Former BBC Head Says Top Gear Shouldn't Have Fired Jeremy Clarkson - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Sprockethead;50932957]Its a British thing i'm pretty sure. I can't remember where i first heard the term 'Slope' meaning a slanty-eye-guy. But i got the joke immediately when i saw this special, and i remember inhaling whatever i was drinking at the time.[/QUOTE] As a Brit, never heard the term slope mean anything other than a 'steady incline' until the bullshit red top papers told me it was a thing I should be offended by. It litterally did not register as an insult / racial slur to me, nor anyone else i know in my family and friends who are from across the UK. [editline]23rd August 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Fetret;50933376]Seriously if it was any of his usual supposedly racist or offensive stunts I'd agree 100%. But if he really did punch and insult a producer what other thing could have been done but to fire him? BBC is a massive corporation, can they really turn a blind eye into such a well publicised incident of assault, by a top presenter? If they didn't fire him what kind of message would that send? If you are bringing enough money in you can commit offenses we would fire other people for? What would other people who have to work with him in the same place think afterwards? I can get punched by someone who is the star of the channel? I'm willing to bet anything there are a lot of high level executives who just thought "Fuck me, there goes our cash cow" the moment they heard of the incident but there really was nothing more to do.[/QUOTE] Fines and mandetory anger management classes, iv'e seen it done to someone who did far worse than brush somones cheek after their mother had died. He had to be punished for the exact reasons you said, but sacking was not the only answer.

[QUOTE=Fr3ddi3;50934129]As a Brit, never heard the term slope mean anything other than a 'steady incline' until the bullshit red top papers told me it was a thing I should be offended by. It litterally did not register as an insult / racial slur to me, nor anyone else i know in my family and friends who are from across the UK. [editline]23rd August 2016[/editline] Fines and mandetory anger management classes, iv'e seen it done to someone who did far worse than brush somones cheek after their mother had died. He had to be punished for the exact reasons you said, but sacking was not the only answer.[/QUOTE] well im sure your anecdotal experience means that nobody at all was offended by his flippant use of a racist slur

[QUOTE=ElectronicG19;50933984]Has the world gone insane? He punched a man in the face. He punched one of the producers in the face over food. In what world don't you sack him?[/QUOTE] I'm not saying they shouldn't sack him. I'm saying what people already said. That the bbc exagerated it

[QUOTE=Dirty_Ape;50932680]Well yeah. Clarkson is an offensive, unrelenting asshole but ultimately, isn't that a kinda why we all loved him in the first place?[/QUOTE] The way I've heard it put it best is that the reason people like him is that he isn't just some boring, nice person, he's a relateable cunt.

[QUOTE=Streecer;50934229]well im sure your anecdotal experience means that nobody at all was offended by his flippant use of a racist slur[/QUOTE] For something that is a British thing, I as a Brit with British Family, have never heard it. OF course it's bloody anecdotal, that was the point. But all right lets throw some facts into this cesspit to back up something i should not be bothering to do but fuck it i got nothing better to do right now. Just 2 people, of the 7.1 million viewers complained to Ofcom, a whole month after the episode aired. For something that's a 'British thing' you'd think that it'd have got more complaints than 2 and a hell of alot sooner, no? I can only begin to imagine the numbers if it'd been the N or P word. So could the low numbers of offended be because it's not a 'British thing'?. Lets look at the British English dictionary term for 'slope', and know that for any word to qualify it has to see [I]widespread[/I] use. [URL]http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/slope[/URL] Even AFTER this event it is not registered as a racial slur, instead it's the gradient interpretation that I associate with it. Now put in any other racial slur you know in British English. I put in 4 of the most well known and all of them come up with what i was expecting. But lets try it somewhere else just to make sure it's not a blip. [URL]http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/slope[/URL] [URL]https://www.google.co.uk/#q=slope+meaning[/URL] Notice at the bottom of both it is acknowledged as a slur, in the US but not here. To me, that's pretty conclusive. So now i'll throw the ball into your court, Prove to me that Slope was considered a Slur in the UK prior to that episode.

Yeah, no. I like the original Top Gear crew as much as the next guy, but Clarkson deserved to have been fired. Just because everyone likes you doesn't mean you can assault a producer.

[QUOTE=Fr3ddi3;50934810]For something that is a British thing, I as a Brit with British Family, have never heard it. OF course it's bloody anecdotal, that was the point. But all right lets throw some facts into this cesspit to back up something i should not be bothering to do but fuck it i got nothing better to do right now. Just 2 people, of the 7.1 million viewers complained to Ofcom, a whole month after the episode aired. For something that's a 'British thing' you'd think that it'd have got more complaints than 2 and a hell of alot sooner, no? I can only begin to imagine the numbers if it'd been the N or P word. So could the low numbers of offended be because it's not a 'British thing'?. Lets look at the British English dictionary term for 'slope', and know that for any word to qualify it has to see [I]widespread[/I] use. [URL]http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/slope[/URL] Even AFTER this event it is not registered as a racial slur, instead it's the gradient interpretation that I associate with it. Now put in any other racial slur you know in British English. I put in 4 of the most well known and all of them come up with what i was expecting. But lets try it somewhere else just to make sure it's not a blip. [URL]http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/slope[/URL] [URL]https://www.google.co.uk/#q=slope+meaning[/URL] Notice at the bottom of both it is acknowledged as a slur, in the US but not here. To me, that's pretty conclusive. So now i'll throw the ball into your court, Prove to me that Slope was considered a Slur in the UK prior to that episode.[/QUOTE] so you admit it's a racial slur, but it doesn't matter that it was used at all?

[QUOTE=ElectronicG19;50933973]How has Clarkson conned everyone into thinking he's a funny/good person??[/QUOTE] Guys, stop thinking this guy is funny. Guys, stop it, your having fun.

[QUOTE=Thlis;50934941]Guys, stop thinking this guy is funny. Guys, stop it, your having fun.[/QUOTE] Clarkson is actually a shit person though, despite Top Gear being an alright show.

Clarkson Top Gear was Top Tier though

[QUOTE=Streecer;50934910]so you admit it's a racial slur, but it doesn't matter that it was used at all?[/QUOTE] I can see this going on for years and you'll keep asking me questions completelty irrelevant to my point. Slope as a derogatory term so far as i can tell does not originate from the UK, It was hardly (if ever) used in the UK, It was not known in the UK. Weither it is now known as a Slur is completetly besides the point, thats moving the goal post after the ball has crossed the line. Now prior to the episode, I would not have called someone a slope. Even if i wanted to racial insult them, why? because i did not associate the term slope with anything other than an incline, it would not make sense as an insult to me. Would I do it now I know it could cause offense? No, not because i associate the word with a new meaning but because i now know someone else could. If you want to argue that we should be aware of insults and slurs in other langauges and cultures. [url]http://www.rsdb.org/full[/url] knock yourself out, never use any of those ever again regardless of context. If you want to argue that Clarkson intended it as casual racism, do so with someone else because thats not the bloody point I tried to make before you showed up.

[QUOTE=Fr3ddi3;50935191]I can see this going on for years and you'll keep asking me questions completelty irrelevant to my point. Slope as a derogatory term so far as i can tell does not originate from the UK, It was hardly (if ever) used in the UK, It was not known in the UK. Weither it is now known as a Slur is completetly besides the point, thats moving the goal post after the ball has crossed the line. Now prior to the episode, I would not have called someone a slope. Even if i wanted to racial insult them, why? because i did not associate the term slope with anything other than an incline, it would not make sense as an insult to me. Would I do it now I know it could cause offense? No, not because i associate the word with a new meaning but because i now know someone else could. If you want to argue that we should be aware of insults and slurs in other langauges and cultures. [url]http://www.rsdb.org/full[/url] knock yourself out, never use any of those ever again regardless of context. If you want to argue that Clarkson intended it as casual racism, do so with someone else because thats not the bloody point I tried to make before you showed up.[/QUOTE] you're doing everything but addressing the core issue jeremy clarkson used a racial slur in his program, people, however few or not, complained about it; it is a racist slur, it has a racist context and connotation, and your ignorance to what "slope" is and means does not excuse his behaviour in the slightest Top gear isn't just aired in the UK, it's a show with large international reach too. Just because the slur didn't originate in the UK means it's suddenly okay to use on TV.

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935245]you're doing everything but addressing the core issue jeremy clarkson used a racial slur in his program, people, however few or not, complained about it; it is a racist slur, it has a racist context and connotation, and your ignorance to what "slope" is and means does not excuse his behaviour in the slightest Top gear isn't just aired in the UK, it's a show with large international reach too. Just because the slur didn't originate in the UK means it's suddenly okay to use on TV.[/QUOTE] Are you arguing that the word slope should never be used on television regardless of context?

[QUOTE=Thlis;50935251]Are you arguing that the word slope should never be used on television regardless of context?[/QUOTE] no? you're being intentionally disingenuous now, you aren't being clever if somebody pointed at a hill and mentioned a slope, whatever if somebody points as an asian and calls them a slope, that's the use of a slur putting both of these in the same shot does not suddenly make it okay

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935264]no? you're being intentionally disingenuous now, you aren't being clever if somebody pointed at a hill and mentioned a slope, whatever if somebody points as an asian and calls them a slope, that's the use of a slur putting both of these in the same shot does not suddenly make it okay[/QUOTE] The bridge was literally sloped.

[QUOTE=Thlis;50935266]The bridge was literally sloped.[/QUOTE] and there was an asian man walking across it, stop pleading ignorance to what was done there

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935245]you're doing everything but addressing the core issue jeremy clarkson used a racial slur in his program, people, however few or not, complained about it; it is a racist slur, it has a racist context and connotation, and your ignorance to what "slope" is and means does not excuse his behaviour in the slightest Top gear isn't just aired in the UK, it's a show with large international reach too. Just because the slur didn't originate in the UK means it's suddenly okay to use on TV.[/QUOTE] As i said [url]http://www.rsdb.org/full[/url] Enjoy never saying anything again.

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935272][B]and there was an asian man walking across it[/B], stop pleading ignorance to what was done there[/QUOTE] How can you tell?

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935272]and there was an asian man walking across it, stop pleading ignorance to what was done there[/QUOTE] For what it's worth, Knowing what i know now, and knowing Clarkson, it's likely thats whats was intended hell iirc i think he admits it. But that's litteral thought crime.

the bridge was sloped at worst it was a light-hearted double entendre not clarkson going "literally fuck all asians they are beneath me" who cares correction; the few people who [I]do[/I] care need to find something better to do with their time

[QUOTE=Fr3ddi3;50935278]As i said [URL]http://www.rsdb.org/full[/URL] Enjoy never saying anything again.[/QUOTE] How does this in any way counter what I'm saying? Words have different contexts, the use of slope on this occasion was a very evident piece of world play to refer to the bridge and the man walking across it. [QUOTE=DeEz;50935284]How can you tell?[/QUOTE] Because I've seen the clip in question, and the intent is obvious? Don't give me some bullshit about how you can't tell or whatever. [QUOTE=Fr3ddi3;50935293]For what it's worth, Knowing what i know now, and knowing Clarkson, it's likely thats whats was intended hell iirc i think he admits it. But that's litteral thought crime.[/QUOTE] How is it a thought crime if he admitted to doing it?

you still can't seem to explain why it matters or how it means clarkson is a racist i can rattle off every slur on that list, that doesn't mean i think non-whites are inferior to whites

[QUOTE=Grenadiac;50935317]you still can't seem to explain why it matters or how it means clarkson is a racist i can rattle off every slur on that list, that doesn't mean i think non-whites are inferior to whites[/QUOTE] I'm not arguing over whether he's a racist or not, I find it strange how people are attempting to justify his various gaffes in increasingly bizarre ways. An absence of common sense maybe.

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935323]I'm not arguing over whether he's a racist or not, I find it strange how people are attempting to justify his various gaffes in increasingly bizarre ways. An absence of common sense maybe.[/QUOTE] then what are you arguing if he isn't a racist and didn't use the term slope to espouse or further a racist ideology then what is your point

[QUOTE=Grenadiac;50935324]then what are you arguing[/QUOTE] Fr3ddi3 originally stated that "slope" was not a racist slur in the context of the Top Gear case, because he believed that it didn't originate in the UK so nobody could possibly be offended by it. Managing to take two opposing positions at the same time in the process; by admitting that it both was a slur, and that he shouldn't be punished for using it. But that's the point, he used a slur, people complained, and he got punished for it. You can't say that nobody got offended by it's use.

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935328]Fr3ddi3 originally stated that "slope" was not a racist slur in the context of the Top Gear case, because he believed that it didn't originate in the UK so nobody could possibly be offended by it. Managing to take two opposing positions at the same time in the process; by admitting that it both was a slur, and that he shouldn't be punished for using it. But that's the point, he used a slur, people complained, and he got punished for it. You can't say that nobody got offended by it's use.[/QUOTE] it is not a racist slur if it is not being used racist-ly he either made a joke you didn't think was funny or was complaining about the poor quality of a bridge literally made out of sticks bedded in mud and someone with too much time on their hands said "omg!! that's a racist term in kazakhstan!!" obviously he is scum and should lose his job/die thanks for playing

Again, it's worth looking at his firing in context - the incident with his producer occurred shortly after claims came to light about veteran personalities at the BBC being basically untouchable despite claims of harassment and whatnot being levied against them - Clarkson was the first one to act up after the BBC decided it was actually going to be doing something about it and got fired, case closed. Just because you're popular doesn't mean you should be above the rules at the BBC.

lol yeah people concerned about casual use of racist slurs have too much time on their hands, thanks for your amazing insight

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935300][B]How does this in any way counter what I'm saying? Words have different contexts, the use of slope on this occasion was a very evident piece of world play to refer to the bridge and the man walking across it. [/B] Have fun never ording a bacon lettuce tomato sandwhich from the shop, buying a pack of batteries or calling a well known car break downservice, 1/10 off the full retail price cause you cant use the % no more. There's so many offensive words and saying that you litterally cannot eveer account for them, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. [B]Because I've seen the clip in question, and the intent is obvious? Don't give me some bullshit about how you can't tell or whatever.[/B] [B]How is it a thought crime if he admitted to doing it?[/B] I just looked i was wrong, the team did not know it was deemed so offensive and clarkson has apolised for the offense but not admiting he knew it's connotations so no it's still thought crime. [/QUOTE] Wars of attrition aint my thing so fuck it. Aint doing this no more i stand by my points accept it or don't but lastly. [QUOTE=Streecer;50935328][B]Fr3ddi3 originally stated that "slope" was not a racist slur in the context of the Top Gear case[/B], because he believed that it didn't originate in the UK so nobody could possibly be offended by it. Managing to take two opposing positions at the same time in the process; by admitting that it both was a slur, and that he shouldn't be punished for using it. But that's the point, he used a slur, people complained, and he got punished for it. You can't say that nobody got offended by it's use.[/QUOTE] Stop putting words in my bloody mouth. Someone said Slope is a UK slur, I said it wasnt, i backed it up with my 'anecdotal' evidence and then with further factual evidence which borrowed the case at hand. That was my original point which you have not tried to refute and you have now draged me into a fucking race row i never even bloody started, i mean fuck sake you havent even said "I heard it before Top Gear".

[QUOTE=Streecer;50935340]lol yeah people concerned about casual use of racist slurs have too much time on their hands, thanks for your amazing insight[/QUOTE] yeah pretty much you can't just run around declaring people racists and demanding they lose their jobs when they aren't racist (and therefore are not discriminating harmfully against minorities) you also cannot decide to take offense at words with an obscure dual meaning being used innocently or at the very worst in a very lighthearted double entendre [QUOTE=RearAdmiral;50935338]Again, it's worth looking at his firing in context - the incident with his producer occurred shortly after claims about veteran personalities at the BBC being basically untouchable despite claims of harassment and whatnot being levied against them - Clarkson was the first one to act up after the BBC decided it was actually going to be doing something about it and got fired, case closed. Just because you're popular doesn't mean you should be above the rules at the BBC.[/QUOTE] this is the only valid argument for firing clarkson but it assumes a zero-tolerance policy that ignores context is acceptable (and it isn't) clarkson was in a really piss poor mood - understandably so considering the relentless bad news he'd been getting all day, snapped at the producer while exhausted and upset (assaulted him, yes), and was subsequently forgiven by said producer (which is why the police weren't involved) the bbc decided to fire him anyway to make an example out of him - stupid