when people defend the right to be an asshole to others but then get upset when someone says something like that to them.

But I'll drop it if you choose not to reply.

Moving on, however, regardless of whether you like his act, I'm not sure how you can say he's not nasty. Being a total bastard and saying assholish out-of-line things is kind of his whole deal.

[Patticus]

I personally I don't agree with everthing he says but I wouldn't say he's nasty.

He treats the Top Gear staff like dirt; no respect, no niceness, just a lot of nastiness. For that matter, James May and Richard Hammond are just the same on that show - three overgrown man-children playing with cars and being incredibly horrible to the decent men and women who put that show on air (when the cameras aren't looking). By all accounts, it's a regular thing there.

It's not just what he says, it's how he acts, and that his career is built on a foundation of controversial "opinions" which, if he were to stop spouting, would collapse like so many houses of cards.

[BW199148]

He treats the Top Gear staff like dirt; no respect, no niceness, just a lot of nastiness. For that matter, James May and Richard Hammond are just the same on that show - three overgrown man-children playing with cars and being incredibly horrible to the decent men and women who put that show on air (when the cameras aren't looking). By all accounts, it's a regular thing there.

It's not just what he says, it's how he acts, and that his career is built on a foundation of controversial "opinions" which, if he were to stop spouting, would collapse like so many houses of cards.

Any prove to back this up.

and I am ignoring you because you ignore me.

[eXtaticus]

I personally believe that the political backlash that his remarks garnered from union leaders and BBC representatives were massively overblown, unwarranted, assumptive, ill-informed and contextually inaccurate; you'd have to have the linguistic skills of dumb, drunken downie in order to fail to spot that he meant the comments in a purely joking and exaggerated manner - and the suggestions by the unions themselves that David Cameron is somehow involved in this are wholly grasping and pathetic in themselves. Some people are total thought fascists, they really are - and despite being a conservative, Clarkson himself is one of the most liberally-minded individuals in the world in that respect.

[Flyboy Fox]

and I am ignoring you because you ignore me.

I've asked you a simple question and your lack of willingness to answer just makes it look like you don't have an answer. I'm not sure how you think I've ignored you, but whatever. You can't answer the question, fine. I didn't think you could.

[Patticus]

Any prove to back this up.

I know a good few fans of the show who have been to recordings, and only have their anecdotal evidence to go on. I doubt they'd lie to me on this though, I mean, they love him and the show, still do actually, but the way all three presenters behaved like spoiled children really shocked them.

[Hogfather]

The teachers leader Mary Bousted is on question time...

Her responce to Jeremy Clarkson? More or less try to claim that his joke was the same as with what happens in some other countries where people in unions can be killed by dictators...

So we've gone from saying that he was under orders of the prime minister... to supporting gun crime... to now being on par with a dictator?

[Flyboy Fox]

The teachers leader Mary Bousted is on question time...

Her responce to Jeremy Clarkson? More or less try to claim that his joke was the same as with what happens in some other countries where people in unions can be killed by dictators...

So we've gone from saying that he was under orders of the prime minister... to supporting gun crime... to now being on par with a dictator?

That's beyond ridiculous. I think Clarkson's remarks were crude and tasteless, but certainly not intended to be an actual threat or condoning of violent crime. There's been a huge overreaction and, fan or hater, I don't feel this man's comments are deserving of this much media attention or hyperbole at all.

[Scar]

He treats the Top Gear staff like dirt; no respect, no niceness, just a lot of nastiness. For that matter, James May and Richard Hammond are just the same on that show - three overgrown man-children playing with cars and being incredibly horrible to the decent men and women who put that show on air (when the cameras aren't looking). By all accounts, it's a regular thing there.

This is true.
I know for a fact that Richard Hammond in particular suffers from standard "short man syndrome" (I'm short as well before you people start on me) and is an irritable little shit.

It's not just what he says, it's how he acts, and that his career is built on a foundation of controversial "opinions" which, if he were to stop spouting, would collapse like so many houses of cards.

This is a thing in the entertainment industry. There are very few entertainers who are 100% themselves on-air or on TV. Clarkson isn't the only person to have developed a bombastic personality for the sake of entertainment.

Frankly though, his man-childish behavior is made up for by his genuine contributions to charities such as H4H. Whilst I am aware of him being an immature twat, I do admire the fact that he's gone out of his way to support wounded soldiers and the like.

The teachers leader Mary Bousted is on question time...

Her responce to Jeremy Clarkson? More or less try to claim that his joke was the same as with what happens in some other countries where people in unions can be killed by dictators...

So we've gone from saying that he was under orders of the prime minister... to supporting gun crime... to now being on par with a dictator?

That's pure garbage. The woman is overplaying Clarkson's words. He was very clearly joking.

[BW199148]

I've asked you a simple question and your lack of willingness to answer just makes it look like you don't have an answer. I'm not sure how you think I've ignored you, but whatever. You can't answer the question, fine. I didn't think you could.

You ignored my apology and know I don't how to answer and quite frankly I don't care I am not arguing with you just because you have decided to have a problem with me over the last week or so.

[Snads Squishmitten]

BW, Flyboy is making valid points against your argument and you're basically proving them by being upset that she's 'being mean to you personally'. You obviously cared enough to make a topic about something that would turn into a debate and actively join into it....until there was a flaw in your reasoning.

Sorry about coming in here and being all off topic, but I just can't stand that this is how every debate on the forum is going to go. It's frankly a pitiful way to express your point to others, and if anyone is going to learn how to be a better debater at all, then this is the tripe that needs to stop.

Also I can't say much but I have no idea what top gear is....sorry ~

[Flyboy Fox]

Yes, BW. Refuse to answer my legitimate question because I didn't respond to your PM. You do realize that you bombard me with PMs all the time because the minute you get into trouble in a debate thread you get upset and feel like everyone hates you and threaten to leave, and I use up valuable hours of my time comforting you and trying to help you feel better. How many times has this happened? I don't have to do that, you know, but I do, because I care about forum members who come to me. But okay, I didn't reply to one PM and now I don't deserve an answer~ I think that actually answers my question quite well.

Moving on.

[Dan-imeJ86]

What happened to this topic?

I was enjoying a good debate. I go for a couple of hours. Then get back and all hell has broken loose?

Is it worth trying to save this topic? I don't know, but I do feel like saying one last thing...

While some of you are saying that behind the cameras, the "terrible trio" are unpleasant to the crew and the people around them. All I'm seeing is a bunch of words, I'd need proof if I was to change my opinion of the guys. Actual statements from current crew members or people that have been to the broadcast. I'd prefer it if it wasn't from a source that left the show, as it can be hard to know who is speaking the truth.
I do remember the whole "Stig" thing being unpleasant, but I don't actually understand why. Plus the guy that played the Stig reappeared on the show later, so there mustn't have been any hard feelings.

I also understand that words hurt more than violence, but Clarkson has said several times that "In his whole life, he has only ever wounded two people." Piers Morgan is the obvious first, and Ian Hislop was the accidental second. *He chucked a pen at Ian Hislop in a playful manner during the filming of a comedy panel show, and it somehow drew blood under his chin.*
So basically, the fact that he is not the violent type, is another reason why I have to respect him.

[Bethani]

The teachers leader Mary Bousted is on question time...

Her responce to Jeremy Clarkson? More or less try to claim that his joke was the same as with what happens in some other countries where people in unions can be killed by dictators...

So we've gone from saying that he was under orders of the prime minister... to supporting gun crime... to now being on par with a dictator?

You know, generally speaking, I support the unions. But, damn, if they don't know how to switch the entire British public off to them and their message. As unpleasant a man as Clarkson is, this is not going to help the unions' case; if anything, it's just going to solidify conservatives and the working class "I Work For a Living" crowd that Clarkson was pandering to on The One Show against them.

The unions need some more media savvy leaders or this may turn into the same debacle that's happening with America's unions. Or, hell, it could be the 1980's all over again.

Edited by Eon, 02 December 2011 - 06:11 PM.

[Flyboy Fox]

I also understand that words hurt more than violence, but Clarkson has said several times that "In his whole life, he has only ever wounded two people." Piers Morgan is the obvious first, and Ian Hislop was the accidental second. *He chucked a pen at Ian Hislop in a playful manner during the filming of a comedy panel show, and it somehow drew blood under his chin.*
So basically, the fact that he is not the violent type, is another reason why I have to respect him.

I'm sorry, but I just can't see someone who assaulted someone else as "not the violent type", especially if they repeatedly brag about the fact that they've "only wounded two people" in their life. And being a nasty vindictive asshole does not sit easily in my mind with 'non-violent'. Like you said, words can hurt more than violence. Should we really respect someone just because they haven't physically injured many people? I would have thought we should expect that from anyone, not respect them for it. It should be a given that harming people is bad.

[Dan-imeJ86]

I'm sorry, but I just can't see someone who assaulted someone else as "not the violent type", especially if they repeatedly brag about the fact that they've "only wounded two people" in their life. And being a nasty vindictive asshole does not sit easily in my mind with 'non-violent'. Like you said, words can hurt more than violence. Should we really respect someone just because they haven't physically injured many people? I would have thought we should expect that from anyone, not respect them for it. It should be a given that harming people is bad.

Well that's!! - ...a very reasonable point you made. A fact that eluded me during my previous post. XD

However my own personal pessimism and experiences make it hard for me to believe that there is a hidden mass of humans that have never harmed another before. Even myself, who dislikes confrontation have probably harmed someone before, nothing comes directly to mind, but I do have 3 siblings, and I have vague memories of fights taking place.
The word you used, "assault" sounded a bit harsh to me. But I looked up the true definition and it does mean to "make a physical attack on." I always thought assault referred to being massively out numbered, over powered and kicked while on the ground. So you win that one too. XD

I have no doubt that his second incident of harming a person was an accident, as it was actually broadcast and I watched it when it was originally aired. You might actually be able to find it on Youtube or something. And I like and respect Ian Hislop too, so it's not favouritism or anything.

Although there is something that has made me change my opinion of Clarkson and the other Top Gear hosts that happened a couple of years back, and it is kinda petty, so are you ready for this?

...

They got to take a free trip to Japan. Yes, that's all. "Free" is technically not accurate as it was basically paid for by the licence fee, which means, anybody that has access to a BBC channel. So the reason why this bothers my? Jealousy!! I may like Clarkson, but I freakin' love Japan. So why do three turds get to go there when they probably have no interest in the country anyway?!

It may not sound like it, but my "liking" of Clarkson has deteriorated over the last couple of years and there may be an incident that will push me to hate him. But, it's just not this one.

But if what and Scar said about Clarkson being "a nasty piece of work" is true, then I will change my opinion of him faster than the Road Runner on "speed."

I have no patience for anyone constantly spouting hate or being a bully.

[BW199148]

http://uk.news.yahoo...0%99-order.html

Pre arranged apparently. Surprised its still news seeing as someone else who is famous has usually said something controversial on TV or Twitter by now. *shrugs*

[Flyboy Fox]

This doesn't surprise me at all. I think enough people in this thread have pointed out that he deliberately says things to shit-stir and keep himself in the spotlight, so the fact that he pre-writes his idiotic statements before the show isn't exactly show-stopping news. Nice that he's also letting the BBC absorb the blame for allowing him to say those things. Yes, if the BBC vetted his scripted and let it through, that's an error on their part. But the weight of the blame rests squarely on the man who thought it was a good idea in the first place to state that a group of troubled and in some cases desperate people should be "shot in front of their families".

The more I hear, the more I dislike this man.

[Neon]

It's sad that the biggest thing to come out of the strikes is a fucking joke made by one person.