[Closed] "poor us" Top Gear lot

Enjoyed it a lot, all three entertain me. And what a place.
I'd probably never ever visit, so nice to see some of the place on the telly program.
Didn't make the plate connection either.
Didn't even think about my brother in law at the bottom of the Atlantic.

The "slope" comment was so nuanced I wasn't aware it was an insult until the fuss kicked off, I'd never heard of the term used in that way. If it was deliberate, it was disgraceful.

The Mexican thing - I personally believe that it stayed just the right side of generalised stereotype used in a humourous way rather than being a racist insult. That's because I do not believe that Mexicans fit that old fashioned stereotype. For the same reason I don't get offended when people suggest I'm a six toed inbred idiot having been raised in the Fens, because I know that the stereotype is not true.

Education and a sense of humour allow me to put things in a wider context. I'd hate to think that The System blocks certain types of humour because some people are paranoid that stupid people may think a joke is a real truth and therefore potentially racist.

i feel bad now.....when i say hate, i mean i a way that i dont like riding in the rain, or eating well done steak, or standing in dog turds.
so more like dislike than hate........

Nahh ton, he's a loathesome boorish deeply unfunny cockwomble who should be strapped to a NASA SLS rocket so as to launch him into deep space for science and the sake of mankinds safety.

That rockets going to be full by the time the STW clear out gets done

Both the slope and Mexican things were completely unnacceptable.

The Mexican comments only seemed "okay" as there are very few Mexicans living in this country/Europe.
You just need to replace Mexican with Indian, ****stani, Chinese, etc., etc., to see why it's wrong.

It's offensive. That doesn't mean anyone was swooning with shock as the apologists like to argue, just that it's a nasty, hateful thing to say.

I concur with this. Most of me hopes the "butch cassidy" style ending was a subliminal end to a production of the program. I'd be all in favor though of a reinvention with new presenters (perhaps May could stay) of a motoring magazine style show with serious day to day car reviews, topical issues and so forth - I'd watch it. No need to lose the supercars, but real issues and reviews of day to day cars with the odd bit of petrol head fantasy thrown in would be welcome.

Terrible idea! Ratings would drop off a cliff, and the BBC would lose one of its biggest sources of income. It's an entertainment show with a huge audience, the vast majority of whom only have a passing interest in cars. A better idea would be a spin off consumer show, broadcast outside of primetime that the car geeks could record/watch on iPlayer. But clearly the BBC feel that there are enough other sources for that kind of information.

Suppose I have to agree with nealglover, maybe suspicions false the FKL plates probably put on by last owner who bought this Porsche as he couldn't find a Porsche 982 !. Think brant has it down,Guy in local town has BNW plates on his 5 series...... Now suitably chastened. I am fick and proud of it 🙂

maybe suspicions false the FKL plates probably put on by last owner who bought this Porsche

Think I might have a little lie down....... 🙁

Suppose I have to agree with nealglover, maybe suspicions false the FKL plates probably put on by last owner who bought this Porsche as he couldn't find a Porsche 982

Just so it's clear, that's not "agreeing with nealglover" 😉

The FKL plate was issued to the car from new by the DVLA.

That's not my opinion. Is just true.

I have to say poor James may, the falling off the donkey onto his back must have really hurt. Reminded me of a smackdown in wwf but higher and without prior training.

I loved the Lotus and was happy they didnt butcher it too much. Its a shame they have to destroy the cars they use. Also felt for the poor 2cv.. it looked quite special.

Top Gear is getting a bit old and flabby now...

I watched it, but found it a bit tedious in places.
The country looked amazing though - I just think it would be so much better if they just respected the places they visited a bit more..

Its a shame they have to destroy the cars they use.

Brilliant, loved it.
I'm not one of the professionally offended, so no complaints from me.

I enjoyed it and now want a Lotus Esprit to do a bit of off roading in 😀

I'm not one of the professionally offended

* easier than defending the "humour" highlighted above re mexico or slope

Jeremy ClarksonVerified account ?@JeremyClarkson

In all seriousness, I would like to thank the people and government of Chile for their help and support when everything went wrong.

Amazed the media aren't foaming at the mouth about this one and it's potential reference....

I was offended by the fact that they covered up all the Lotus breakdowns.

brant - Member
It has been stated by BBC/Top Gear team that:-
Plates original
Car not bought for plate.

My only conspiracy theory is around the fact that car could have been bought for any of the things they usually do to them and then, after it was bought, the plate was noted and a hilarious jape planned around it.

I found it suprising that cameras captured the moment the plate fell off.

ps: I thought it was a great travel programme.

How can we know the beebs statements are true? Like they'd own up to buying it for the plate, planned or not?

Can I have a travel programme based on reality?

Swindon Al?

You miss my point.

Again.

Something not based on a matey act between 3 men clearly doing it for the money with a huge production team behind them doing ridiculous unrealistic stuff.

Sounds a bit dull really, how about bear grylls hiding from the production crew? Or 2 blokes from STW making progress up the a9?
Edit
Take a look at the crew size for Evan mcgregor on his motorbike holidays

Don't they usually buy cars locally for this sort of adventure? The number plate and potential tip off to locals is as contrived as a lot of the other things that happen.

[b]IT IS A TV PROGRAM. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T WATCH IT.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BUT DECIDE TO WATCH IT ANYWAY DON'T MOAN ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU DON'T LIKE IT.[/b]

Simple.

onehundredthidiot - Member

Don't they usually buy cars locally for this sort of adventure? The number plate and potential tip off to locals is as contrived as a lot of the other things that happen.

Nope, they ship EVERYTHING. Including all the stuff for the usual A-Team modification bits, for which most are already built and fabricated before they leave the UK.

But for STW threads I would not know it had been on

I thought that "professionally offended" was a fair somethingion, rather than a lazy insult.

I didn't defend the racist slope comment, I said I didn't know it was an insult until it made the news and I also said it was a disgrace if the comment was deliberately put in the show for that reason.

If someone used the Mexican comments about Indians, ****stanis or Chinese people it still wouldn't be racist, as I'm not aware that there was an outdated stereotype of these people behaving that way. Quite tbe opposite in fact. It would just show tbe ignorance of the person using the wrong stereotype for the wrong cultures.

If it would help the "professionally offended" I could always report my own post to the mods for being racist and we'll see if I get banned?

im alright with that, but IMO a snapped steering arm in the middle of nowhere means the car is dead. Hammond, get your arse in that 2cv-thing

oh, and Clarkson needs to chat to one of STWs great belly loss experts.

cant beat a good few beaver jokes eh?

Take a look at the crew size for Evan mcgregor on his motorbike holidays

Off the top of my head I reckon 1 camera man on a bike, another in a support truck along with a dr and 2 others. Plus they had a local fixer in most countries. Watched lwr again tecently while laid up with a ****ed knee. Great program. Would expect top gear to be much much more than this. I quite enjoyed the scenery of the first one and being a massive fan of westerns loved the Butch and Sundance bits. The arsing about pretending to be lost is very tiresome though. Didnt watch the second one.

In summary.

Some people don't like an entertainment show focused on banter and nuanced humour between 3 blokes, but rather than turn over, continue to watch and get angry, either for themselves or on behalf of others who they think they should be offended on behalf of.

nuanced humour

Seriously? What the actual ****? I'm lost for words. Please tell me thats not what you think.

For the same reason I don't get offended when people suggest I'm a six toed inbred idiot having been raised in the Fens, because I know that the stereotype is not true.

Education and a sense of humour allow me to put things in a wider context.

Umm, no, lack of experience of racist discrimination allows you to see things as you do. You are playing the game with the level set on "Easy". If you faced this stereotyping every time you went for a job interview you might find your sense of humour a bit more strained.

Thank you, God.

Harry_the_Spider - Member
[b]IT IS A [s]TV PROGRAM[/s] [u]THEAD ON THE INTERNET[/u]. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T [s]WATCH[/s] [u]OPEN[/u] IT.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BUT DECIDE TO [s]WATCH[/s] [u]OPEN[/u] IT ANYWAY DON'T MOAN ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU DON'T LIKE IT.[/b]

In summary.

Some people don't like an entertainment show focused on banter and nuanced humour between 3 blokes, but rather than turn over, continue to watch and get angry, either for themselves or on behalf of others who they think they should be offended on behalf of.

I don't think we've established whether the nuanced humour is nuanced or humour. To continually make such sloppy and unpleasant racial stereotypes time and time again would suggest that it's more than just 'having a bit of a joke'. None of them on Top Gear are stand up comics or comedy writers who will do a nostalgic look at Top Gear in 25 years time explaining that it was all ironic and they were actually taking the piss out of the sort of bigoted racists they were portraying. Each of them does it so well if it all is just a big act.

I'm just surprised and disappointed that the beeb think it's all so acceptable.

Thank you, [s]God[/s] Al.

For reminding me.

thought that "professionally offended" was a fair somethingion, rather than a lazy insult.

I didn't defend the racist slope comment, I said I didn't know it was an insult until it made the news and I also said it was a disgrace if the comment was deliberately put in the show for that reason.

If someone used the Mexican comments about Indians, ****stanis or Chinese people it still wouldn't be racist, as I'm not aware that there was an outdated stereotype of these people behaving that way

Quite tbe opposite in fact. It would just show tbe ignorance of the person using the wrong stereotype for the wrong cultures.

Black people smell of wee and are lazy is clearly wrong and inaccurate According to you its therefore not racist. What sort of thinking is this?

If it would help the "professionally offended" I could always report my own post to the mods for being racist and we'll see if I get banned?

I don't get offended when people suggest I'm a six toed inbred idiot having been raised in the Fens, because I know that the stereotype is not true.

That is top gear in a nutshell some think its ok to be rude and simplistic about other people and cultures and some think its lazy and racist.
No one seems to deny they do it only whether it is funny or offensive

That is [b][s]top gear [/s]life [/b]in a nutshell some think its ok to be rude and simplistic about other people and cultures and some think its lazy and racist.
No one seems to deny they do it only whether it is funny or offensive

That is top gear in a nutshell some think its ok to be rude and simplistic about other people and cultures and some think its lazy and racist.
No one seems to deny they do it only whether it is funny or offensive

I'm not sure how it is any worse than jokes about Scousers, Northerners, Scottish people, Irish people, the French, the Germans etc etc. I'm not saying I agree it is the way to behave (it's not my typeof humour) but every group in the World has endemic jokes about other cultures and most people treat them in the way in which they are intended. They rarely cause offence, except to those looking to be offended.

I don't see TG to be any worse in this sense than your average episode of Fawlty Towers or that Mrs Brown rubbish, or most British comedy shows for that matter**. Maybe it is old fashioned humour, but it is still very prevalent and popular.

** Also see Speedy Gonzalez cartoons.

Bloody hell you lot...

Get out on your bike more 😆

That is top gear in a nutshell some think its ok to be rude and simplistic about other people and cultures and some think its lazy and racist.

Exactly.

It all boils down to intent and context. If they [u]deliberately[/u] used the word "slope" because it is a racist term, that is offensive, like using the n-word.

If they have used an outdated racial stereotype about the Mexicans at an attempt at humour, then you either find it funny or not. I find it hard to believe that anyone was so convinced that those comments were intended to be offensive that they kicked off about it the way they did.

Anyway, the argument is getting circular. I need to go and get some food in.

*high sixes junkyard on the way out*

*high sixes junkyard on the way out*

Nice Norfolk reference to bring it back on topic there!

What makes a racial stereotype "outdated". Doesn't the "n" word refer to slavery? Is that outdated? If I refer to an Indian as Gunga Din, or chai wallah or whatever, is that OK too? Really - why are you tying yourself in knots trying to defend these idiots?

DrJ. Well done.

Pretty much the opposite of what he said.

DrJ. Well done.

Pretty much the opposite of what he said.

Maybe its me, because the nuances of this discussion are lost on me too. Racial stereotypes are racist surely.

Racial stereotypes are racist surely.

it's not racist as it's nuanced humour 🙄