to be unsurprised that Jeremy Clarkson used the N word?

[lessonsintightropes]

Abject apology here.

Surely the Beeb will have to sack him now?

Ah well, tinkly. That is really nice for you and your lucky friends.

But my 50+ product of his upbringing does indeed have racist, misogynist, disabilist thoughts. But as he is not wholly defined by his upbringing he does correct himself and is often embarrassed by his initial reaction to some things. He isn't a twat, he is a human being.

So, as I have one a bit like him at home, I can see how Clarkson got himself into such a muddle.

We learnt it as 'tiger'

The maddening thing is that when he is off cars he can be very good. Anyone remember his programme about the raid on St Nazaire? It was first class and very moving television.

Top Gear is the BBC's top selling show around the world. If JC is released from his contract,he could produce it himself,and cut out the middleman. Could he be leaking these stories?

I was raised in apartheid-era South Africa and I somehow manage not to refer to black people as "kaffirs." Ever. Regardless of who I'm talking to or how much of a laugh it'd get.

Shoopshoop that did make me giggle. It'd be great if that happened - Top Gear fans get to keep watching the show and I don't have to have license fee money pay for it.

lollerskates, he wasn't talking to or about anyone, he was singing a nursery rhyme.

Baa baa that sheep, anyone?

I am 39, I learned the rhyme with the n word and had a moment of horror when my kids were younger and started 'eeny, meeny, miny, mo....' - then breathed again when they 'caught a tigger by the toe'.

Many people of a certain age and older will have that word naturally form in their head when hearing that rhyme unless they've relearned it with their own kids in a new, inoffensive way (imo).

It is a total non story - had it just happened then it would be a maybe story on a slow news day. I certainly don't think outrage is necessary tbh.

I also did not know that slope was an offensive term until this thread.

If nobody knows a word is offensive, can it still be deemed offensive?

I'm amazed at the amount of people who didn't know 'slope' was offensive.

'Squaw' is deemed offensive by many Native Americans as some people believe it translates as 'vagina'.

i am 42 we never used the n word we knew it was a bad word

we sung caught a fish by it's toe

having seen the clip I think he was about to say it and thought twice

I am enjoying watching JC grovel :)

I am glad words that offend or are derogatory are no longer acceptable why should they be just because our parents or grandparents always used them

The BBC called the slope comment "light hearted word play." The only context in which it makes sense as "word play" is in the context of "slope" as a derogatory term for "Asian person." He is not going to get sacked, no matter what he says or does.

I had no idea "slope" was a term for people of asian descent, and therefore neither did I know it was derogatory. Most people I know hadn't heard of it either. But then, I haven't heard it on tv, and I don't hang around with people who use racial insults so I'm not sure where I would have heard it.

Yes, he is a cash cow for the BBC, they won't bin him anytime soon.

squoosh I'm amazed at the number of people who DID know 'slope' was offensive.

Obviously I was not one of them.

Clarkson did nothing, even if he did he doesn't get loads of licence payers cash, Top Gear makes the BBC a fortune. Non story.

someone can take offence to a term

it is not up to the person using the word who should and should not find it offensive even if it was not meant

you offend someone you apologise and learn from it

'Most people I know hadn't heard of it either. But then, I haven't heard it on tv, and I don't hang around with people who use racial insults so I'm not sure where I would have heard it.'

Errrr, I don't hang around with people who use racial insults either thanks.

www.native-languages.org/iaq5.htm

This link and a fair few others doesnt seem to find it insulting

'it is not up to the person using the word who should and should not find it offensive even if it was not meant'

Exactly. It's like when some people insist that golliwog toys aren't offensive because they're not offended by them.

adsy I did say 'many' people find it offensive because 'some' people believe it means vagina. Go ahead and use it if you're so determined.

you will also find links where many do find the word squaw offensive

so if some people do what is the need to use it

I think that if 'slope' is a racial term, and it was used deliberately, that's unacceptable.

So, cannot understand why BBC are admitting it was deliberate word play, and deeming that acceptable. I didn't know this usage, so I would have been fine with the BBC saying, 'he was unaware, and simply describing the bridge itself'.

Plus point to the BBC for telling the truth, even when it makes them look worse?

I dont need t use the word squaw very 0ften!

Yeah massive plus point. "Yep, it was racism but it was just light hearted racism." Cool. Good.