Anyone offended by what he said blame The Mirror, they made it public, without them no-one would know the clip existed and by definition couldn't have been offended. If anyone deserves the sack its the BBC employee that leaked this to The Mirror for financial gain, although I suspect they will have already been fired if they've been caught. I think Clarkson's great, he's unapologetic for being a white, overwieght middle class conservative that earns millions from a publicly funded organisation. But that makes him public enemy number one in most people's eyes. For what its worth Top Gear is ****ing awful though, its basically a poorly written sitcom passing as a car show, anything that involves Richard Hammond tends to be crap anyway.
Obviously you're right in the sense that it's about context - it depends on who's saying the word, who they're saying it to, and so on. I have to say I rarely hear any white person use racial slurs in polite company, mainly because most people who do are ****ing idiots and not worth associating with. If you're a white, middle-aged rich bloke with a track record for xenophobia, you probably shouldn't say (or even mumble) racial slurs. This cuts both ways for me, btw; I don't want anyone calling me or my family 'cracker' or 'kuffar' or anything else. And I wouldn't subject anyone else to a racial slur because it's a cowardly and stupid thing to do - if someone's a ****, call them a ****, not a ****** or Paki. And it should really go without saying that the reason 'Brit' is not offensive is because it doesn't have the historical baggage and association with exploitation or racial categorisation that ****** and Paki do. Aside from the fact that quite often people use Paki for anyone hailing from anywhere between Morocco and Bangladesh. I don't think anyone would disagree that Clarkson is a dickhead, but some people like him because he reflects and vindicates other peoples' prejudices and ignorance.
The n word and p word are incomparable. For a start, those coined by the p word don't go round calling each other it quite happily but get offended to the point of bursting if another ethnicity uses it. While at face value the p word shouldn't be illicit, it's use to categorise anyone of tan skin colour (whether from Morocco or Bangladesh as chap above said) as an insult used by xenophobes and racists gives it baggage and as such would never be used in public by anyone other than those wishing to cause offence.
I have lived in Australia for the past 47 years. During this entire time I have always been referred to as a "Pommy B@st@rd". It doesn't worry me and it never has and it never will as it's just an expression. I asked numerous people over the years why I am called this and the only answer I got that was anywhere near an explanation was "Becorse yer flymin' are one"!
I think Clarkson is a bit of a knob. So I choose not to watch him on tv. Just change the channel if you don't like him. I am fortunate not to care about cars either so it's not a problem.
People are very sensitive little flowers. I watched an episode of Fawlty Towers on BBC1 a few months ago, and the Major uses the N-word, quite liberally when talking about West Indians. They then had to apologise as the credits were rolling. Jesus Christ. If you can't take into account the context in which is was written (and more importantly, the time), then don't take offence. I once made a joke about the Bible (who am I kidding, I made loads) and afterward somebody in the audience came up to me and said "You can't say what you just did about Noah" Well, actually, I can, the point of comedy isn't to offend, it's to entertain. In comedy, offence is always taken, it's never given. Unless you're Jim Davidson.
The institutionally liberal BBC use Jeremy Clarkson to portray a semblance of political balance knowing full well he is really a monumental bellend.
Stewart Lee is the only person I know who hates Top Gear as much as I do. I use it as rule of thumb when meeting people - if you like Top Gear then I know you're a **** and I'll despise you. The only thing they have ever done that was worthwhile is nearly kill Richard Hammond. I do like Lee enormously - he's probably my second favourite - but I agree with him when he said "I saw Daniel Kitson and thought about giving up". I would 100% agree and take that stance if he was on another channel. I have never complained about ITV, if there's something I dont like I just dont watch it, but when someone like this oaf and Chris Moyles are funded by taxpayers then it's different.
I read the first link & it says that David Cameron wouldn't use that word, what a ****ing idiot , of course not, also Piers Morgan thinks he should be fired. Say no more. Clarkson for PM then!
ITV is funded by adverts, paid for by companies that add a charge to the products they sell to the public aka tax payers. As each layer takes a cut, ITV's probably more expensive than the BBC. Also, I think Clarkson makes a profit for the BBC with his programmes as he makes them, sells them to the Beeb who ( I think) take a cut of the sell on.
Bbc gets a fair bit of money from the usa, holland and the likes, the money from the tax payers isn't anywhere near what people think it is, top gear is not funded by the licence fee, the licence fee covers about the news and thats it
Stunned that Reg isn't commenting on a race controversy thread. I remember a time when he would happily have chirped on about "Chombies". Given the right environment, of course...
I dont care if he makes a profit, he's repugnant. Lots of things that are wrong make a profit but it doesnt mean we should turn a blind eye to them.
I never said that was the reason i didnt like him. I dont like him cos he's a massive ****er. I said that's the reason i complain about him. If he was on Channel 4 I wouldnt say a thing.
