Jermey Clarkson apologises for calling Gordon Brown a 'one eyed Scottish idiot'

[KingRolo]

Here

My God, what an arrogant and offensive tosser! There is no need at all in my opinion to refer to a person's nationality and / or disability in relation to their ability to do a job well.

i think to call it descriptive - is a bit disingenuous - JC was cutting it close to the mark - its what he does.

Jeremy Clarkson is an uber "dicksmack" (love that term).

I just find it really depressing that anyone is interested in what he thinks about politics and the state of the nation. He is a tosser twat IMO. [see how I deliberately don't allude to his personal style, nationality or ability/inability to see, none of which have any bearing on his tosserability]

no, you're wrong there DG

If he was English, JC wouldn't have said 'one-eyed English idiot'

He was not merely describing him, he was insulting him

(am not offended btw, JC is too much of a self parody to be offensive, I wouldn't waste my ire on him)

But by some peoples' reasoning, saying he's a Scottish idiot is just a statement of fact. So by the same token, if he were of Pakistani origin and JC said 'one-eyed Pakistani idiot', would they blow it off as funny or just describing as easily, IYSWIM?

Well, you thought wrong, DG, because I don't see what a person's nationality has to do with their being an idiot and IMO it's just having a dig to throw it in there, no matter what their origin is.

It's just not necessary and it's twattish.

Just like JC

Answer me the point though re Thatcher. Go on. Anyone of you tell me you would have been in uproar. You can't. Because I have never seen more vitriol directed at that woman than here on MN. Even when her death was being discussed.

Completely agree with pooka there about how depressing it is that anyone is interested in anything he has to say.

DG you're barking up the wrong tree here

It's a toss up who I hate more between Thatcher and Brown, but I don't like people using nationality or disability to throw cheap shots

it's pathetic

Well, I wasn't around when Thatcher was here so couldn't care less, tbh.

And actually, as much as I loathed MT, if someone had referred to a disibility in a pejorative way (as Clarkson has re: GB's eye) then I would have been pretty disgusted.

Call GB an idiot if that's how you feel about him. But the "one eyed scottish" bit is pretty crass and stooopid.

Furthermore, if he were just being accurate, GB's got both his eyes, he just can't see out of one.

DG, I honestly don't think this is about politics - it's about JC being an arse

I fucking hate New Labour, if that helps.

Well, he wouldn't have referred to her as English because he is English hence it would not have been an insult for him to do so. Don't know of any disabilities she has.

Exactly Tinker.

I agree the disability reference was below the belt - I did say so earlier on though I can't help but feel wonder that I had no idea he had this disability - but the Scottish comment I think was merely descriptive. I don't think there was an implied slight there. I think people are too quick to find slights in what people say.

There has long been a rivalry between the Scots and the English. It isn't one sided.

"but the Scottish part is totally accurate and not in the least offensive, simply descriptive."

yes, in the same way 'bloody woman driver' is not sexist at all, just descriptive.

Sorry, not with you there at all.

Why would he say "Scottish idiot" just to be descriptive?

Pretty obvious that it was a dig imo.

Ah but then you see I wouldn't take offence at "bloody woman driver" either. In fact, I say it alot myself.

I would find someone using ' English' as an insult offensive yes, even in Thatcher's case

Milk snatching community wrecking etc would be okay though

Lots of young boys love Top Gear and think JC is fantastic.

But why is it wrong for him to have a dig? I don't even understand your original premise? I think we all know JC does not vote Labour. So he has a dig at the Labour PM? And?

Of course, you might find it offensive. Many would agree with you. Many wouldn't.

In that case DG I give up

Sorry referring to your comment about 'woman driver'

Because the dig was based on the guy's disability and nationality, two things he can't do anything about and which are completely irrelevant to his being an eejit.

Do you think it's okay to have digs at people based on their nationality or disability?

Seriously?

I think he's quite right, and I like JC. In fact I'd like to invite him round for dinner, I think he's be an entertaining guest. I did think the one-eyed reference was perhaps a bit mean. But otherwise, I think GB is a tosser too.