Top Gear in Trouble Again...

[EdHunter]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12338053

Where'd you guys stand on this? In my mind, its comedy, and in no way meant to be taken 100% seriously. OK, what they said was just reinforcing a stereotype, but coming from 3 intelligent guys who've seen the World, I can scarcely believe the intent was malicious.

There are dozens of examples out there of us English being reffered to similarly, without outrage...

[warwick.hoy]

I didn't read the article past the opening paragraph (but I will). I will say I didn't take offense when they said the Corvette was built by fat Americans.

People need to lighten up with the always offended BS. It's like they are just waiting for someone to offend them.

The British poke fun at everyone,...that's why I love them Brits so much.

EDIT: I don't think they are poking fun at any culture itself,...more poking fun at the cultural stereotype. Sometimes those that get offended do so because they are the best reflection of that stereotype. IOWs The truth hurts.

[MatticusMania]

Whoa...

Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat.

Hundreds of viewers complained in 2008 after Clarkson made a joke about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes.

Last week, the programme was named most popular factual show at the National TV Awards.

[bassybill]

You might actually need to be a Brit to get this, but Clarkson is poking fun at an old-fashioned tendency for Brits to be xenophobic as much as he is at Mexicans.

As warwick said, people really need to lighten up.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by bassybill

You might actually need to be a Brit to get this, but Clarkson is poking fun at an old-fashioned tendency for Brits to be xenophobic as much as he is at Mexicans.

As warwick said, people really need to lighten up.

Yup. That said, I wouldn't by a mexican car!

[MakiSupaStar]

I drive a Mexican car. It's called the Jetta.

[bassybill]

To support my argument, allow me to submit this clip from the classic 1970s series, "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?"

Watch from 7 minutes in through to the end for a great parody of Brits' view of other folks. Just superb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPiKQGJZfkc

[jugglingfreak]

Honestly, it was a joke. He makes fat American jokes all the time and as a fat American, I'm not offended.

Honestly, I think it was this that caused the trouble:

Clarkson said he was confident he would not receive any complaints about their comments because the Mexican ambassador would be asleep

Just speculation on my part, but I'm willing to bet it was that comment that got the Ambassador PO'd more that the other one.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by bassybill

To support my argument, allow me to submit this clip from the classic 19070s series, "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?"

Watch from 7 minutes in through to the end for a great parody of Brits' view of other folks. Just superb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPiKQGJZfkc

Is that like a British Teen Drama featuring Eric Perry,...husky brother of Luke?

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Is that like a British Teen Drama featuring Eric Perry,...husky brother of Luke?

Ooops. Edited to avoid just that very confusion you have identified.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by jugglingfreak

Just speculation on my part, but I'm willing to bet it was that comment that got the Ambassador PO'd more that the other one.

That's pretty much what I thought when I read the article.

[iamlowsound]

That was the funniest part of the episode and it was a really funny episode.

lowsound

[warwick.hoy]

I consider myself proud to have had my culture made fun of by the the programme named most popular factual show at the National TV Awards.

Those guys literally make fun of everyone. Hammond because he's short. May cause he's slow,...Clarkson cause he's smug and arrogant.

Germans,...Americans,...Midlanders,...Scotsmen,... Truck Drivers,...The Dutch,...Russians,...Spain,...probably the French. Hell If I were Mexican I'd be more pissed off that it took them 13 or 14 seasons to start making fun of me.

Watch the Blackadder series and the humor is exactly the same.

And honestly,...I"m offended that the Mexican Ambassador is offended. What? nothing better to do then sit around and watch Top Gear on the tele?

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

...probably the French.

No "probably" about it at all. They're the tops.

[mikeyswood]

Please be the Beetle! Please be the Beetle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ882QYzr-M

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

It's Top Gear. They're supposed to poke fun at everyone's stereotypes.

FWIW, my car was made in Brazil. It steers toward soccer matches, and I do too, so it's a good fit.

[colcifer]

What you guys said.

[Rebecky]

Clarkson is just an *******. I hate most of the tripe that comes out of that man's mouth but... Also kinda love him for it!


Shouldn't take anything he says seriously because he just says it for a reaction anyway. Complaining about it makes you sound more guilty of it

[machine gewehr]

Clarkson said he was confident he would not receive any complaints about their comments because the Mexican ambassador would be asleep.

This is hilarious.

Wish we made 100% Turkish cars,Top Gear would make so much fun of it that the car would sell out.

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

People need to lighten up with the always offended BS. It's like they are just waiting for someone to offend them.

Big +1 to this.