Jeremy Clarkson and special needs

[Serennos]

AIBU to think that there is something very wrong with Jeremy Clarkson thinking it is okay to say that a Ferrari's smiling face makes it look as though it is a 'simpleton', and say it should have been called 'Speciali Needs'?

Fuming on behalf of my ASD brother - luckily his obsessiond do not extend to Top Gear!

I tell you Pag, they're everywhere.

It DOESN'T make it better! DId you read my post?

CCF - I see ! Thankyou for clearing it up.

I find these sorts of jokes (a) totally unfunny and (b) offensive and I think those who suggest the OP just gets over it might like to try living in her shoes for a while.

A white person might say they are using the phrase "paki" affectionately - but I doubt any asian who has heard it every day finds it amusing, this is not much different

The man is a idiot, take no notice, I don't when other half is watching.

Sorry, I x-posted with you CCF. No need to shout

The OP was a bit confusing, I admit. Yes, we are so far behind when it comes to laughing at people with invisible disabilities. Comedians who wouldn't dream of using terms like Paki (thank goodness) think it's fine to use special needs as in insult and think it very funny. I bet they wouldn't think it so amusing if their child had special needs.

Sorry for confusion - Clarkson said both things.

Yes, I know he's an ass, but why should anyone have to put up with offensive remarks like that being made?

People with special needs should not have to watch an umbrella term for their conditions being used as a joke. There are already enough difficulties for people with SN without the BBC broadcasting something that appears to condone taking the mick.

If viewers don't object to the objectionable, then that is surely tantamount to accepting it?

YANBU. He's well known for being a complete and utter twat,and he may make his living by being offensive but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be called out on such crass remarks or that people can't object to them.

I find it really shocking that the BBC condones this tbh. It's certainly not the first time. And Top Gear is watched by a lot of kids. It is really an incitement to bullying.

Did he say this on the most recent episode?

People with ASD are not 'simpletons' or all have 'special needs' so please tell me why you were 'fuming on behalf of your ASD brother'?

You making a connection between ASD and the slur 'simpleton' is just perpetuating discrimination and doing nothing but getting you some attention and sympathy-by-proxy.

My son thinks Top Gear is hysterically funny. Largely because he finds Clarkson so very dim and stupid, he's used to the adults in his life being sensible. Like a clown show with cars.
He understands that they are misogynistic and prejudiced against a lot of things. Being able to laugh at their idiocy seems to help him cope better when he meets it in real life. I think he must practice his verbal ripostes watching the TV.

My DS#1 quite likes JC Because he is funny, a bit rude and likes cars. We have tried to explain why he is, in so many ways, a tosser, can only hope it sinks in. I don't mind him watching and enjoying Top Gear but I want him to be able to see JS's random bigotries as the poison they are rather than acceptable humour. It's beginning to feel as if we have to provide a PC subtitles to TG 'Yes, ha ha, but don't forget how hurtful that comment would be if you were X or Y' It's exhausting. I hope and expect his basic ability to empathise and care about other people wins through.

People with disabilities deserve more and consistently get less. He and Gill deserve each other. I just wish they weren't so high profile. Although their type of journalism is not about anything of great importance, they do still inform peoples' views unfortunately.

My DD1 likes him too - hopefully this'll put her off as she has a family member with a learning disability.

I am sure that JC would just love to make jokes about Pakis and Nig-nogs and Chinks etc etc etc....but the BBC won't let him, and he knows he would be ostracised (rightly) for it. But it's fine to make fun of kids with special needs, and the BBC colludes with this. I don't really get why this is OK.

The same way that they permit him to be a total prat about women.

Clarkson is one of the vanishingly small number of men who listened to accusations of sexism and actually changed his act - used to compare cars to women, doesn't do that at all now. So I have hopes that if people point out to him that this is Not On he might listen.

Serennos is right that it's not as simple as 'get over it'. Picking on groups of people who are discriminated against or vulnerable or marginalised is not big nor clever but if we let it go unchallenged, the thoughtless or prejudiced who make these remarks will carry on. They need to be told.

That's the lamest justfication for prejudice I have heard.

'Play on words' - Rofl.

I watched this programme, I like Top Gear.

I have an invisible disablity and while I do not have LDs (I have S&E MH issues) I see the offense it could cause. I am all for JC being pulled up for such hopelessly bad choice of "pun" and for being offensive generally.

However, I also know that, TG is known for the brand of "humour" that they demonstrate, the "hilarious" blokish antics (which actually are amusing, but not always for the reasons they might think, largely because it is quite funny to see that there are still blokes out there who behave like that)

I think that JC particularly of the three is a tosser, but that's how he makes his money and that's what you can expect if you watch. By all means complain - invisible disabilities is the last great civil rights movement still to take off, but, by the same token, don't get too hung up on PC and remember that sometimes it is just as effective to let someone make themSELVES look an arse as it is to tell everyone that they are one.