In this episode as the asshole boards a train that takes him from south to north Viet Nam he says. "We are about to do what no American could". Is that what my British friends call funny. He insults America's efforts? Over 57,000 Americans lost their lives in Viet Nam. Almost none of them wanted to be there. Many returned home injured. A fat and stupid man boards a train a belittles their effort. Funny.a11y said:100% correct IMO, the guy's just living up to the reputation/character he's created for himself and plays it out. He knows exactly what he's doing when he says these comments.paddy wright said:
I recorded last night's episode because I was out - I can't wait to watch it now and see what all the fuss is about
top gear
- Thread starter paddy wright
- Start date
south yorkshire
think u need to to ur signiture advice and dont take life too seriously! wars are crap- but one comment shouldnt infuiate u so!
So, you won't find a bigger fan of America in the UK than me - I love the place and have spent many many years there.
However - I can also laugh at jokes, that ARE jokes!!! In the same way as I can laugh at jokes made about the UK; I am having a chuckle though - people do say Americans don't get British humour...
However - I can also laugh at jokes, that ARE jokes!!! In the same way as I can laugh at jokes made about the UK; I am having a chuckle though - people do say Americans don't get British humour...
I am sorry. I don't mean to start a whole controversy. And I rarely take life seriously. But since this board is populated by so many Brits I felt it was important to speak up. Politically incorrect is one thing but an almost constant undercurrent of anti American nonsense is more than that. An occasional swipe at Americans is fine. But I began to notice this theme in almost every episode. He attacks other nations from time to time but with nothing even close to Americans and anything American.
This is an automotive show. Mr. Clarkson spent years speaking ill of every American car he tested. Won't allow that the things are any good even if a co-presenter likes it. I have owned a string of British cars, a 911, several BMW's and several American cars. Now Mr. May drove a CTS on a trip to the states and liked it. Mr Clarkson drove a CTS-V at a later time (a car I currently own ) and didn't like it. He said the V-8 was too heavy. A big lump. Like driving around with a one American on the hood. I own an 05 CTS-V which is a better car in every way then all the JagUars I have owned. The U is in caps because of the way we pronounce JagUar. As they way we talk is also something that Mr Clarkson ridicules.
Defending this behavior as comedy or charatcure is a mistake. Every time that show comes up in conversation here in the states the response is the same. I assure you I'm not the only one who feels this way. The difference is easy to define. As you walk your usual route to work one morning a small boy throws a small pebble at you. He thinks its funny. He laughs and runs away. You are a bit unhappy but he is just a child. The next day the same boy throws a rock at you. The next day a larger rock. You are being hit by large rocks. Why does the little boy get to decide when it stops being funny?
This is an automotive show. Mr. Clarkson spent years speaking ill of every American car he tested. Won't allow that the things are any good even if a co-presenter likes it. I have owned a string of British cars, a 911, several BMW's and several American cars. Now Mr. May drove a CTS on a trip to the states and liked it. Mr Clarkson drove a CTS-V at a later time (a car I currently own ) and didn't like it. He said the V-8 was too heavy. A big lump. Like driving around with a one American on the hood. I own an 05 CTS-V which is a better car in every way then all the JagUars I have owned. The U is in caps because of the way we pronounce JagUar. As they way we talk is also something that Mr Clarkson ridicules.
Defending this behavior as comedy or charatcure is a mistake. Every time that show comes up in conversation here in the states the response is the same. I assure you I'm not the only one who feels this way. The difference is easy to define. As you walk your usual route to work one morning a small boy throws a small pebble at you. He thinks its funny. He laughs and runs away. You are a bit unhappy but he is just a child. The next day the same boy throws a rock at you. The next day a larger rock. You are being hit by large rocks. Why does the little boy get to decide when it stops being funny?
still think you are bing patriotic for the sake of it- they did an entire episode on how the british acr industry was crap and ridiculed all the cars and those who made them- and if voices are your gripe then look at his impression of brummies (birmingham)
Chill- live and let live and if he drives you that mad- dont watch him!
Chill- live and let live and if he drives you that mad- dont watch him!
He does over do it, but still a funny guy... Great episode btw, and if you do not like clarkson you should see it because he is not that happy :lol:
Yes in a world of sat TV and the internet all BBC shows can be found.
Absolutely. I Never watched the show until on a number of occasions I heard comments about Mr. Clarkson. I then watched a number of videos over a period of days. There seems to be a mistaken impression that I am the only one who finds Clarkson offensive. I'm not.
Naming the corvette car of the year is bull. It simply proves, In part, what I was trying to say. When he tested it he thought it was great on the track but he wouldn't have it. Crap on the road. And flimsy. Something he likes to say about corvettes and he wiggles the rear bumper to illustrate his point. He doesn't mention that the same could be done with any fiberglass car including the TVR. You see, many people watch the show expecting to see factual reporting but Mr. Clarkson allows his prejudice to get in the way. What you see is a man who will always name the British car as best even if it isn't and an American car as crap, even if he later names it car of the year. His behavior has been excused as humor. What is funny about calling a car crap, then hypocritically naming it car of the year.
Calling a whole nation of people a fat lump is only funny if its not you. And even that would be funny if it didn't occur so often. No one makes the same sort of joke over and over without revealing their real feelings.
Additionally, keeping in mind that this show is billed as factual it is important to note that Mr Clarkson is not above outright lies in his quest to demean American products. Clarkson tested the Tesla, a battery powered sports car. He was of coarse quick to point out the car was concieved with the help of Lotus engineers. The test ended abruptly and could not be completed. According to Clarkson the brakes failed. He later stated that the batteries were flat. But according to reports from two Tesla engineers who were on sight the car had 25% power remaining and the brakes were fine. Also a second car was present. This response appeared in a report made by Tesla Corp. and can be found on the web. His anti-electric, anti- American bias or just a joke. Perhaps the poster who said I don't get British humor was right.
This is just one of several "staged" problems that seem to be documented by people who were present.
And to the poster who spoke of the episode dealing with the British car industry being crap. I contend that this was one episode. Not a reoccurring theme. And yet, truth be told more British cars were rubbish than those built almost anywhere else. I discovered I had no brakes in a school zone on my three day old XKR and that was a good day of motoring in it. We all know that lots of what is presented is staged. And a lot of it is intended to be funny and not factual. But I guess what I'm trying to say to all my British friends is the next time Clarkson says something about Americans, remember some of us don't think its funny
Absolutely. I Never watched the show until on a number of occasions I heard comments about Mr. Clarkson. I then watched a number of videos over a period of days. There seems to be a mistaken impression that I am the only one who finds Clarkson offensive. I'm not.
Naming the corvette car of the year is bull. It simply proves, In part, what I was trying to say. When he tested it he thought it was great on the track but he wouldn't have it. Crap on the road. And flimsy. Something he likes to say about corvettes and he wiggles the rear bumper to illustrate his point. He doesn't mention that the same could be done with any fiberglass car including the TVR. You see, many people watch the show expecting to see factual reporting but Mr. Clarkson allows his prejudice to get in the way. What you see is a man who will always name the British car as best even if it isn't and an American car as crap, even if he later names it car of the year. His behavior has been excused as humor. What is funny about calling a car crap, then hypocritically naming it car of the year.
Calling a whole nation of people a fat lump is only funny if its not you. And even that would be funny if it didn't occur so often. No one makes the same sort of joke over and over without revealing their real feelings.
Additionally, keeping in mind that this show is billed as factual it is important to note that Mr Clarkson is not above outright lies in his quest to demean American products. Clarkson tested the Tesla, a battery powered sports car. He was of coarse quick to point out the car was concieved with the help of Lotus engineers. The test ended abruptly and could not be completed. According to Clarkson the brakes failed. He later stated that the batteries were flat. But according to reports from two Tesla engineers who were on sight the car had 25% power remaining and the brakes were fine. Also a second car was present. This response appeared in a report made by Tesla Corp. and can be found on the web. His anti-electric, anti- American bias or just a joke. Perhaps the poster who said I don't get British humor was right.
This is just one of several "staged" problems that seem to be documented by people who were present.
And to the poster who spoke of the episode dealing with the British car industry being crap. I contend that this was one episode. Not a reoccurring theme. And yet, truth be told more British cars were rubbish than those built almost anywhere else. I discovered I had no brakes in a school zone on my three day old XKR and that was a good day of motoring in it. We all know that lots of what is presented is staged. And a lot of it is intended to be funny and not factual. But I guess what I'm trying to say to all my British friends is the next time Clarkson says something about Americans, remember some of us don't think its funny
louZ4 said:
I'll take Top Gear over 5th gear any day of the week and twice on Sundays. 5th Gear is pathetic. All they do is laugh and giggle like school girls in EVERY car they test-drive. How many times can they praise a 4-door economy POS for being "so much fun to drive"? 95% of the cars on 5th gear are those that car enthusiasts don't give a crap about and non-car people could care less to tune into the show in the first place. At least JC & Co. aren't scared of pissing manufacturers off and don't need to give away cars just to get people to watch.
agree to disagree and lighten up 
ENOUGH ---- This forum is all about a common love that brings us together and not about what drives us apart.
If you want to dislike Clarkson then let it be because for 10 years he thought that anybody who drove a BMW was an asshole..... An insult that he has now, by the way, taken away from BMW drivers and heaped onto Audi drivers instead
I like JC's humour in the same way as I like Ricky Gervais - sometimes when you cringe it makes you stop and think about why.....
Peace and Goodwill to all in this most special of times...
Andy
If you want to dislike Clarkson then let it be because for 10 years he thought that anybody who drove a BMW was an asshole..... An insult that he has now, by the way, taken away from BMW drivers and heaped onto Audi drivers instead
I like JC's humour in the same way as I like Ricky Gervais - sometimes when you cringe it makes you stop and think about why.....
Peace and Goodwill to all in this most special of times...
Andy
Andrew_Morris said:ENOUGH ---- This forum is all about a common love that brings us together and not about what drives us apart.
If you want to dislike Clarkson then let it be because for 10 years he thought that anybody who drove a BMW was an asshole..... An insult that he has now, by the way, taken away from BMW drivers and heaped onto Audi drivers instead
I like JC's humour in the same way as I like Ricky Gervais - sometimes when you cringe it makes you stop and think about why.....
Peace and Goodwill to all in this most special of times...
Andy
Well said that man- this thread was for a reminder for those of us who look forward to our weekly top gear!
I think people need to chill out a bit. The show is for entertainment, if it offends you then simply dont watch it, its that easy ?. just like i dont watch that 'fat little unfunny tw*t' Ricky Gervais, he offends me so i dont watch him ! 
I assume from you comment that you think I went looking for the show. If you read the thread you will find the show was brought to my attention by others angry about Clarksons comments. Also your second point is incorrect. If you did find a show that regularly insulted the entire population of Brittan calling them fat, rude and stupid for no other reason than to do so it would not originate in the states.Andy said:
Pax Pax please - it's not worth it - really One Man FCS does not demonis(z)e a fine Nation!
On a lighter note we shared a table with by JC and his family in Disneyland Paris - and yes - he really is up his own a$%e - but he did make me laugh
Have pity on him - he's from Doncaster! Whoops - I feel a Yorkshire rant incoming
One Man FCS does not demonis(z)e a fine Nation! On a lighter note we shared a table with by JC and his family in Disneyland Paris - and yes - he really is up his own a$%e - but he did make me laugh
Have pity on him - he's from Doncaster! Whoops - I feel a Yorkshire rant incoming Jesterman said:Pax Pax please - it's not worth it - really
On a lighter note we shared a table with by JC and his family in Disneyland Paris - and yes - he really is up his own a$%e - but he did make me laugh
None of my comments are intended as a reflection on Britain, its people or anything British. I simply attempted to point out that many of us do not find Mr Clarkson funny. And could not do so without explaining my reasons.
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