Chicken picking at feet

[Guest]

Yes there were some complaints when he said on Top Gear a typical remark about lorry drivers killing prostitutes. It's got more than 500 complaints. Which I sure is fairly typical for one of Clarksons stupid jokes - I seem to remember he also made a gay crack in the same segment.

 

But now it's made the news I'm sure it will turn into another tidal wave.

 

It's a bit like a witch hunt down at the BBC and they are the ones who keep publicising it!!!

 

Russell Brand and Jonothan Ross made a stupid prank call on a show which is allegedly comedy.

 

Clarkson makes stupid remarks - it's what he does and we laugh but we DON'T take it seriously. Lets face it he picks on the Welsh, Americans, lorry drivers, women drivers, caravan people and anyone else who takes his fancy. It isn't real, it isn't meant so why oh why do people take it soooo seriously!

 

Remember for all his "anti green" stance he lives in the country and keeps chickens - he can't be all that bad!

 

So I'm opening a book on how soon 500 complaints turn into 5000 complaints.

 

And if they suspend him I WILL NOT watch Top Gear - it's rubbish without him - was total trash last time he left.

 

Edit - reading this in further detail the snowball effect has already started on this one. "But a BBC spokesman said that by Monday morning - before the incident had been reported on by newspapers and websites - there had been 188 complaints"

 

A prostitute spokesperson then called for him to be sacked, Hammond backed him up and a lorry drivers spokesman said ""a small number of drivers were offended by the murdering prostitute reference".

 

"On the whole, I thought the show was really entertaining.

 

"If anything it succeeded in demonstrating to car drivers just how difficult it is to drive a truck."

[Karen & co.]

What I'd like to know is how many complainants are lorry drivers? It just seems like a jump on the band wagon complaint

 

You are so right Pengy, he has over time probably insulted everyone in one form or another, speaking as a caravan owner I love Top Gear, and think it's a shame that people are not allowed to make jokey comments anymore

 

Karen x

 

edit for typo

Edited November 4, 2008 by Guest

[Geoid]

He was just making fun of a typical stereotype. I found it quite funny and didn't see any problem.

if you don't like it, then don't watch it!

 

500 complaints compared to 7000000 viewers... Thats nothing!

[chelsea]

look how he and the rest of them take the mick out of caravanners (all the time) and it doesnt bother me one bit (yes im a caravan owner!).

 

People take life too seriously sometimes.

[Guest]

I don't think murder is something to joke about to be honest. I think there's a vast difference between joking about a caravan and joking about murder.

 

Jeremy Clarkson is obnoxious, biggoted, xenophobic, homophobic and crass. I've read a couple of his books; The World According to Clarkson and the follow up one with a chicken on the cover (can't remember the title) and they just confirmed my opinion of him. And yet, I still read TWO of his books!? Perhaps he's strangely compelling....like a car crash on legs!

 

I saw the story about his remark on yahoo the other day. I thought at the time, here we go again!

[clootie]

 

Jeremy Clarkson is obnoxious, biggoted, xenophobic, homophobic and crass.

 

Yep Poet, you're right but I wonder just how much of that is exaggerated for the viewing public. He is very funny though and he does make me laugh. You're comment about "here we go again" is spot on !! No doubt there will be more to come in the following weeks.

[Guest]

VERY exaggerated for the viewing public.

 

The BBC don't take him seriously

 

"In 2007 they described Clarkson as "Not a man given to considered opinion"

 

And he doesn't take himself seriously either

 

"I don't have any influence over what people do, I really don't. It makes no difference what I say. Top Gear is just fluff. It's just entertainment - people don't listen to me."

 

And as I said he keeps chickens, and donkeys so he must be a nice chap! not to mention the sexiest of the top gear trio!

[clootie]

 

I enjoy the programme very much and have had to dry my eyes on many occasions as the big dollop makes me howl with laughter. The world has gone totally mad imo.

[Cinnamon]

What will be the limiting factor is the press these complaints get.

 

The Jonathan Ross & Russell Brand prank only got 2 complaints when it was first broadcast.

Two & a half weeks later,when newspapers jumped on the bandwagon,the complaints rose to 27000 almost overnight.

It is made very easy to complain these days

[jlo]

I have only just watched TG with the children. When he said it the first time I let it pass. When he said it the second time, I made some comment about it being in particularly bad taste. Of course the children are too young to know what it was all about so I did explain where it was coming from and they agreed that it was not particularly funny.

 

I agree with Poet to some extent about Clarkson but I also think that he is usually a breath of fresh air in our far too PC world. I didn't like these particular comments but roared with laughter at a lot of the show. It would be a shame if it escalated too far (as I fear that it might in the current climate!)

[ChrisP]

I smiled, I knew it was a joke, as is much of the stuff he says. Nothing personal to any one person, and he has made jokes about different groups of people too (women drivers, elderly drivers etc). It's an entertainment show, which means jokes, which some people will find funny, and some people won't. There's not many jokes that everyone will find funny.

 

I agree with Cinnamon, it is too easy to complain. If it was harder to complain about things, I expect many people would not bother! I hope it does not go too far!

 

I love the programme, it always makes me laugh

I hope he isn't suspended or anyhting else

[AmandaR]

I agree with Poet to some extent about Clarkson but I also think that he is usually a breath of fresh air in our far too PC world. I didn't like these particular comments but roared with laughter at a lot of the show. It would be a shame if it escalated too far (as I fear that it might in the current climate!)

 

 

I agree.

I saw/heard it, I laughed, I took it in the context it was intended.

 

What I would like to know though is out of the complaints made, how many are from people personally affronted? There was a high profile case on 'Points of View' a few years ago whereby a comment made on T.V provoked a barrage of complaints, however, not one person had complained that it had offended them, just that it may offend others

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

I have written to complain to the BBC about the number of complaints received and have told them that if they do anything to Clarkson I will be forced to write sweary letters to all the complainers in Middle England which will cause them even greater distress than that they have currently endured by not even watching the 'offensive' episode of Top Gear* which they have read about and are complaining about. The choice is the BBC's.

 

Seriously though, I think it would be a jolly good idea to write in or phone in anti-complaints. It's the only way to stop this nonsense. If 600 of us get uppity about the 500 people being uppity, we win.

 

Anna x

 

*Possibly my favourite episode ever with the straw/electric fire in the back of the lorry and grand piano-running over bits. It's that or the one in which they turned cars into yachts, canal boats and power boats and all sank.

[Guest]

ooooh I like the idea of getting uppity about the people getting uppity!

 

Mind you I'm currently enjoying the firework display on Wake Up To Wogan - so I understand pointlessness!

[Egluntyne]

It made the **Sheffield Star** so it must be big news.

[moochoo]

My husband's a HGV driver and he was not offended in the slightest nor were any of his collegues. I think people are way too sensitive about everything these days. Remember when we used to have a sense of humour? It's what made the country great. Our humour WAS the envy of the world and now we're far too PC to even mock ourselves.

I wish people would get off their soap boxes, stop being so self rightious about every little thing and learn to laugh. Now wouldn't that help the increase in depression and stress?

[..lay a little egg for me]

I don't think murder is something to joke about to be honest. I think there's a vast difference between joking about a caravan and joking about murder.

 

I agree Poet. Particularly as they held the funeral yesterday of the whole family of 6 who all died due to a pile-up on the M6 caused by a Portuguese lorry driver. Two of the children who died were babies.

 

Mind you, I do love Top Gear...

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

I don't think murder is something to joke about to be honest. I think there's a vast difference between joking about a caravan and joking about murder.

 

Neither are obscene and offensive phonecalls which, if anyone has forgotten, is a criminal offense.

 

We welcomed the action against Brand & Ross. We are two of those license fee payers that have a right to express how the money is spent.

 

And we agree with Grade. When we were children we could walk down the street without being constntly assaulted by foul language. Now it is heard everywhere, because it is acceptable....and TV has a lot to answer for in this.

 

It is important in these post-modernist days where it is felt that it's okay to do as one pleases, that we each individually have a responsibility to the common good. What legacy are we building for our children? It is exactly these things that contribute to the problems of direction that our youngsters are encountering.

[Egluntyne]

 

Neither are obscene and offensive phonecalls which, if anyone has forgotten, is a criminal offense.

 

We welcomed the action against Brand & Ross. We are two of those license fee payers that have a right to express how the money is spent.

 

And we agree with Grade. When we were children we could walk down the street without being constntly assaulted by foul language. Now it is heard everywhere, because it is acceptable....and TV has a lot to answer for in this.

 

It is important in these post-modernist days where it is felt that it's okay to do as one pleases, that we each individually have a responsibility to the common good. What legacy are we building for our children? It is exactly these things that contribute to the problems of direction that our youngsters are encountering.

 

Bravo. Couldn't have put it better meself.

[Guest]

 

It is important in these post-modernist days where it is felt that it's okay to do as one pleases, that we each individually have a responsibility to the common good. What legacy are we building for our children? It is exactly these things that contribute to the problems of direction that our youngsters are encountering.

 

I think the problems with direction that our youngsters encounter do NOT come from unstuitable material in the media but from them being given FREE ACCESS to unsuitable material.

 

The programes on Cbeebies and CBBC never suffer from a problem of unsuitable language or crude and poorly thought out jokes. But far too many of our youngsters are not watching these programmes, they are watching "comedy" such as Little Britain. From year 7 upwards kids quote from this programme which is shown AFTER THE WATERSHED!. Probably younger kids watch it too, I have less exposure to them.

 

I do feel that my own son is "behind" his peers in his viewing habits. He loves Cbeebies, only ever sees films in kids club, and they are the "Disney" type films (I was quite shocked that on QM2 he watched a film where a dog died - turns out his speech was the problem it was the FROG that died - in Shrek 3!). If I'm watching telly when he is playing I would stick with Neighbors rather than Eastenders as I think much of the content in Eastenders is too adult for a 6 year old. The only adult programme he watches occasionally (if I remember to save the recording) is Casualty, he knows it;s all acting and "Ooops, word censored!"ody gets hurt but he likes the ambulancemen and hospital stuff although I havn't let him watch lately as the recent storyline has been a bit too much.

 

His peers watch all sorts, the Incredible Hulk has been one a few of them have been discussing, talk to them and they have seen it but its a 12 and they are 6!

 

Last year I allowed my year 10 class to chose a film to watch at the end of term. I told them I wouldn't be able to let them watch anything that wasn't age appropriate. The film they brought in was a 15, they were all 15 bar one boy who was 15 the following week so I overlooked it being a hooky copy and let them watch it. I'm not sure if there was a plot or a story but a group of 14, 12 of whom were boys were rivited to the screen for an hour whilst I sat and marked and shook my head as the entire film seemed to be about a group of teenagers who didn't do much else except swear a lot!!! I expect a lot of kids younger than 15 would have been allowed to watch this drivel, or would have watched it anyway in their own bedrooms on their own players without there parents ever knowing.

 

I think the responsiblitiy lies now firmly with the parents to start taking more notice of what their children are watching and perhaps censoring viewing to some extent.

 

I still don't think the Brand/Ross thing was in any poorer taste than some of the stuff I saw when I inadvertantly watched an episode of little Britian.

 

I certainly don't have an issue with Clarkson saying stupid over the mark comments, as I see them as just that. If he says all lorry drivers are murderers then I laugh at him making a STUPID remark. If he says all caravan owners are annoying then I nod and agree with him, although I only find them annoying when I'm stuck behind them. If he makes comments about cyclists I cheer - I'm sick of their antics around here EVERY Sunday morning when they are a menace to road users. If he knocks blonde Essex girls I just don't take it personally, it's not important enough.

[MedusA]

And as I said he keeps chickens, and donkeys so he must be a nice chap! not to mention the sexiest of the top gear trio!

 

I have to disagree, Pengy! I much prefer the pocket-sized Hamster!

 

Yet another storm in a BBC teacup! *sigh*

 

I have never liked Clarkson, but Top Gear is brilliantly funny and compulsive viewing (even for someone who drives a Nissan Micra).

[Guest]

[quote name="MedusA"

 

I have never liked Clarkson' date=' but Top Gear is brilliantly funny and compulsive viewing (even for someone who drives a Nissan Micra).[/quote]

 

 

Surely you are far too young and funky to drive a Nissan Micra!

[Guest]

I drive a Micra, they're so easy to handle, I love mine

 

I find it strange that some people can't seem to be able to distinguish between a comedy show and a real life incident that was (arguably) offensive and distressing to the recipient of the phone call.

 

I find the phonejacker programme, for example, quite amusing; Terry Tibbs and the mouse character are very funny but sometimes he strays too far and you can see/hear the person at the other end becoming quite upset, that's when (IMO) it's not funny any more.

 

It's the same for me with candid camera shows, there was one recently where a guy pretended to be a robber and would dash into premises pretending to have a gun and shouting "hit the floor". The more people he could get to hit the deck, the more points he scored. Can you imagine if one of those people had a dodgy heart or was pregnant etc. I just don't find it funny when the target of the humour could potentially be hurt by it, whether physically or emotionally.

 

When somebody is upset, it just isn't funny.

[Guest]

When somebody is upset, it just isn't funny.

 

But most comedy upsets people these days. My friend in the US saw something on Little Britain US that greatly upset her and she felt pushed thinking backwards on something she is passionate about (breast feeding). I saw the same thing as this dreadful waste of license payers money was on whilst I was playing Scrabble and thought it was in poor taste indeed but PERFECTLY in keeping with the rest of the programme.

 

I think Brand and Ross did something stupid but THEY didn't broadcast it. People are paid a lot of money to produce these shows and they are the BROADCASTING PROFESSIONALS who should be held to account. The "talent" have not had the education etc in the moral and other issues surrounding broadcasting this drivel.

 

As for upsetting someone - as I said - bring on the blonde essex girl jokes and I'll take no offence but one of my mates recently has!

[Guest]

When somebody is upset, it just isn't funny.

 

But most comedy upsets people these days. My friend in the US saw something on Little Britain US that greatly upset her ....!

 

If somebody sees something on a comedy show offensive, then they can turn it off. It's a different matter when somebody phones you up....

 

Maybe I'm not explaining myself properly but I find comedy, where the target of the humour can potentially be upset, distasteful.

 

'Little Britain' doesn't target/involve real people to get a laugh.

 

Maybe that's the problem these days, people can't make the distinction and think everyone is fair game?