Clarkson: Racist

[FwdConvert]

budgie smuggler said:

Halb said:

What did he say? I tried to look but....Jesus...it's filled with morons, people just splurging their instant thoughts on page, reminded me why I don't like twitter, just brain diarrhoea from everyone. Not even including the types who think it's not racist because they've never heard of it.

He posted something like 'looks racist to me' to a sign for skiing or something which had the word 'slope' in it. In other words trying to claim that he is being called out for saying the word 'slope' for its common meaning as opposed to using it in description of a person. He knew exactly what he was doing, unless he actually is as stupid as he pretends to be.

Brain diarrhoea

No he wasn't! This is Clarkson remember - it was deliberate faux innocence, deliberately disingenuous for comic effect and to show he doesn't give a toss. He knew what he was doing, knew the likely reaction from the professional offended class and knows they count for less than his audience figures and income generation. Only the terminally dumb looking for more fuel for their ire could miss that.

Edited by FwdConvert on Saturday 5th April 14:42

[FwdConvert]

steve singh said:

WinstonWolf said:

steve singh said:

mrmarcus said:

MH said:

Go on then - what is racism? Discuss.

Is it racist that on Thursday morning on capital radio dave berry and Lisa snowden show they are putting on Orish accents talking begorrah diddly dee and so on?

Would he be racist to put on an Indian accent and go on about popadoms, riding elephants and throwing spears around?

Indians don't throw spears - I think you're getting continents mixed up on your reflection of racial stereotypes.

HTH

You've obviously never watched all those John Wayne movies on a wet Sunday afternoon

Yes, native red indians were well known for eating popadoms and riding elephants !

And their headsets were made of parrot feathers!

[Blib]

FwdConvert said:

budgie smuggler said:

Halb said:

What did he say? I tried to look but....Jesus...it's filled with morons, people just splurging their instant thoughts on page, reminded me why I don't like twitter, just brain diarrhoea from everyone. Not even including the types who think it's not racist because they've never heard of it.

He posted something like 'looks racist to me' to a sign for skiing or something which had the word 'slope' in it. In other words trying to claim that he is being called out for saying the word 'slope' for its common meaning as opposed to using it in description of a person. He knew exactly what he was doing, unless he actually is as stupid as he pretends to be.

Brain diarrhoea

No hem wasn't! This is Clarkson remember - it was deliberate faux innocence, deliberately disingenuous for comic effect and to show he doesn't give a toss. He knew what he was doing, knew the likely reaction from the professional offended class and knows they count for less than his audience figures and income generation. Only the terminally dumb looking for more fuel for their ire could miss that.

I'm a great admirer of Clarkson & I have always enjoyed the show. When I saw the scene in question, I realised immediately what they were trying to do. I did flinch a little . I think more due to the fact that I've not heard that term used pejoratively for a long, long time.

A bit too close to the bone for me. But, in the whole scheme of things, it doesn't add up to a hill of beans.

I'll slope off now.

[FwdConvert]

It's an uphill battle, putting this one to bed...

[mybrainhurts]

Tiggsy said:

mybrainhurts said:

Tiggsy said:

mybrainhurts said:

Have Clarkson & co declared they were being a bit naughty yet, or are you lot still making assumptions?

No - but anyone who sees the clip and still thinks they had no idea what they were doing is barmy.

Why?

Because it so clearly WAS intended. Have you seen the clip? I assume not.

Yes I have and I have no idea whether a slur was intended.

Do you have access to their minds or have you heard an admission or is it just OBVIOUS?

[BlackLabel]

There seems to be a growing trend of people being offended and crying racism at the smallest of things. Recently on twitter the LBC presenter Iain Dale was involved in a spat with a 'community leader','social commentator' type bloke (all self appointed of course) and it ended with Dale calling the man a gobby prick who won't be on his show again.

In response to this a police complaint was made alleging harassment, racism, hurt feelings etc.

The twitter exchange can be read here:

https://storify.com/jojowiththeflow/anti-muslim-ha...

And the letter to the police which was leaked:



http://www.fahrenheit211.net/2014/04/03/from-elsew...

[Blib]

^^^^^^ It's just so very whiny.

[goldblum]

He sounds like a gobby prick to me.

[Martin4x4]

Joey Ramone said:

Harvard implicit racism test. Can't be faked.

Bullst it measures autonomic familiarity not 'racism'.

So is your claim just ignorant or deliberate deceptive?

[xjsdriver]

evilmunkey said:

Just remembered the first series of books i was tought to read from at school. It was called "the little black sambo" seemed so innocent at the time back in 72 /73.
http://pictures.abebooks.com/BOOKLADY32/9818249134...

Anyhow my two penneth on the clarkson thing is that i could not care less and in the clip its obvious they are talking about the bridge, the bloke just happens to be there.

I'd say it was more of a deliberate double-entendre. It will have been OK'd by any of the shows legal eagles, prior to it being released on air. I've not read his response to the issue on Twitter, but I'd also bet my shirt that his response there will also have had dynamic input from his legal team again.

[Tiggsy]

xjsdriver said:

evilmunkey said:

Just remembered the first series of books i was tought to read from at school. It was called "the little black sambo" seemed so innocent at the time back in 72 /73.
http://pictures.abebooks.com/BOOKLADY32/9818249134...

Anyhow my two penneth on the clarkson thing is that i could not care less and in the clip its obvious they are talking about the bridge, the bloke just happens to be there.

I'd say it was more of a deliberate double-entendre. It will have been OK'd by any of the shows legal eagles, prior to it being released on air. I've not read his response to the issue on Twitter, but I'd also bet my shirt that his response there will also have had dynamic input from his legal team again.

I'm really surprised anyone thinks they were talking about the bridge.

I mean, come on...seriously???

It's completely out of place for the mood of the piece.

[goldblum]

Of course it's meant.
It's a double entendre with a risky racial pun. So what.

[Tiggsy]

goldblum said:

Of course it's meant.
It's a double entendre with a risky racial pun. So what.

so....isnt it odd that people cant see that and think they just mean the bridge was wonky.

[goldblum]

Tiggsy said:

goldblum said:

Of course it's meant.
It's a double entendre with a risky racial pun. So what.

so....isnt it odd that people cant see that and think they just mean the bridge was wonky.

It is odd. If you believe them.

[Mr GrimNasty]

‘But then, political correctness is by definition dishonest and is, I believe, the most insidious doctrine to plague the Western world since those abominable soul mates communism and fascism with which it has more in common than its dupes seem to realise. It cannot face truth; it rejects what is, simply because what is does not suit what the politically correct thinking ought to be.’

Flashman's author, George MacDonald Fraser.

[mybrainhurts]

Tiggsy said:

goldblum said:

Of course it's meant.
It's a double entendre with a risky racial pun. So what.

so....isnt it odd that people cant see that and think they just mean the bridge was wonky.

Have we had official confirmation yet, or are you still relying on your obviously concept?

[Tiggsy]

mybrainhurts said:

Have we had official confirmation yet, or are you still relying on your obviously concept?

There are only two options.

Option 1. They scripted the word slope in where it was an odd choice to start with. "not straight/not level/leaning/wonky" would all have been more apt. I don't think many people would describe a bridge leaning on its width length as having "a slope" Then they put that line in at the emotional conclusion to the show where it is clear they would have given it some thought. If it was not a joke....what was it? They were really using that moment to point out that a bridge wasnt level? Oh, and they filmed the shot while someone walked over it. Why not wait for the shot to be clear of bystanders before filming it?

Option 2 . Notoriously un PC show was making an un PC gag

[EskimoArapaho]

mybrainhurts said:

Have we had official confirmation yet, or are you still relying on your obviously concept?

I'll ask again: what do you think Sally Bercow meant with her McAlpine tweet?

[DonkeyApple]

mybrainhurts said:

Tiggsy said:

goldblum said:

Of course it's meant.
It's a double entendre with a risky racial pun. So what.

so....isnt it odd that people cant see that and think they just mean the bridge was wonky.

Have we had official confirmation yet, or are you still relying on your obviously concept?

The joke simply isn't up for debate. It is there for the world to see, clear as day. It cannot even begin to be denied as some kind of accident, slip or coincidence. To do so is to take an enormous step into Comical Ali's world.

The debate is whether the joke was racist or non pc.

It clearly isn't racist as the context carries no indication of malice or intent of malice. It's just a schoolboy gag that in the modern world is deemed offensive.

[Rovinghawk]

1 It was a deliberate double entendre.

2 It was mildly racial (not 'racist',IMHO) and mildly funny.

3 From a racism POV it's insignificant.