[OT] Clarkson on Americans - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Phantomias33 · 21st September 2006, 01:29

http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/15/1.html

I don't take him too seriously and admit that he's entertaining. Even though I don't agree with a lot of his opinions, it's nice to see someone say something without wondering about being too politically correct. That said, I do get sick of him mocking Americans.

Jessem · 21st September 2006, 03:08

Some of his observations have some truth in them. We really don't teach or enforce driving rules, etiquette or lane policies(keep right except to pass, for example). Sort of a wild west here! Just like we have to adjust to driving in mainland europe or the UK(they are different from each other!), you gotta adjust to the US. Like I say when I tell people about what I find interesting about europe(or anywhere that matter), " different, not better or worse, just different, and they make it work for them!"

BUT, when you start equating the purchase of a vehicle to the policitics of the country with the greatest percentage of content in it, I have a big problem. I don't buy cars based on whether I agree with the politics of Japan, the US,(or Canada./Mexico for that matter), or Germany. I buy it because I like what the car does and how it makes me feel. His rationalization on why a car with sufficient UK content is good for him is, at most, quaint. BTW, is the English foreign policy much different than that of the US?

Gadgets · 21st September 2006, 03:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantomias33

http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/15/1.html

I don't take him too seriously and admit that he's entertaining. Even though I don't agree with a lot of his opinions, it's nice to see someone say something without wondering about being too politically correct. That said, I do get sick of him mocking Americans.

I'm sorry, but he doesn't mock americans, he just doesn't like american cars, and so do I.

With all the respect, I think they are junk. alot of heritage and great on a straight line, but still junk.

RPM Photography · 21st September 2006, 04:04

I have to say that American drivers, for the most part. Completely SUCK. I will spare you from a two hour long rant, but I have to avoid several accidents on a daily basis. They just plain don't know how to drive.

There are some seriously impacient people as well. I stalled at a light on a busy one lane road just the other day during rush hour. I probably delayed the people 5 or so seconds, couldn't have been more than 10. People are already honking like its the end of the world. Did nothing but pissed me off so I ended up practically dumping the clutch from 5K, oh well, soon enough they were just a spec in the rear view and I didn't have to worry about them anymore.

andrewsherman · 21st September 2006, 04:15

That article is simply an unorganized collection of inane generalizations. As will most generalizations, there is a certain varying degree of validity in them. That alone, however does not make them worthy of publishing.

EM5PWR · 21st September 2006, 05:19

Just someones opinion , is my 2 cents on the matter..

andrewsherman · 21st September 2006, 05:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by fast4door

Just someones opinion , is my 2 cents on the matter..

True, but other word for an opinon based on generalizations as opposed to actual experience is usually called a prejudice. If he made that statement that all African Americans were bad or aggressive drivers, we probably wouldn't just chalk it up to an "opinion".

I am surprised that the same members that got bothered by the use of the phrase "Euro Trash" a few weeks back were not at all bothered by Clarkson's similarly unfavorable comments on Americans.

All that being said, I don't get bothered by these things. I frankly think our society is way to sensitive. We have taken "politically correct" to such an extreme that it makes you wonder sometimes. Freedom means that he is entitled to his opinion and I am entitled to think he is an idiot spewing jibberish. Neither one of us should take offense by the other's position.

EM5PWR · 21st September 2006, 05:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewsherman

True, but other word for an opinon based on generalizations as opposed to actual experience is usually called a prejudice. If he made that statement that all African Americans were bad or aggressive drivers, we probably wouldn't just chalk it up to an "opinion".

I am surprised that the same members that got bothered by the use of the phrase "Euro Trash" a few weeks back were not at all bothered by Clarkson's similarly unfavorable comments on Americans.

All that being said, I don't get bothered by these things. I frankly think our society is way to sensitive. We have taken "politically correct" to such an extreme that it makes you wonder sometimes. Freedom means that he is entitled to his opinion and I am entitled to think he is an idiot spewing jibberish. Neither one of us should take offense by the other's position.

Agreed ..

905RMP32V1x · 21st September 2006, 15:25

OOOh he made fun of us. You think he's worried that Americans will react violently?....I think not! Enough said. Besides you Brits talk funny anyway.

Frits · 21st September 2006, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewsherman

All that being said, I don't get bothered by these things. I frankly think our society is way to sensitive. We have taken "politically correct" to such an extreme that it makes you wonder sometimes.

Political correct behaviour... I don't know whose idea it was, but he should be hung by the b*lls! Ah, what the heck, I guess that won't be possible, 'cause it was probably a woman...

Tim_M · 21st September 2006, 16:31

We all make sweeping generalisations - I did yesterday, though they all tend to have some grain of truth in them you can't judge an entire nation my the opinions of a minority or even a majority.

A good friend of mine is Canadian by birth but spent most of his formative years living near Detroit. He has a property in Florida now having spent ten years in the UK (his wife is Welsh) and is a College professor and his wife works in animation for Disney.

He lives in a suburban middle class area (that's UK definition of middle class - I'm not sure whether it means the same in the US) where he's surrounded by high wage earners and it never ceases to amaze him how many of his neighbours have never left the State or for some the County!

Does than mean that all Americans are insular? Looking at your current President you'd think so, but all the Americans I've met with a few exceptions I've done so because they were working or travelling over here so they can't all be insular by definition.

I've seen an interview with Clarkson where he claimed to have stopped exporting Top Gear to the States because he was fed up with having to re-word the scripts because they were too English, and the American networks demanded that he speak "American". Whether either of those statements are true I don't know.

There's a point in here somewhere, but I seem to have lost my train of thought!

Tim