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Jeremy Clarkson
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I was thinking that after my comment about how the BBC always promote their own productions and licensed products, I actually wonder if the BBC has in fact made up (or grossly exaggerated) the amount of complaints it has received.
This is fantastic publicity for the BBC, and Top Gear, and Clarkson's DVD ... and it's a mountain out of a molehill anyway, given that anyone hearing the WHOLE thing will know the job wasn't what he said - but why he said it (to appear to be balanced).
I wonder if anyone knows someone who actually did complain? As in made a formal complaint, not just Tweeted something or wrote on a forum like this.
This is fantastic publicity for the BBC, and Top Gear, and Clarkson's DVD ... and it's a mountain out of a molehill anyway, given that anyone hearing the WHOLE thing will know the job wasn't what he said - but why he said it (to appear to be balanced).
I wonder if anyone knows someone who actually did complain? As in made a formal complaint, not just Tweeted something or wrote on a forum like this.
anthony263
Established Member
I have a feeling that the number of people who complained is not as high as what has been put out.
When I saw him on the one show I think everyone knew he was going to say something that would annoy or offend people, thats what he does.
I personally think this is nothing more than a publicity stunt, although I certainly agree that the joke about train suicides was going too far.
Nym
Established Member
Thats proberbly why the braught him onto the one show, to play his usual act.
hairyhandedfool
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For those who haven't seen it there is a video of a news broadcast on the bbc website (watch from about 50 seconds in). It's not the whole interview, but it includes the bit before that puts it into context, not like the Youtube vid. It actually makes the Unison person on the same video look rather stupid, comparing him to Gadafi for example! Some people have no sense of humour (or ability to recognise an attempt at humour).
I don't think Clarkson really thought it through before saying it, but you do expect comments from him to be controversial and/or stupid. That's the persona he likes to bring across, it gets ratings and he makes money from it. The media use it to sell papers and attract an audience and gullible people fall for it hook line and sinker.
I don't think Clarkson really thought it through before saying it, but you do expect comments from him to be controversial and/or stupid. That's the persona he likes to bring across, it gets ratings and he makes money from it. The media use it to sell papers and attract an audience and gullible people fall for it hook line and sinker.
table38
Established Member
Another thing I noticed over the last couple of days is all the people telling me "it wasn't funny".
Surely humour is "in the eye of the beholder"? Perhaps what they mean is that "they didn't find it funny". Personally I don't think Alan Carr or Michael Mcintyre are funny, but evidently there are a lot of people that do.
I certainly don't need the thought police telling me what I'm allowed to find funny.
Surely humour is "in the eye of the beholder"? Perhaps what they mean is that "they didn't find it funny". Personally I don't think Alan Carr or Michael Mcintyre are funny, but evidently there are a lot of people that do.
I certainly don't need the thought police telling me what I'm allowed to find funny.
Nym
Established Member
It was funny IMO, because I saw it more as a dig at the BBC rather than the protesters.
I smiled when I heard him say it (I actually saw it on BBC when it happened) because I'm a journalist (and so is Clarkson as I assume he still has his column in the papers?) so know all about having to be balanced.
My wife laughed about the suicide comment when I told her later, and she hates Jeremy Clarkson. It has nothing to do with the poor driver, or the family left behind, and I doubt any driver who has suffered a suicide on the railway would have taken it seriously. Nor was it a serious suggestion, although I am sure any commuter who has been disrupted due to a suicide has said the same thing - but, again, not seriously.
My wife laughed about the suicide comment when I told her later, and she hates Jeremy Clarkson. It has nothing to do with the poor driver, or the family left behind, and I doubt any driver who has suffered a suicide on the railway would have taken it seriously. Nor was it a serious suggestion, although I am sure any commuter who has been disrupted due to a suicide has said the same thing - but, again, not seriously.
Its just being blown far too much out of proportion. People are comparing him with Col Gadafi. What the? Ok this is just going way to far now.
People are seeking legal advice. Here's some advice - Get a sence of humour!
I've seen it several times and I'm sorry but you can easily tell he doesn't mean it, there is blatent sarcasm in his voice.
What is this country coming too? If these polticians had their way then humour would be outlawed and we'd be put in the slammer for making so much as a 'why did the chicken cross the road' joke because it would in someway be deemed offensive because of that one unlucky chicken that quite didn't make it across the road after it had escaped from the farm because the farmer forgot to lock the hut up properly because he was too bogged down in paper work from the health and saftey and risk assessment forms he had to fill out so he could blow his nose whilst strolling across the yard.
People are seeking legal advice. Here's some advice - Get a sence of humour!
I've seen it several times and I'm sorry but you can easily tell he doesn't mean it, there is blatent sarcasm in his voice.
What is this country coming too? If these polticians had their way then humour would be outlawed and we'd be put in the slammer for making so much as a 'why did the chicken cross the road' joke because it would in someway be deemed offensive because of that one unlucky chicken that quite didn't make it across the road after it had escaped from the farm because the farmer forgot to lock the hut up properly because he was too bogged down in paper work from the health and saftey and risk assessment forms he had to fill out so he could blow his nose whilst strolling across the yard.
anthony263
Established Member
Seems Clarkson has said something else wrong now.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/clarkson-hits-rail-suicides-020344856.html
I personally think he does have a point
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/clarkson-hits-rail-suicides-020344856.html
I personally think he does have a point
I do think that people who kill themselves are selfish, either to their family or the other people who have to deal with the aftermath (from disrupted people to the emergency services, staff etc).
Seems like a fair comment.
I do wonder what we're supposed to say these days to not offend someone. He hasn't suggested people should kill themselves, nor will his comments likely stop (or encourage) people killing themselves given the fact they're not likely to be in the right frame of mind at the moment they decide to do something like that.
I don't think that Clarkson, however controversial his views, really means that. It seems to me that he's angry about people who kill themselves (hence the selfish remark) and wants to try and make a supposedly easy way out seem like something you wouldn't want to do, or shouldn't do.
Jeremy Clarkson said:
Seems like a fair comment.
I do wonder what we're supposed to say these days to not offend someone. He hasn't suggested people should kill themselves, nor will his comments likely stop (or encourage) people killing themselves given the fact they're not likely to be in the right frame of mind at the moment they decide to do something like that.
I don't think that Clarkson, however controversial his views, really means that. It seems to me that he's angry about people who kill themselves (hence the selfish remark) and wants to try and make a supposedly easy way out seem like something you wouldn't want to do, or shouldn't do.
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
Clarkson's column actually did contain some sense. His column is far far less offensive than his comments on Wednesday!
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
There was a report in yesterday's Daily Telegraph which states that the BBC has admitted that the presenters and editors knew in advance exactly what he was going to say; it was scripted.
Badger
Member
People who kill themselves in that sort of way are being selfish, and incredibly so. I see nothing wrong with his comment saying that. It destroys a career (the driver), messes up the rail network for thousands of people, not to mention the work that has to be done by somebody to... clean up afterwards. That can't be a nice job.
Yes, it is a selfish act, but really who are we to criticise those whose pain is just too much for them?
No sane person stands in front of a train. It's an appalling thing to happen, but perhaps a bit of compassion wouldn't go amiss?
No sane person stands in front of a train. It's an appalling thing to happen, but perhaps a bit of compassion wouldn't go amiss?
MidnightFlyer
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He speaks the truth; I fully agree.
His Sun column, although said in his usual way, speaks a great deal of sense.
The comments he makes about the drivers who have to suffer as a result of suicide deserves praise, not condemnation. It's something that is so rarely considered in these circumstances.
The comments he makes about the drivers who have to suffer as a result of suicide deserves praise, not condemnation. It's something that is so rarely considered in these circumstances.
Nym
Established Member
Can't criticise people who do want to kill themselves, but can't they just overdose at home and do it quietly without disrupting the rest of our lives?!?
Jumping in front of a train, or bus, wrecks more lives and that's selfish!
To quote myself and many others, "If you're gonna die, die quietly!"
Or a situation where at a house party someone had a load of pills and threatened to take them all and end it now, they where provided with a glass of water and told to shut the **** up and get on with it...
Jumping in front of a train, or bus, wrecks more lives and that's selfish!
To quote myself and many others, "If you're gonna die, die quietly!"
Or a situation where at a house party someone had a load of pills and threatened to take them all and end it now, they where provided with a glass of water and told to shut the **** up and get on with it...
MidnightFlyer
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I agree with all the above too!
What a surprise. BBC creates a scandal to promote TV show/DVD/toys (insert other product/licence here).
This really does mean that my feeling that they didn't really receive 21,000 complaints is probably true too.
People who have met JC say he's a nice person, and admits a lot of things off camera (one of the more famous being the fact he admits to knowing very little about cars or how they work). He is, however, an entertainer and part of his persona is to be controversial - yet now it has got to the point where everyone now wants and demands him to say something more outrageous than before.
It appears it is not the only place that it is scripted. Monday night's Sherlock on BBC HD has a man found dead by the railway track and a railway worker saying suicides are selfish.
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
You can tell that from the program! I'm of the opinion that it's James that knows the most about cars.
You know what, I think it actualy is too. In the challenges where they all pick a differant car most of the time it turns out James's choice was the best.
The new series of Top Gear starts in a couple of weeks, wonder what the controversey will be this series?
Minilad
Established Member
No its a new one
Nym
Established Member
Oh joy, looks like I'm missing it...
Minilad
Established Member
They are on an Indian train ATM
Nym
Established Member
As in Auto Teller Machine, or some kind of rail vehicle?
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