Jeremy Clarkson... 'Road Tax??'

[downfader]

I'm sure I was one of the originals to compare Clarkson to Garnet.

What we have to remember is that the Top Gear, on air Clarkson, and to some extent in his columns for the Times and Sun, are deliberately obtuse. When Clarkson writes or speaks seriously he is quite gracious, as he has been with his charity stuff iirc.

Gervais was mentioned, and thats a good example. Ricky does this same kind of humour (albeit MUCH better) but it highlights where the problem really is.

I do notice from the times I have read Jezza's Sun column, that when ever he mentioned something in a deliberately obtuse manner that theres always a chime of people going: "You're SO right Jezza!"

Some do beleive him, this is because they are thick. If you want to say anything to Top Gear, say something positive about cyclists, let them know how many cyclists watch and love their show. Turn it to an advantage that is in some way inclusive without being like Hammond laughing inanely at Jezza's jokes.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Perhaps someone can fill me in on this idea?

Top Gear is the televisual equivalent of the "Commando" pocket sized war story comics I used to read as a lad. It is based on facts but isn't factual. It may contain some element of truth, just like some Nazi may well have once said "Achtung Spitfeuer!" or "For you Tommy ze var is over" but it present the truth simply in two-dimensions. It is simply a form of reality television with paid professionals taking the lead roles. Some of the slapstick/pratfall stuff is genius TV; big boys playing with and destroying big boys toys, but the conversations revolve around (offensive) stereotypes which I don't find funny, and often are at the level of primaty school playground banter e.g. "That car is gay".

I admire Clarkson for playing the part of opinionated bigot-oaf so well. Smart guy. Very wealthy guy as a result. Draws in millions of viewers with a hugely profitable franchise that sells globally. Crap journalist though. In fact I'd say ex-journalist. He's detached himself from reality and has becme the tory rather than simply the reporter.

and if he is a genuine libertarian why does he seek to influence people opinions on what cars to buy? why does the magazine carry advertising for cars?

 

[subaqua]

Yawn .


as we were watching this my wife said " ooh the forum lot are going to be unhappy"

he is a presenter and knows which buttons to press to annoy people.

he is the TV presenter equivalent of marmite.

love him or hate him.

me , I think he is great. cos he doesn't give a monkeys about who he upsets WITH WHAT HE SAYS.

he hasn't knocked a cyclist off or run over one nor has he encouraged anybody to do that sort of thing. the moment he does then he does need to removed from the media. until then if he upsets you, don't watch him.

 

[John the Monkey]

me , I think he is great. cos he doesn't give a monkeys about who he upsets WITH WHAT HE SAYS.

Hmm.

O Tempora, O Mores. &c

 

[asterix]

Top Gear is the televisual equivalent of the "Commando" pocket sized war story comics I used to read as a lad. It is based on facts but isn't factual. It may contain some element of truth, just like some Nazi may well have once said "Achtung Spitfeuer!" or "For you Tommy ze var is over" but it present the truth simply in two-dimensions. It is simply a form of reality television with paid professionals taking the lead roles. Some of the slapstick/pratfall stuff is genius TV; big boys playing with and destroying big boys toys, but the conversations revolve around (offensive) stereotypes which I don't find funny, and often are at the level of primaty school playground banter e.g. "That car is gay".

I admire Clarkson for playing the part of opinionated bigot-oaf so well. Smart guy. Very wealthy guy as a result. Draws in millions of viewers with a hugely profitable franchise that sells globally. Crap journalist though. In fact I'd say ex-journalist. He's detached himself from reality and has becme the tory rather than simply the reporter.

and if he is a genuine libertarian why does he seek to influence people opinions on what cars to buy? why does the magazine carry advertising for cars?

Well, I'd forgotten all about those! It all comes back to me.. We used to swap them at school and they were called 'trash mags'. Even at 11 ot 12 we knew what was rubbish even when they did provide low-grade entertainment. Overall the problem I have with TG is summed up very well by John the Monkey but I'd guess it brings the BBC a lot of money from overseas exposure unlike the Hammond book.

As regards Total Wipeout, I'd be far more entertained if I was a contestant, but it's getting a bit boring as a spectacle.

 

[turnout]

he hasn't knocked a cyclist off or run over one nor has he encouraged anybody to do that sort of thing. the moment he does then he does need to removed from the media. until then if he upsets you, don't watch him.

THE CHARGE: ROAD-HOGGERY, THREATENING BEHAVIOUR, AND ALL-ROUND OFFENSIVENESS

Clarkson is hereby accused of knowingly, and in the interests of controversial amusement, putting people's lives at risk. The cycling lobby took particular umbrage after the bombs of 7 July, when Clarkson wrote some




"handy hints to those setting out on a bike for the first time", including





"Do not cruise through red lights. Because if I'm coming the other way, I will run you down, for fun",





and




"Do not pull up at junctions in front of a line of traffic. Because if I'm behind you, I will set off at normal speed and you will be crushed under my wheels."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-people-vs-jeremy-clarkson-515063.html

 

[Jezston]

he hasn't knocked a cyclist off or run over one nor has he encouraged anybody to do that sort of thing. the moment he does then he does need to removed from the media.

What I want to do at times like this is bang on their cycling helmets and say I find their poverty offensive. But I’m made from stronger stuff so I turn the other cheek and run them down

Trespassers in the motorcars domain, they do not pay road tax and therefore have no right to be on the road, some of them even believe they are going fast enough to not be an obstruction. Run them down to prove them wrong.

Do not cruise through red lights. Because if I’m coming the other way, I will run you down, for fun and do not pull up at junctions in front of a line of traffic. Because if I’m behind you, I will set off at normal speed and you will be crushed under my wheels.

This is all acceptable because it's 'just a joke', right?

 

[As Easy As Riding A Bike]

Top Gear is a big joke, and not meant to be taken seriously. Fine.

However, can we honestly say that a significant subset of its audience (the stupider end) are not influenced by its rather hostile attitude towards vulnerable road users?

Is this not something to be concerned about?

(For instance, I note in passing that the "cyclists have no rights because they don't pay for the roads" meme seems to have emerged over the last decade, during a period in which a particular programme has become rather popular).

 

[As Easy As Riding A Bike]

Another example - the idea that I am "too poor" to afford a car. Again, this is all a big joke on Top Gear.

Not so funny, though, when you're on the receiving end of fast and proximate overtakes by cretins who apparently view me as a lower species because I'm not behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

No connection?

 

[mark barker]

However, can we honestly say that a significant subset of its audience (the stupider end) are not influenced by its rather hostile attitude towards vulnerable road users?

So far the only people that I've heard that have taken the comments seriously are cyclists, so what does that say about us?

 

[totallyfixed]

Top Gear is a big joke, and not meant to be taken seriously. Fine.

However, can we honestly say that a significant subset of its audience (the stupider end) are not influenced by its rather hostile attitude towards vulnerable road users?

Is this not something to be concerned about?

(For instance, I note in passing that the "cyclists have no rights because they don't pay for the roads" meme seems to have emerged over the last decade, during a period in which a particular programme has become rather popular).

I agree, TG has a huge audience, and epitomises a "boys and their toys" approach to entertainment. Incidentally, I have only ever watched 5 mins of it but was surprised to see so many [mainly young] women in the studio audience. The worrying aspect for me is that I would like to bet a significant percentage of the more mindless element think that when Clarkson makes a joke about cyclists, they think cyclists are a joke. If he thinks it's ok to run down a cyclist, then there is no doubt in my mind there will be those who watch the show who think it is also ok.
It may be that much of this show is meant to be tongue-in-cheek [I hope] but as in life in general there is always an element that cannot tell the difference.

 

[turnout]

So far the only people that I've heard that have taken the comments seriously are cyclists, so what does that say about us?

The Top Gear forum had posters boasting about ramming cyclists.

 

[John the Monkey]

So far the only people that I've heard that have taken the comments seriously are cyclists, so what does that say about us?

That we've heard the crap Clarkson trots out shouted at us by stupid motorists who've nearly killed us once too often?

Or is that a rhetorical question?

 

[400bhp]

This is one of those threads that gets sent around other forums, entitled something along the lines of "look at these lot getting their knickers in a twist"



IT'S A TV PROGRAMME. IT ISN'T REAL LIFE.

actually most respondents here appear to understand that.

 

[turnout]

This is one of those threads that gets sent around other forums, entitled something along the lines of "look at these lot getting their knickers in a twist"



IT'S A TV PROGRAMME. IT ISN'T REAL LIFE.

actually most respondents here appear to understand that.

I have a choice whether to watch it or not.

I don't have a choice when it comes to sharing the roads with homicidal ****wits who take it seriously.