Great article by Steve Coogan on the Top Gear Mexican 'joke' controversy

[Jonno]

if you're going to call people cnuts for having sterotypes and prejudices, at least dont be a hypocrite and cast sterotypes and prejudices yourself.

also funny how people people wade against Clarkson when he didnt say anything, as highlighted above. like the tabloid readers who will join a chorus of outrage over something they never actually saw or read in first person.

Fair enough, you have a point. Apologies for my hypocrisy, I shall keep my prejudices to myself in future. I certainly won't attempt to broadcast them weekly on BBC TV for colossal amounts of money either.

 

[Wozza]

"Richard Hammond, the man who has carved out a best-selling literary career on the back of his inability to drive safely." - Stewart Lee

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[Wozza]

To me its still people declaring what they think others should and shouldn't say. Thats more dangerous than letting people say what they want in my opinion (as long as we have legislation in place to punish people for things that incite hatred etc. which we do)... Coogan should be more intelligent than that.

So it's now okay to make jokes about floods in Australia?

 

[Stoo82]

It is. It's noble ideas and the wish to be something better than the sum of our base instincts that makes us human. It'd also be very dull if everyone was responsible all the time. Thing is some irresponsibility is more dangerous than others. I'm not suggesting a bit casual racism by some tools on tv is going to bring civilisation as we know it to an end, but the fact that it makes it 'cool' in some people's eyes is worrying. That is why I think Coogan has felt the need to challenge it and good on him.

Its not racism, its Xenphobia.

There is no race called Mexican.

 

[tedebear]

So it's now okay to make jokes about floods in Australia?

I never said it wasn't, I didn't like the joke and thought it in very very poor taste. But he has a right to say what he likes.

 

[Art Vs Science]

The print press have been on a mini witch hunt about Top Gear for ages now. I would like you to name your top 5 comedians, then tell me they have not said anything like or worse than that. Top Gear is what it is, if your do not like it, don't watch it and even sadder that people react by writing in and complaining about it. I don't like soap opera's therefore could not give a shit about anything on it. If you want white wash bleached down television i suggest you turn it off. Amazing also the hypocrisy about what people say on TV, depending on who people are talking about gets a different reaction and the same happens on here too.

 

[El Presidente]

I didn't, thought it was boring.

I'm glad you said that Frank, if my comedy bone starts aligning with yours I'm going to top myself.

 

[Hungry Joe]

Its not racism, its Xenphobia.

There is no race called Mexican.

Or even Xenophobia, if we're being pedantic.

 

[El Presidente]

Peter Hook said of Coogan, when the latter played the part of (Sir) Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People 'Manchester's biggest cvnt played by Manchester's second biggest cvnt', and he was about right.

However on this one I'm with Coogan.

 

[El Presidente]

The print press have been on a mini witch hunt about Top Gear for ages now. I would like you to name your top 5 comedians, then tell me they have not said anything like or worse than that. Top Gear is what it is, if your do not like it, don't watch it and even sadder that people react by writing in and complaining about it. I don't like soap opera's therefore could not give a shit about anything on it. If you want white wash bleached down television i suggest you turn it off. Amazing also the hypocrisy about what people say on TV, depending on who people are talking about gets a different reaction and the same happens on here too.

So if Channel 5 (owner, pornographer Desmond Morris) commissioned a new chat show hosted by Nick Griffin, and featuring special guests such as Geert Wilders, Pastor Terry Jones and David Irving was on TV, and it promoted a whites only agenda and revisionism of the holocaust's existence, you would defend it's right (geddit) to exist on the grounds of you can always switch it off?

Anyone for a 'Love They Neighbour' DVD box set evening anyone? No niggers allowed of course.

 

[Hungry Joe]

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Now that is what I call comedy.

 

[Stoo82]

So if Channel 5 (owner, pornographer Desmond Morris) commissioned a new chat show hosted by Nick Griffin, and featuring special guests such as Geert Wilders, Pastor Terry Jones and David Irving was on TV, and it promoted a whites only agenda and revisionism of the holocaust's existence, you would defend it's right (geddit) to exist on the grounds of you can always switch it off?

Anyone for a 'Love They Neighbour' DVD box set evening anyone? No niggers allowed of course.

But that would be against the law.

As far as Im aware, no laws have been broken in regards to Top Gear.

 

[Hungry Joe]

So if Channel 5 (owner, pornographer Desmond Morris) commissioned a new chat show hosted by Nick Griffin, and featuring special guests such as Geert Wilders, Pastor Terry Jones and David Irving was on TV, and it promoted a whites only agenda and revisionism of the holocaust's existence, you would defend it's right (geddit) to exist on the grounds of you can always switch it off?

Anyone for a 'Love They Neighbour' DVD box set evening anyone? No niggers allowed of course.

Brilliant.

 

[El Presidente]

But that would be against the law.

As far as Im aware, no laws have been broken in regards to Top Gear.

Which law? Nick Griffin is a legitimate leader of a political party, as is Wilders, David Irving is an established historian and Terry Jones has God's cellphone number on speeddial.

 

[tedebear]

Which law? Nick Griffin is a legitimate leader of a political party, as is Wilders, David Irving is an established historian and Terry Jones has God's cellphone number on speeddial.

In your usual way you've taken a running jump to the extreme with his original statement, and you know full well the result of such a tv show would be viewed as inciteful and therefore illegal...he was simply saying where people didn't think TV was funny they could turn it off....how on earth did you get to bigotry and nazi-ism??

 

[El Presidente]

how on earth did you get to bigotry ??

errr.................here

Cars reflect national characteristics, don't they, so German cars are very well built and ruthlessly efficient, Italian cars are a bit flamboyant and quick, a Mexican car's just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight... (laughter) leaning against a fence asleep, looking at a cactus, with a blanket with a hole in the middle as a coat.

 

[tedebear]

Did Art vs Science say that? Sorry you were quoting what he said and I wondered how you got to where you did from his rather un-inflamatory post....

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I am not a great fan of Coogan as I rarely find him funny. Can't see why he feels the need to strick his two penneth in here and frankly who really cares who he thinks anyway ?

Totally agree. Coogan is just not very funny at all!

 

[El Presidente]

Did Art vs Science say that? Sorry you were quoting what he said and I wondered how you got to where you did from his rather un-inflamatory post....

Sorry if I came across in a muddle. I was quoting Richard Hammond not AvS.

There is plenty of TV out there for people to choose their preferences, and as someone who only watches 1-3 hours a week (Shameless. MoTD unless United win, and the FL show if the Albion win) I am a great believer in the power of the OFF button.

I'm also for edgy TV, and agree with AvS about the soaps. However the Top Gear boys did score a bit of an own goal on this one IMO. National stereotyping can be amusing, but is best when it is a two way street, which designates a bit of mutual respect, wouldn't you say Sheila?

 

[Beach Hut]

I'm glad you said that Frank, if my comedy bone starts aligning with yours I'm going to top myself.