Clarkson "I'd shoot strikers"

[nigelblake]

I am frankly amazed that anyone takes Jeremy Clarksons blunt, black and deliberately barbed comments (on the 'One show' last night) as anything other than the tongue in cheek self-publicity that they are uttered for!

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/jeremy_clarkson_calls_for_strikers_to_be_shot

[DerekF]

He is indeed the master of the inappropriate and offensive comment. Even Steve Coogan has had a go at him.

To quote one of the comments associated with an article that Coogan wrote.

Clarkson is a deeply unpleasant, self-important, egotistical windbag

I think that fairly sums it up.

[Dragon Rapide]

Here we go again! The media and Steve Coogan just play into Clarkson's hands - game set and match. He'll revel in the publicity. If you don't like him - ignore him. Personally I relish his ability to say the unsayable from time to time and get away with it - it blows the cobwebs away now and then!!

[canard67]

Shooting them is a bit too far.It would be better to reduce the pay of the strikers by 10% and pay a bonus to those that worked.

[Danny]

[DerekF]

Shooting them is a bit too far.It would be better to reduce the pay of the strikers by 10% and pay a bonus to those that worked.

Well that's going to happen anyway as the strikers don't get paid for the days they don't work.

[Dragon Rapide]

....but not the bit about the bonus!!

[Abingdonman]

I watched the show,and had a chuckle at what he said,thats what you were supposed to do,take it as a joke,not take the mans words literally!
I guessed he might be pulled up on what he said about people jumping in front of a train mind ...
Jeremy is obviously not a strike supporter,but who cares? I've seen and heard a few celebs etc saying how selfish the strikers are,but then they are not the ones effected......
Jeremy should have balanced the jokes out and slagged of both sides....so no one should complain!

[DanO1978]

Clarkson says these things for effect, knowing full well it will keep him in the news (he has an Xmas DVD to shift) and wind-up the lefties he despises. He doesn't actually MEAN it, but the hard-of-thinking never fail to take offence.

[Sea King]

The full comment is actually quite disturbing: 'I'd have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.'

Absolutely no need.

[DanO1978]

He also in the past accused lorry drivers of murdering prostitutes. He thinks of the most offensive thing to say, and says it - that's what he does. Crude, but done purely for effect. I stopped taking him seriously about 15 years ago...

[Dragon Rapide]

I suppose it would be disturbing if the remark was actually made and taken seriously, but since it clealry wasn't and shouldn't be, then it's all a storm in a teacup, but one which is no doubt doing wonders for the sales of his new book.

[MartinNeedham]

The full comment is actually quite disturbing: 'I'd have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.'

Absolutely no need.

Exactly, it's time the Beeb got rid of him and his ignorant, unfunny, narrow-minded, uber-tory crap; Top Gear's been steadily descending into an hour of casual racism and cars for the past four or five series.

[King Cobra]

As usual people fail to realise that Clarkson's television persona is designed to illicit outrage etc. If people didn't react, he wouldn't do it.

[Dragon Rapide]

Whilst viewing figures remain around the 5/6 million and the franchise is sold around the world I would think that is extremely unlikely. As someone said in another unconnected post, no one has to watch.

[King Cobra]

Whilst viewing figures remain around the 5/6 million and the franchise is sold around the world I would think that is extremely unlikely. As someone said in another unconnected post, no one has to watch.

Ah, but there are those who have a need to be offended so they can vent their spleens on the internet, in the parers etc. in order to show just how outraged and thus morally superior they are. For such people if Clarkson didn't exist, they would have to invent him (or someone very similar).

[Thumper]

I do like Clarkson, I find him (at times) very funny but I think his humour and comments are more suitable for a private audience in a theatre/pub with him being a stand up comedian. There are a huge amount of stand up comedians who are significantly more offensive than Clarkson and they're rarely in the news for what they have said because people expect it and more importantly want it because they are paying to go and see their stand up shows.

Clarkson is a bad example to put on television in these days, you can't trust him to keep his mouth shut/clean when appearing on shows like The One Show or Top Gear because let's face it, if Eamon Holmes can get into such trouble for calling Jonathan Wilkes a retard in what was actually a heat of the moment comment that he was embarrassed about then you need to realise that someone like Clarkson is never going to change because it is all on purpose and you know it's going to continue for a very long time because he's a danger and that in turn draws in the viewers.

[chrisward123]

Jeremy Clarkson says how he feels and I respect him for that, he is unhappy with the strikes and made a joke of it, why do we as a nation take everything so seriously.
I do not think he has done no harm to be honest.

Christian

[Sea King]

As usual people fail to realise that Clarkson's television persona is designed to illicit outrage etc. If people didn't react, he wouldn't do it.

I realise this. But even so, surely there's a line between what is acceptable and what isn't?

[DanO1978]

These days a certain type of person is on the lookout for things to take offence at on behalf of people, and papers such as the Mail TELL you what to take offence at.

I'm sure Clarkson will be back with another outrageous comment next time he needs to plug something...

[Dragon Rapide]

As usual people fail to realise that Clarkson's television persona is designed to illicit outrage etc. If people didn't react, he wouldn't do it.

I realise this. But even so, surely there's a line between what is acceptable and what isn't?

But it is difficult to draw, isn't it, because the context of the remark and the individual making it are crucial. To illustrate my point with an extreme example, if the remark had been made by Nick Griffin both the intention and the reaction would have been entirely different.

[Sea King]

I'm sure Clarkson will be back with another outrageous comment next time he needs to plug something...

Boring and predictable.

[Dragon Rapide]

But, nevertheless true..............

[Sea King]

But, nevertheless true..............

What's true about something so offensive?

[Dragon Rapide]

My comment referred to this:

"I'm sure Clarkson will be back with another outrageous comment next time he needs to plug something..."