to be bemused by the reaction to Jeremy Clarkson's strike comments

[fizzwhirl]

I mean, have the people who are getting all wound up about it actually watched it?

He was being completely tongue-in-cheek. He starts off by saying how nice it's been to have empty streets. Then pretends to pull himself up with the comment that 'we have to balance it though don't we, because this is the bbc', and then he makes up the most extreme anti-striker view he can think of, which is what everyone is quoting.

Even if you took it literally (which would be a very strange thing to do!), he explicitely says that it's not his view.

IT WAS IRONY!

The generous part of me wonders whether the unions are just upset because he was being rather dismissive of the effect of the strikes - he certainly wasn't being respectful and taking them seriously. But I can't help thinking that actually they're just showing genuine inability to evaluate and understand.

Karen Jennings from Unison said it was almost like Gadafi making a comment about a demonstration! And she was being serious!!! Riighhhtt... so, a celebrity making a joke is the same thing as a dictator using foreign mercanaries to slaughter his people?! I suspect the Libyans would have preferred Jeremy Clarkson...

Personally, I think it's Karen Jennings who should be sacked - not for making a comment which is more offensive than the one Jeremy Clarkson made, but just for not having the slightest clue!

People love having something to be outraged about though. Breaks up the boredom.

YABU to start another thread about it.

Some people like to be professionally offended, particularly if it gives them some attention. Sadly they dont realise they make themselves look spectacularly daft.

If anyone had listened to the couple of sentences before he said the bit about being shot, they would realise exactly what context it had been said in, but no, they would rather rush off to make a complaint.

A man who makes his money by being outrageous and controversial says something outrageous and controversial. Best thing to do if you don't like him is switch off, don't buy his books, etc.

I love the term professionally offended. And I think that people who aspire to be so make themselves look stupid.

Yes, I wonder how many people actually watched the comment - not many I would hazard a guess.

And as there being talk of police investigation... what the actual fuck. Police investigation into what exactly?

People need to get a grip really.

And if they don't like it well there's this marvellous thing that is attached to all televisions - it's called the off switch.

I think clarkson is a bit of a prat really and can't imagine why anyone would take him seriously.

Oops, sorry - didn't realise there had already been a thread about it. I just saw it this morning on the news, should have know it had already been covered in MN! Please feel free to ignore :)

Those that 'get' JC know is sence of humour. Those that don't should ignore him.

I would have liked this reaction to Carr's 'joke' about the variety buses, much more importan , than saying those who hold a reasonable amount of 'power', in our society shouldn't be joked about in this way.

I must admit I am getting pretty sick of the way society has turned into a permanent trial by Twitter in which anonymous hordes try to outdo each other by ramping up their apparent sense of shock and condemnation and mischief makers actively try to get anyone they don't like or disagree with sacked. It's like a game that has no real connection to reality until the consequences hit.

wannabe: 'I think clarkson is a bit of a prat really and can't imagine why anyone would take him seriously'

well, quite. He's an entertainer. I'm pretty sure even he doesn't take most of what he says seriously.

I don't get all the fuss either. Surely everyone knows lefty-baiting is just what Jeremy Clarkson does? Every time people get all outraged it just encourages him.

But rights and wrongs of striking aside, pomposity and self-importance is part of what Unison does. Have you seen their headquarters on the Euston Rd? An absurdly arrogant building. You'd have to take yourself pretty seriously to commission a building like that as your headquarters - no wonder Unison's officials think taking the piss out of them is a police matter.

Nesbo - I agree. Trial by media is just another form of mob justice, isn't it?

Another day, another witch-hunt. It's like the Brand/Ross story all over again.

BBC doesn't help by keeping the original programme off iPlayer so people can't see the comments in context or make their own minds up.

OP - you're right. It was very obviously irony!

Why did people chose to take his comment so literally??

He's quite a smart man imo. He knows full well what will cause a stir. He's well known for the nobbish things he says, he hasn't learned from his mistakes because they are not mistakes.

His name is now at the fore front of everyone's mind and guess who has a new DVD out for Xmas?

I think people need to grow up, get a sense of humour recharge, and as for the po faced woman on the news, I thought that was funnier!! You know what you are going to get with Jeremy Clarkson and as other posters have said there is an off switch!! I have a caravan and we all know what he thinks about those!

It wasn't irony, it was hyperbole.

And it was the One Show ffs. Admittedly, I've only seen it once but they were running on custard. I assume you take nothing on it seriously.

It's all part of the modern trend for competitive public performances of compassion. It doesn't matter how narcissistic and selfish you are, as long as you shout loudly about your superior empathy and solidarity with 'the vulnerable' you can be as much of a shit as you like in private.

I blame Princess fucking Diana.

It's funny, Stece Coogan can say appalling things as "Alan Partridge" and people seem to understand the joke, even if he is being interviewed in character and even though I'm sure he shares some things in common with his comic creation.

Jeremy Clarkson says similar things in the character of "TV's Clarkson", a comic creation with which he no doubt shares some views, and a sizeable section of the public don't seem to be able to recognise the similarity. Subtlety isn't his strong point, I didn't think it was that tricky to work out that he is playing a role in his tv work and newspaper columns?

running on custard

Love it.

YANBU. I haven't read the other threads on this subject so I don't mind joining this one.

I think people love getting their knickers in a twist and Clarkson loves baiting them.

Maybe Union leaders are easily offended by piss taking because they already have a huge chip on their shoulder. They should all take a step back and have a calming .

Deck - I had a look on google images for the Unison head office, and I actually quite like the one on Euston road! This one, right? Wikipedia also comes up with their head office in Mabledon Place which does make me think of Stalin's Seven Sisters, in Moscow

I love this thread.

Professionally offended
Taking the piss is a police matter
I blame Princess Fucking Diana.

Priceless.

Deck, I agree. It happens in RL too.

Oh - and running on custard - I knew there was another one.