Thread: Clarkson offends - again

I don't see making a few light hearted jokes as bullying just taking the **** really. it all depends on the situation and the environment, you don't go out and make jokes about anyone if it's not the right situation, a bit of common sense needs to be used.


Trav

Originally Posted by Pickles2

Jeez when I came out from the UK all those years ago, if I had a dollar for every time I was called a Pommy Bastard, I'd be a millionaire!

I guess your experience of name calling was a little different to mine. When people called you a Pommy Bastard did it end with just the odd comment or did it go further?

I used to be called names at school on the basis that I'm brown. It started as a 'joke' and turned into a hell of a lot more. When I walked into the gym I'd get basketballs thrown at me. When I walked outside I'd get rocks thrown at me. I couldn't ever get away from it so I went to the year co-ordinater for help and was told to toughen up.

It affected me quite badly to the point that I wouldn't let my parents open the windows in our house in case anyone saw me. I was ashamed of who I was and felt like I was somehow wrong and that I was lesser than everyone else. I talked to my parents about it and my Dad said to laugh with them. I tried that but it just made it worse. Then my Mum started carrying on that I was ashamed of them which wasn't true - I was really ashamed of myself.

So with no support from anyone I did the only thing I could think of. I deliberately failed all the classes that had the ringleaders and their friends so that I could go to school and have a tolerable existence.

It took until I went to uni to realise that I was not the one who was 'wrong' and that the problem lied with the people who were judging me on the basis of my colour and treating me accordingly.

Nowadays I don't have any issues in my regular working life. It's only when we go on holidays into areas where there are a lot of older expat Brits that I get treated like crap. And yes it does bother me when it happens even though I know the people treating me this way are uneducated and the ones with the problem.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

And then of course there were the "Wogs", "Slant Eyes", "Iteies", etc etc etc,...never worried any of us?......so why are things different today?

I wish this was the case but it's not. ^^^

I think that people think name calling is okay coz they don't realise the extent that it does affect people.

The good news here is that mainstream Australia rejects these old attitudes and they are now becoming the minority rather than the norm. I'm really glad that society had changed enough that my kids didn't have to put up with this crap when they went through school.

What's needed here is education so people realise that it's not always a harmless name they're calling someone or a harmless joke they're making.

Just something to think about.

Originally Posted by dungarover

I don't see making a few light hearted jokes as bullying just taking the **** really. it all depends on the situation and the environment, you don't go out and make jokes about anyone if it's not the right situation, a bit of common sense needs to be used.


Trav

Originally Posted by jimr1

I feel sorry for Clarkson , after reading many of these posts , I can see so many people here that just don't have a sense of humour . If the pc brigade get there way , then there will be no more Kiwi jokes , no more Irish jokes , or Jewish , or Scottish jokes . Having the ability to laugh at our selves , and at one another to me is one of life's great pleasures . I don't think Clarkson goes out of his way to offend , It's more that some people are easily offended , So no more Scottish ,Irish , English and Ausie jokes !!..

Context is everything. Sometimes something can be said without any intent. Other times the same thing can be said with the intent to insult. My parents have said a lot of things over the years masking it as a joke about my wife. Then about 5 years ago they saw the change in the way my daughter was treated by someone when they realised her skin colour wasn't a dark tan and suddenly my wife was one of them. It only took 15 years for them to get over there racism.

Before anyone says anything about it being a daughter-in-law thing I can categorically state they could be considered by many people to be racist but we've educated them over the years and their attitudes are changing.

Its unfortunate that we now live in a world where slang words that can be said jokingly are deemed offensive.

Again in context they are fine and saying such words does not make you a racist.

Calling a black man a wog is racist

Calling a black man a niger is racist

Calling a Chinese person a chink is racist

Calling a Pakistani a Paki is racist.

How far do you do.

Is calling a American A Yank racist

A French person a Frog?

A English man a Pom?

Is it bad to say French Bastard, but fine to say Pommy Bastard?

Is there even a racist word for a Australian?

Calling a white man a White Bastard?

I wonder how Blazing saddles would go down these days with the do gooders...

I suppose that times are changing , many years ago a young British comedian named Lenny Henry , used to do Cassius Clay impersonations , along with other impersonations of other black people , I don't recall anyone calling him a Racist . actual he had a white wife . Dawn French ! He was and still is very popular . What about small people , I'm only 5'3" I've been called a short arse or worse all my life , It really doesn't bother me . Back to Top Gear , don't they call Richard Hammond " Hamster " So where does It end , I think It's the way you deal with It !!..

Very well said Jim, its not all about your colure. But some people can't deal with it can they.

I forgot about Lenny he was very funny in his younger days.

Another Top Gear Incident

BBC News - Top Gear cleared over Pike's Peak pun

I am so glad the BBC Upheld this one. Pickey is fine, they even call themselves that. Gypo would have been worse, saying that they would do anything to get some free coin.

Originally Posted by Pocket Rocket

I guess your experience of name calling was a little different to mine. When people called you a Pommy Bastard did it end with just the odd comment or did it go further?

I used to be called names at school on the basis that I'm brown. It started as a 'joke' and turned into a hell of a lot more. When I walked into the gym I'd get basketballs thrown at me. When I walked outside I'd get rocks thrown at me. I couldn't ever get away from it so I went to the year co-ordinater for help and was told to toughen up.

It affected me quite badly to the point that I wouldn't let my parents open the windows in our house in case anyone saw me. I was ashamed of who I was and felt like I was somehow wrong and that I was lesser than everyone else. I talked to my parents about it and my Dad said to laugh with them. I tried that but it just made it worse. Then my Mum started carrying on that I was ashamed of them which wasn't true - I was really ashamed of myself.

So with no support from anyone I did the only thing I could think of. I deliberately failed all the classes that had the ringleaders and their friends so that I could go to school and have a tolerable existence.

It took until I went to uni to realise that I was not the one who was 'wrong' and that the problem lied with the people who were judging me on the basis of my colour and treating me accordingly.

Nowadays I don't have any issues in my regular working life. It's only when we go on holidays into areas where there are a lot of older expat Brits that I get treated like crap. And yes it does bother me when it happens even though I know the people treating me this way are uneducated and the ones with the problem.



I wish this was the case but it's not. ^^^

I think that people think name calling is okay coz they don't realise the extent that it does affect people.

The good news here is that mainstream Australia rejects these old attitudes and they are now becoming the minority rather than the norm. I'm really glad that society had changed enough that my kids didn't have to put up with this crap when they went through school.

What's needed here is education so people realise that it's not always a harmless name they're calling someone or a harmless joke they're making.

Just something to think about.

Of course it went further,...sometimes.
Boys will be boys, & although I couldn't fight my way out of a paper bag there were fights, some I lost, some I won. But after EVERY fight, we ended up mates,.....for a long time. The secret was, standing up for myself. So, that's what I did, & I was very soon accepted. I'm still friends with some of those guys...and they still call me a "Pommy Bastard"!
Pickles.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

Of course it went further,...sometimes.
Boys will be boys, & although I couldn't fight my way out of a paper bag there were fights, some I lost, some I won. But after EVERY fight, we ended up mates,.....for a long time. The secret was, standing up for myself. So, that's what I did, & I was very soon accepted. I'm still friends with some of those guys...and they still call me a "Pommy Bastard"!
Pickles.

Back in the late 50's, early 60's, you learned to fight at an early age. If Dad heard you hadn't stuck up for yourself, you got the strap. If you didn't put your hands up against " bullies ", you copped a flogging, and no respect. If you had a go, you gained respect. My Dads favourite saying was " It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog". Wish I had never heard of that saying, it got me a lot of bruises, but also a lot of good mates, Bob