Comments on: Driving a pick-up truck with "Man Love Rules OK" across Alabama

Driving a pick-up truck with "Man Love Rules OK" across Alabama

badlydubbedboy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 05:48:51 -0800

The presenters behind UK motoring/male-entertainment show Top Gear did. See what happens when they pulled into a "gas" station. More information here. Do you think the footage was manipulated?

By: rhymer

rhymer — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 05:56:21 -0800

Crikey. Aren't they just a bonkers, crazee, madcap bunch of guys!! What will they think of next!!!!!!!!!

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:01:07 -0800

A vote for Romney is a vote for fun.

By: Mocata

Mocata — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:02:38 -0800

Jeremy Clarkson really is Alan Partridge.

By: veggieboy

veggieboy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:03:12 -0800

LOLAMURICANS!

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:03:25 -0800

That was dumb and contrived. They went looking for trouble and found it. This was the equivalent of walking into a biker bar and sayin 'you don't look so tough,' and then whining when you get stomped. Quite frankly I was rooting for the rednecks.

By: pax digita

pax digita — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:06:14 -0800

Would he drive it across Oklahoma?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:06:33 -0800

never mind the rednecks, by the end of that I wanted to kick the shit out that tea-sucking snotnose. Serioulsy, they drive into a town with the express intent of making fun of people (and people could tell) and you don't expect a reaction?

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:09:21 -0800

Cowards. If you're going to see what happens when you behave provocatively, don't turn tail and run when your provocations are responded to. Obviously, they had no plan, and, as a result, no point.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:13:35 -0800

jonmc: Could I also quote you as saying that girl was asking for it?

By: dash_slot-

dash_slot- — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:13:39 -0800

jonmc, where's that famous, edgy sense of humour of yours? isn't it up to us to say - 'sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me?' What's wrong with free speech, again?

By: basicchannel

basicchannel — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:14:15 -0800

Funny, Borat didn't get this reaction from The Blue.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:15:05 -0800

Lighten up, people, that was fantastic TV.

By: nofundy

nofundy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:15:06 -0800

Serioulsy, "Rednecks" need made fun of, even if they're in NYC. Bigotry is not acceptable, anywhere, anytime, from anyone.

By: Phanx

Phanx — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:15:08 -0800

That's right. Drive into our town trying to show us up as dumb and intolerant, and we'll prove you wrong by whupping your foregin faggot asses.

By: dash_slot-

dash_slot- — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:15:25 -0800

by the end of that I wanted to kick the shit out that tea-sucking snotnose metaphorically, of course. Or do you really respond to satire, comment and japery with violence?

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:15:26 -0800

The people in my small Southern town would NEVER react like that. They can't read.

By: the cuban

the cuban — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:16:51 -0800

Lighten up, people, that was fantastic TV. Agreed. I watched the whole show last night and thought it was excellent. Top Gear is consistently the most entertaining thing on TV.

By: the quidnunc kid

the quidnunc kid — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:17:57 -0800

I don't get this. "Men Love Rules" - ? Of course they do. That's why we have a legislature, one of the three branches of government enshrined in our glorious Constitution.

By: flarbuse

flarbuse — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:20:06 -0800

That is just dumb. If they had put a couple of bumper stickers on their cars and received a reaction, then that might be an interesting way to show ignorance and intolerance in the US. But having a series of cars paint on gigantic signs on their car in a way that no one ever would accomplishes nothing. What would happen if five cars with giant handpainted "Abortion Is Murder", "Stop Killing Babies," "America: Love It or Leave It", and "Homosexuality is a Sin" signs rolled through Northampton, Massachusetts? Intolerance and prejudice are to be measured by how people respond to things that are commonly, naturally, or actually occurring in their presence -- not by contrived exhibits designed to create or increase intolerance and prejudice.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:20:57 -0800

Serioulsy, "Rednecks" need made fun of, even if they're in NYC. Bigotry is not acceptable, anywhere, anytime, from anyone. This wasn't bigotry. This was people trolling with an automobile, and the whole point of it was so that yuppies can lay back and feel superior. Seems to have worked. Or do you really respond to satire, comment and japery with violence? I occasionally responded to being baited and insulted with violence. What happened here was they decided "let's go into to some small town and insult the crap out of everyone," they got all whiny when people got pissed. If you want to pretend this was anything more than that, be my guest.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:22:28 -0800

I'd like to see them drive the equivalent cars (i.e. whatever English car is considered "manly" and one with "Sinn Fein for Prime Minister") across rural England and see what happens.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:23:34 -0800

And by "insult the crap out of everyone", you mean "make positive statements about homosexuals and Democrats".

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:24:43 -0800

flarbuse: that might be an interesting way to show ignorance and intolerance in the US Oh, come on. This is Top Gear not some strait-laced, serious investigative reporting programme. They weren't setting out on some mission to investigate intolerance and social attitudes. They were setting out to have fun and make an entertaining TV show, and if you think the idea of driving a truck labelled 'Man love rules OK' through Hicksville anything short of hilarious, you're probably not Top Gear's target audience.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:25:16 -0800

jonmc: Could I also quote you as saying that girl was asking for it? Come off it, DU. This wasn't somebody minding their own business getting harassed. This was a bunch of guys holding up signs saying HURFDURF DUMB WHITE TRASH! who act stunned that somebody might get pissed.

By: basicchannel

basicchannel — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:26:10 -0800

Whiny, jonmc? Project much?

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:27:10 -0800

Next up: three vehicles motor through Merry ol' Blighty, bearing the following eye-catching buzzphrases: I LAUGH AT YOUR "QUEEN" FOOTIE'S FAKED - GET OVER YERSELVES SINN FEIN, SUCKERS

By: Osmanthus

Osmanthus — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:27:22 -0800

Artificial drama. "The rednecks arrive" with their dog, but in the next scene when they "turn on the film crew" the rednecks are not even there, their truck is empty. We then see the "garage owner" approaching from a different truck. The rest is pictures of shadows and the ground. Then it rains and they freak out.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:28:07 -0800

Come off it, jonmc. This wasn't some girl in a modest dress with a high collar and gloves getting raped. This was a girl wearing short-shorts and wearing a shirt that says "I enjoy sexual relations" who's acting stunned that somebody might get horny.

By: rsanheim

rsanheim — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:28:47 -0800

What would happen if five cars with giant handpainted "Abortion Is Murder", "Stop Killing Babies," "America: Love It or Leave It", and "Homosexuality is a Sin" signs rolled through Northampton, Massachusetts? I'm guessing you'd get a lot of dirty look and snide remarks, but people wouldn't start throwing rocks at you and come after you.

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:28:58 -0800

I turned it off after they showed the "Nascar sucks" message painted across the bafck of the truck. That's when it became clear that they were just being deliberately insulting, not just provocative. People don't like being insulted, it turns out.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:29:33 -0800

"yuppies"?!! In no way are Top Gear's presenters yuppies. And DU, you could drive a car labelled with absolutely anything through rural England and fear nothing more than raised eyebrows.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:31:31 -0800

People don't like being insulted, it turns out. Yeah, but firstly, civilised people don't respond to labels on trucks with rocks and violence. Second, NASCAR really does suck.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:31:59 -0800

I'd like to see them drive the equivalent cars (i.e. whatever English car is considered "manly" and one with "Sinn Fein for Prime Minister") across rural England and see what happens. Through rural England... I can almost guarantee that absolutely nothing would happen, very little ever does in rural England. This wasn't bigotry. This was people trolling with an automobile, and the whole point of it was so that yuppies can lay back and feel superior. Seems to have worked. Totally agree about the purpose, but of course it was bigotry.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:33:18 -0800

Lighten up, people, that was fantastic TV. Yep, very dramatic and entertaining. That was dumb and contrived. They went looking for trouble and found it. This was the equivalent of walking into a biker bar and saying 'you don't look so tough,' and then whining when you get stomped. Quite frankly I was rooting for the rednecks. Jonmc, it wasn't a bar it was a gas station and a public highway. People should be able to get gas and drive without being harassed for being sexual, political, musical, and autosports preferences. That said, it seemed like the gas station owner was more offended by what they were actually doing (trying to get a rise out of people) then what they had actually wrote. I also think the guy's just panicked, they were in a lot less danger then they lead on and could probably have diffused the situation.

By: dobbs

dobbs — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:33:35 -0800

WTF? Country and Western rules. It's New Country that sucks. Fucking foreigners.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:33:55 -0800

Here is a video which shows the run-up to their encounter where they decorate each others cars, with the express aim of getting one another killed.

By: Benny Andajetz

Benny Andajetz — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:34:14 -0800

Or do you really respond to satire, comment and japery with violence? No, as long as it's twee japery.

By: dobbs

dobbs — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:34:22 -0800

In addition, can gas station attendant not sue their asses? Since when can you film people on private property without a release and broadcast it?

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:34:47 -0800

Umm, no shit they were being deliberately insulting. You don't go all that way and not try and get the best TV you can out of it.

By: geoff.

geoff. — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:35:06 -0800

Rural England perhaps, but I have a feeling there are certain areas of London in which you do not want to be driving a truck that says "Soccer fans enjoy it up the bum" and "I enjoyed banging the queen". Couldn't they just rent a copy of Easy Rider instead?

By: Phanx

Phanx — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:36:08 -0800

"Sinn Fein for Prime Minister" I agree that nothing would happen - beyond someone possibly pointing out that Sinn Fein is not a person. But actually that would be more like driving through America with "Al Qaeda for President" on your car.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:36:56 -0800

Wow, basicchannel, I lay slain by your rapier wit. I'll give you an example from my own life. A few months ago I was at a bar with a few friends. We were in the mood for loud music so we put on some old metal and sat at the bar sipping our beers. As the music played, some artsy looking guy in a blazer made devil horns and a 'retard face' and rolled eyes. He did this repeatedly through several songs. I came very close to bouncing his head off the bar. Because if he dosen't like it that's his own opinion, but what he was doing was insulting me, and if you insult someone you should be prepared to fce the consequences. Or even better, if someone came on to MeFi and said: WEBLOGGERS ARE PUSSIES! HTML SUCKS! You may not want to beat him up yourself but you probably wouldn't feel much sympathy if someone did. Jonmc, it wasn't a bar it was a gas station and a public highway. People should be able to get gas and drive without being harassed for being sexual, political, musical, and autosports preferences. sexual preferences, sure. But if walk up to you and say "[insert something you love] SUCKS!" you might just be tempted to kick my ass. That said, it seemed like the gas station owner was more offended by what they were actually doing (trying to get a rise out of people) then what they had actually wrote. ya think?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:39:02 -0800

By: DU

DU — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:42:20 -0800

So you agree that "she was asking for it" is a valid rape defense? For the record now...

By: sergeant sandwich

sergeant sandwich — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:43:29 -0800

Funny, Borat didn't get this reaction from The Blue. that's because borat was funny and well-done, not hamfisted and overwrought artificiality. "oh my god, all these people are staring at my car!!" well, no kidding, dickhead - you've got shit written all over it in foot-high neon paint. you might as well drive a car around in harlem painted with some big-lipped pickaninnies smackin' down watermelon, and when you get your ass kicked be all "wow the klan was right, these coloreds really ARE animals!" people get angry when ugly stereotypes are applied to them indiscriminately. i kind of empathize with the station owner acutally; i'd be more than a little bit prickly if someone pulled that crap on me. i guess the point is, there's a difference between sitting back and allowing people to expose their own bigotry as in the borat rodeo guy, and heading out to stir up shit in just about the most inflammatory and unfunny way possible.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:44:02 -0800

Don't be an asshole, DU.

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:44:11 -0800

me: People don't like being insulted, it turns out. matthewr: Yeah, but firstly, civilised people don't respond to labels on trucks with rocks and violence. Second, NASCAR really does suck. Agreed on all counts.

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:45:55 -0800

What would happen if five cars with giant handpainted "Abortion Is Murder", "Stop Killing Babies," "America: Love It or Leave It", and "Homosexuality is a Sin" signs rolled through Northampton, Massachusetts? I doubt that you'd get any noticeable reaction at all, not even dirty looks. there would probably be a lot of eye-rolling, and people turning to each other saying, "what a bunch of idiots," but nobody would validate your provocations with an overt challenge. Feel free to try it, though.

By: juiceCake

juiceCake — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:46:14 -0800

What would happen if five cars with giant handpainted "Abortion Is Murder", "Stop Killing Babies," "America: Love It or Leave It", and "Homosexuality is a Sin" signs rolled through Northampton, Massachusetts? Bemusement. Smug of course. I was in Chicago and a guy gets on the train with a "Welcome to America: Now Speak English" shirt on. Reaction? None. some artsy looking guy in a blazer That really helps your argument. What does an artsy guy look like jonny? sexual preferences, sure. But if walk up to you and say "[insert something you love] SUCKS!" you might just be tempted to kick my ass. Not me and I imagine not many others. Why would I care that you think it sucks? That's your opinion. Good for you.

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:48:20 -0800

But if walk up to you and say "[insert something you love] SUCKS!" you might just be tempted to kick my ass. Or if I liked inserting the something, I might really appreciate your kind gesture.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:49:53 -0800

sexual preferences, sure. But if walk up to you and say "[insert something you love] SUCKS!" you might just be tempted to kick my ass. Me personally? I doubt it. At the very most I might politely ask you to stop. Do you think that if I got offended easily I'd be posting on metafilter?

By: knave

knave — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:50:00 -0800

jonmc, I'm really starting to get sick of you trying to dominate and steer the conversation. I now understand why you got a timeout on mecha. You really need to step away from the keyboard once in a while.

By: knave

knave — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:50:16 -0800

(And I don't just mean in this thread.)

By: rsanheim

rsanheim — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:50:24 -0800

metafilter: WEBLOGGERS ARE PUSSIES! HTML SUCKS!

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:51:02 -0800

That really helps your argument. What does an artsy guy look like jonny? Gelled short hair, tennis sweater under a frayed corduroy cardigan. But that's besides the pint, what he was doing with the gestures and faces was saying "Hurfdurf, metal fans are retarded." So, yeah I was a little insulted and the urge to smack him was pretty strong. I was in Chicago and a guy gets on the train with a "Welcome to America: Now Speak English" shirt on. The Korean woman at my deli wears the same shirt. It's a weird world.

By: mooders

mooders — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:51:43 -0800

Usually I lay off these sorts of posts as they achieve little, but jonmc I really have to take issue with you about your use of violence. If you are so limited in your intellect that you cannot rise above harmless, albeit insulting, mockery, then you have an anger management problem and you need serious, professional help. If you see personal violence as a legitimate response to all but the most extreme, personal danger and self-defence scenarios then I say again, you have an anger management problem and you need serious, professional help. Seriously and sincerely - good luck with resolving your internal issues.

By: peacay

peacay — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:52:34 -0800

I found it quite lame in the amusement dept. It reminded me of that Bruce Willis thing where he gets dumped in Harlem with a "nigger" sign of some sort.....kind of. If you read that 2nd link, the presenters were more about getting each other into trouble than they were specifically about raising the finger at the south. It could/would have been more interesting for them to explain it to people and get away with it. Ultimately lame. And I like TopGear. [I disagree with knave. jonmc is expressing an opinion. I don't feel he's trying to dominate - and I've stuck it to him before.]

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:53:27 -0800

knave: there's probably no way to answer you without digging my hole deeper, but here goes. What I say is being misrepresented, so I'm clarifying. No matter what I do or say, somebody's going to have aproblem with it, so I'm just going to say what I actually think.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:55:41 -0800

If you see personal violence as a legitimate response to all but the most extreme, personal danger and self-defence scenarios then I say again, you have an anger management problem and you need serious, professional help. hey, armchair freud, I didn't say I actually did slug the guy. I said I was sorely tempted to, and if I did he wouldn't have had any right being shocked.

By: hermitosis

hermitosis — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:56:18 -0800

This was a girl wearing short-shorts and wearing a shirt that says "I enjoy sexual relations" who's acting stunned that somebody might get horny. She's still allowed to say no. Not that this situation is comparable. Or good television. Or even offensive.

By: logicpunk

logicpunk — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:57:47 -0800

Don't be an asshole, jonmc

By: DU

DU — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:58:01 -0800

I didn't say I actually did slug the guy. So you *do* agree that a violent response wasn't appropriate? No matter what I do or say, somebody's going to have aproblem with it, so I'm just going to say what I actually think. And this doesn't apply to painted signs on cars why?

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:58:14 -0800

I didn't say I actually did slug the guy. I said I was sorely tempted to If you were sorely tempted to "slug" him, and feel he had no right to be shocked if you did, surely that means you saw it as a legitimate response. Which is exactly mooders' point.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:58:24 -0800

I'm having a hard time believing that people are taking this seriously. Went to radio? Bullshit. All in all, especially with the rain, these guys came across as a bunch of pussies.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:59:20 -0800

what he was doing with the gestures and faces was saying "Hurfdurf, metal fans are retarded." Probably, he's allowed to think what he wants. So, yeah I was a little insulted and the urge to smack him was pretty strong. You need a thicker skin. As a long haired hippy I didn't get gestures, but very vocal threats including a few physical. I never had an urge to smack any of them. The fact you had an urge to smack anyone for looking at you in the wrong way makes me think that arty fella was on to something.

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:01:26 -0800

Hmm, I remember having to join in with people intervening to stop a lad getting his head caved in for hanging up an Irish flag on the fence at a match at Swindon Town years back. And that was without any overtly provocative message. Maybe try a squaddie pub in Aldershot in an 'IRA - Undefeated Army' T-shirt? That'd test your mettle. So, what does this tell us? That's right, the US doesn't have a monopoly on dickheads and Jeremy Clarkson is still an embarrassing munt.

By: Phanx

Phanx — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:01:53 -0800

Wait, HTML does suck.

By: NewBornHippy

NewBornHippy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:02:14 -0800

Tolerance at its finest. 60 years ago, your painted pickup truck would have been a non-white person making the wrong turn. And that person would have been in serious risk of losing life -- and at that time, we already had people stepping up to defend the right of the locals not to be "offended." These people are dangerously backward. Black, Gay, French, Democrat, anything: you're not like them and you're being felt like a threat and they will do anything to deal with that. Bad. The point it: anyone in this thread will piss these people off one way or an other (posting on the Blue might be enough.) So: avoid this place.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:02:38 -0800

And this doesn't apply to painted signs on cars why? Because it wasn't an actual protest or social comment. Combined with the NASCAR and Country & Western signs, it was basically "Let's see if we can get a rise out of these hicks," and someone obliged. I didn't say I actually did slug the guy. So you *do* agree that a violent response wasn't appropriate? Just not worth it. It was my regular bar and I'd never seen the asshole there before. But I was about 8 inches taller and 30 pound heavier than the guy, so seeing him shut his smart mouth would've been extremely gratifying.

By: bardic

bardic — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:03:29 -0800

What jonmc said. I'm all for asking for trouble. But don't be a pussy when you do.

By: jsonic

jsonic — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:03:43 -0800

This segment was just a small part of an hour long show. If you were offended by this little enticement of hick Americana, then you should really look for the part where they rolled through New Orleans. Mile after mile of complete destruction, even a year after the hurricane.

By: Benny Andajetz

Benny Andajetz — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:03:54 -0800

dad voice/ Don't make me stop this car. If I have to stop this car, somebody's gonna get smacked. /dad voice

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:03:54 -0800

You crazy guys. You really hate the English don't you. Our tiny little country on the edge of Europe, and you can't bear it. We're smaller than you, weaker than you and you're intimidated by us. Oooooh, I hope the rednecks hit them. Because of stuff and tea, and you know, stuff. And they've got those Snooty accents. And stuff. I'm gonna go down the Irish Bar on 19th and FuckAll Street and put money in the jar and sing Dirty Old Town. Because as geo-politically naive as I am, I'm not standing for their weird bad teethed English ways. "Sinn Fein for Prime Minister" I think the response to this in Britain's backwaters would be "Dude, Sinn Fein's a political organisation with historic links to the I.R.A. Not a frigging person. What are you retarded, or a Septic, or both or what?"

By: bardic

bardic — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:04:07 -0800

And klangklangston too.

By: konolia

konolia — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:05:03 -0800

(Quit bunnyfiring jonmc. He's allowed to have an opinion even if you don't agree with it. And jonmc, ignore those doing the bunnyfiring. That's the only way to handle it that works.)

By: nofundy

nofundy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:06:19 -0800

I seriously have a problem with the fuc*wits still sporting those obnoxious "W" and "Bush/Cheney" stickers on their vehicles! I now know it's probably OK to just get medieval on their asses. 'Cause they're asking for it and should know better by now! Thanks for the great advice! I feel so liberated to know I can justifiably unload on those ignorant asses. there's probably no way to answer you without digging my hole deeper I totally agree. As a friend, please listen. STOP DIGGING.

By: bardic

bardic — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:06:27 -0800

(konolia, your attempted meme called. It just committed suicide. Sorry.)

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:06:38 -0800

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:08:03 -0800

But I was about 8 inches taller and 30 pound heavier than the guy, so seeing him shut his smart mouth would've been extremely gratifying. I don't think the arty guy was on to something anymore, he was absolutely right (not about metal fans, I'm one myself) about you.

By: nofundy

nofundy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:08:19 -0800

Damn uppity Brits! Think they're superior to my good old boys! I ain't having it! Worse that the French!

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:09:04 -0800

I now know it's probably OK to just get medieval on their asses. 'Cause they're asking for it and should know better by now! Well if these same guys drove through the West Village with "Faggots Are Evil!" on their car, I wouldn't feel any sympathy if they got stomped either, FWIW.

By: Elim

Elim — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:09:50 -0800

Ive been to the South, I've been to England, I've been to the Gulf, Of the three, the South US "Rural Louisiana in my case" was the most dangerous and the most ignorant. Not just too poor to learn, that can be forgiven, Hell Libraries existed, so did TV and the radio. No these folks seemed to REVELED in ignorance, wallowed and rubbed it in to their pores. Ate it and Drank it and damn well demanded you NOT point it out. I have never seem a backwards group in my life and the American south. Jonmc, you are so wrong on this is scares me. "HTML SUCKS!" Does Compare to NASCAR SUCKS! and deserves about as much attention. Beating someone for a "Hillary for president" sign must be about what you tolerate, but not ME! would she Suck at the Job, probably, wheel most likely. but that is neither here nor there, Yes NASCAR SUCKS! Yes, Most C&W Sucks too. Man Love Sucks as well in more than one way. I remember when Michael Moore drove A red 18-wheeler emblazoned with the Soviet hammer and sickle. And what did the noble south do? Arson.. Was it provocative? Yes, but it did point out the inability of some to articulate any argument with out resorting to violence. Seems some here either condone or welcome it. That being said, "Um, now I'm confused. Sounds like you're agreeing with me." He's is not agreeing with you, yes, you are confused..

By: flashboy

flashboy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:10:56 -0800

1) Top Gear is not a show about politics. 2) Top Gear is not a sociological travelogue. 3) Top Gear is not serious. 4) Top Gear is not real. 5) Top Gear is actually a sitcom about revelling in the absurdities of male obsession, and it's often hysterically funny.

By: Orange Goblin

Orange Goblin — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:12:44 -0800

Thing is, this wasn't even the best part of the episode. Other highlights included Clarkson rigging up a shower in the car as he drove, unable to take the Florida sun, and pulling up to their campsite with a dead cow mounted to the top of the car for supper. I'll be the first to agree that Clarkson is a wanker, but that doesn't mean I can't piss myself laughing at his antics.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:13:04 -0800

jonmc, that's nonsense! How are "Faggots are Evil!" and "Man love rules OK" equivalent and equally deserving of a violent response? Sure, both are insulting, but one is morally wrong and the other is mildly provocative but hilarious. Responding with violence to labels on cars isn't OK anywhere, but I'm kind of with the Top Gear guys on this one.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:13:09 -0800

"Maybe you'd be a good person to ask who wrote 'Da Moon Rulz Number One' on my car with a key."

By: Benny Andajetz

Benny Andajetz — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:14:11 -0800

Really, generally it is wrong to hit people. But that does not mean that sometimes people don't ask for it.

By: NeonSurge

NeonSurge — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:15:02 -0800

Listen, the guys on Top Gear pull shit like this all the time and believe it or not, there was some context and precedence to last night's show. Not much context apart from "Clarkson doesn't like America" but it really was part of a longer-running story and and only partially intended to poke fun at the dumb ol' rednecks. I think the point (if there was one) was to point out that in most places you can paint whatever you want on your car and people will simply mutter "arsehole" and carry on. In this instance a truckload of thugs turned up and started getting handy with the sticks and rocks. Yes there was provocation but the response was (typically) disproportionate. There were some very poignant scenes and comments when they reached New Orleans at the end of the show. And dammit, I used to LIKE you, jonmc. I've no doubt you don't give a flying fuck what I nor anyone else thinks and more power to ya because of that but you're really not making any new friends recently.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:15:18 -0800

flashboy is totally right, by the way.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:15:42 -0800

I rather liked the "Hillary for President" sign. Them's fighting words down here. Other things they could have painted on their cars, in order to provoke attack: "RC Cola tastes flat!" "Elvis was overrated! Even his Gospel recordings weren't that good!" "Eat more vegetables!" "Black men want to marry your daughters!" "Sure, you won those beauty pageants as a child, but what have you done with the rest of your life?" "We're changing your Main Street to MLK Blvd.!" "Overalls make you look fat!" "Incest is NOT best." "Too much makeup, Lurleen!" "Care about your environment!" "The Bible is a work of fiction. Entertaining, sure. But fiction." "Lee was a weak strategist!" "Not to be condescending, but I think I'm better than you." "Condescending means talking down to people."

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:17:41 -0800

jonmc, that's nonsense! How are "Faggots are Evil!" and "Man love rules OK" equivalent and equally deserving of a violent response? Sure, both are insulting, but one is morally wrong and the other is mildly provocative but hilarious. I was making the comparison to the "Nascar Sucks" comment, which seemed like deliberate hick-baiting to me.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:18:14 -0800

Yeah, but firstly, civilised people don't respond to labels on trucks with rocks and violence. i didn't see anyone throwing rocks ... i didn't see anyone offer violence ... what i did see was a bunch of jerky camera work, one woman yelling, a bunch of people and a dog arriving in a pickup truck, none of which seemed to be throwing any shadow whatsoever then it is announced that "rocks started pelting our vans" and we see camera crews running over much darker ground throwing dark and definite shadows conclusion - i don't think this is real, except for the upset woman ... you certainly would never get a conviction of anyone for anything based on this tape

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:18:37 -0800

"Elvis was overrated" Jesus, CC, you want them to get lynched?

By: slimepuppy

slimepuppy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:18:59 -0800

This post goes extremely well with this recent thread about freedom of speech. Theory vs. practise.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:19:08 -0800

Too far?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:20:43 -0800

yeah, Chefster, for that I'd have to string you up myself ;>

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:21:15 -0800

jonmc's getting to predictable. I say we name a new rsident defender of the comman man(TM).

By: spock

spock — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:21:54 -0800

and if you insult someone you should be prepared to face the consequences. And if you assault someone (whether you feel insulted or not) you should be prepared to face the consequences.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:23:33 -0800

Guy: Rednecks are violent and intolerant. Other Guy: No they are not and if you make fun of them don't be surprised if you get beaten up! I have never before seen an argument that was quite as stereotypically funny as this.

By: jon_kill

jon_kill — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:24:18 -0800

But I was about 8 inches taller and 30 pound heavier than the guy, so seeing him shut his smart mouth would've been extremely gratifying. You are the most tiresome personality on here.

By: taliaferro

taliaferro — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:24:43 -0800

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:25:11 -0800

you certainly would never get a conviction of anyone for anything based on this tape How many times must it be said? Top Gear = light-hearted motoring show. Top Gear ≠ investigative reporting about social attitudes.

By: spock

spock — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:25:20 -0800

I rather liked the "Hillary for President" sign. Them's fighting words down here. Among whites maybe. Among blacks, not so much.

By: i_cola

i_cola — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:25:52 -0800

Did someone say 'Freedom of Speech™'? 'Land of the Free™'? To follow on from what seanyboy is saying, everyone knows that USians are at Liberty™ to take the piss out of anything and everyone but God help anyone who does the same to them. I mean that is true isn't it?

By: Shave

Shave — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:25:59 -0800

jonmc hasn't hit anyone. Having the urge to smack someone is not a fault. In fact it can be a useful emotion in getting your point across. mooders, your serious sincerity sounds more like condescension, IMO. So you agree that "she was asking for it" is a valid rape defense? -DU ? jonmc gets annoyed when people are insulting and you think this likens him to a sexual predator. I don't see the connection. Hoo Haa and bollocks

By: i_cola

i_cola — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:27:05 -0800

[/joking] Forgot to close the tag...

By: LMGM

LMGM — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:27:11 -0800

I hate arriving late to an argument and realizing that I hate the people supporting my opinion. Or to be more precise, it's frustrating to find that a preceding speaker (or speakers) has polarized the situation in a way that makes your opinion appear to support theirs. Meh on the whole thread, alas.

By: altolinguistic

altolinguistic — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:27:31 -0800

I watched the whole thing and found it hilarious (and I agree with flashboy). I got the impression they were genuinely unprepared for the reaction they got to their painted cars. They had done it for a laugh (and to get each other in trouble) but seemed truly shocked by the reaction. And we don't get rain like that in the UK. Ever. And they don't usually drive $1000 cars. Yes, pussies, but understandably so, and the show sends this up along with everything else.

By: Shave

Shave — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:27:46 -0800

This thread is no longer about Top Gear. It is almost as disapointing as [this episode of] Top Gear no longer being about cars.

By: Snyder

Snyder — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:28:42 -0800

Lotta people showing of their bigotry, their self-righteousness (and self-importance,) and belief in their moral superiority of their pop-culture tastes this morning. Especially interesting that there doing it over such a crap video. Anything to justify themselves, I guess. On preview:What on earth is happening in this thread? jonmc isn't saying that violence is an appropriate reaction to any offense, he's saying that it is understandable if you are being willfully and transparently provoked. It's like how they see violence in the video. They see what they want to see, in order to justify their prejudices, and get all pissy when someone points that out.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:28:42 -0800

More inflammatory signs: "Clint Eastwood's best movie was that queer Western where he sang!" "Vince McMahon is a nice guy." "Thanks for the biscuits, but no gravy for me, please." "I have nothing against hippies." "Legalize it!" "Don't legalize it!" "Crawfish are crap. Eat lobsters like a real man!" "I question the President's judgement." "Do we really need ALL of those guns?" "Wal-mart does not have your best interests at heart." "Koy and Vance were better than Bo and Luke." "Mess with Texas." "Charles Darwin makes a lot of sense." "Peace in the Middle East." Sticker of Calvin pissing on a Stuckey's.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:29:04 -0800

Wow, there are ignorant bigots in the south, who'd have thunk? More startling news: *Fat people get teased *Celebrity culture is vapid *Guys like hummers This whole idea is stupid for a couple of reasons. These guys went into a snake-infested area with snake chow smeared all over themselves and then yelped "OMG SNAKEZ!!1!!1" So boo-hoo. It's also worth a mention that they are driving around this place with placards that say, in essence, "If you can read this you are a stupid redneck! LOLREDNECKZ!" I've got news for you people: rednecks know when they're being insulted. and this stunt was a deliberate insult. A lot of people make the mistake that the southern accent somehow subtracts 20 or 30 IQ points right off the bat. Isn't it possible that these guys are pissed that these outsiders have decided to come into their community with no purpose other than to make fun of the residents? I would be pissed, and so would you. This stunt is an obvious insult, obvious even to the "stupid rednecks" who live in that town, and demonstrates the cultural prejudice of the pranksters as clearly as it demonstrates the (already well-documented) bigotry of the intended targets. So, fuck Top Gear.

By: Jody Tresidder

Jody Tresidder — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:29:28 -0800

"Rural England perhaps, but I have a feeling there are certain areas of London in which you do not want to be driving a truck that says "Soccer fans enjoy it up the bum" and "I enjoyed banging the queen"." Geoff, That's the funniest misunderstanding of what might provoke in "certain areas of London" I've ever seen. I think it's the bizarre insertion of "enjoy" in your phrases as much as anything! Get on a plane, kiddo!

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:30:08 -0800

How many times must it be said? Top Gear = light-hearted motoring show. Top Gear ≠ investigative reporting about social attitudes. you people are all set to convict someone of a crime here and you don't have any evidence ... period ... all i'm seeing is a bunch of self-righteous bullshit about rednecks and people don't even know for sure that the incident happened in the way top gear claimed it was but let it be wmds in iraq, and by god, there better be real proof consistency would be nice, even if it doesn't always help one's political views

By: taliaferro

taliaferro — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:31:26 -0800

Guy: Rednecks are violent and intolerant. Other Guy: No they are not and if you make fun of them don't be surprised if you get beaten up! I think jonmc is saying that in this instance violence is an understandable response. That's all.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:31:40 -0800

jonmc isn't saying that violence is an appropriate reaction to any offense, he's saying that it is understandable if you are being willfully and transparently provoked. But it's not. Ever.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:34:07 -0800

"Melville makes Faulkner look like Grisham!"

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:34:17 -0800

It's not what, onion? Understandable or appropriate? Big difference there.

By: Snyder

Snyder — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:34:30 -0800

jonmc isn't saying that violence is an appropriate reaction to any offense, he's saying that it is understandable if you are being willfully and transparently provoked. But it's not. Ever. So, you're saying that it's nonsensical, that you cannot understand whay it would happen?

By: JBennett

JBennett — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:35:26 -0800

That was simply the worst FPP I've run across on Metafilter. Or at least the worst Youtube link I've watched. It all seemed like the sort of footage some corny hacks shoot and leave on the cutting room floor. A failed "social experiment" I guess? Padding it out with the terror of the thunderstorm and bad wipers was just pathetic. Truly worthless bullshit.

By: tiger yang

tiger yang — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:37:53 -0800

It's also worth a mention that they are driving around this place with placards that say, in essence, "If you can read this you are a stupid redneck! LOLREDNECKZ!" I've got news for you people: rednecks know when they're being insulted. and this stunt was a deliberate insult. A lot of people make the mistake that the southern accent somehow subtracts 20 or 30 IQ points right off the bat. Isn't it possible that these guys are pissed that these outsiders have decided to come into their community with no purpose other than to make fun of the residents? I would be pissed, and so would you. Bingo.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:41:04 -0800

"Tolerance at its finest. 60 years ago, your painted pickup truck would have been a non-white person making the wrong turn. And that person would have been in serious risk of losing life -- and at that time, we already had people stepping up to defend the right of the locals not to be "offended."" Have they started paying by the sanctimony here? You're seriously comparing this to, what, real racism? Some shoddy camera work and a bunch of nattering weenies being run out of town? And the bizarro world defenses here— they went looking for a fight. They got yelled at and hid. Do none of you remember Kentucky Fried Movie's "NIGGER!"? Christ, what a sloppy heap of masturbatory redneck hatin'.

By: knave

knave — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:42:07 -0800

By: Flashman

Flashman — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:43:17 -0800

Whatever slight tolerance I might have had for Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear just evaporated. What a juvenile, sophomoric stunt. Seems to me they weren't being hassled for whatever idiotic slogans they painted on those cars, but for the condescending, insulting assumption that doing this would get a rise out of the Southern hicks - for being made fun of.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:43:53 -0800

It's not what, onion? Understandable or appropriate? Big difference there. oops, not understandable. Unless the provocation is in itself physical and you are defending yourself. I just don't get people who honestly think that if someone "disrespects me and my beliefs I'll thump them so hard". Well that's going to make them reconsider their opinions isn't it. Anyone who walks down where I live with "I love the IRA, loyalists are scum" will get killed. Beaten at the very least. Do I think that's understandable? Not at all.

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:44:08 -0800

jonmc writes "Or even better, if someone came on to MeFi and said:

"WEBLOGGERS ARE PUSSIES! HTML SUCKS!

"You may not want to beat him up yourself but you probably wouldn't feel much sympathy if someone did." I find it hard to believe that you seriously thought this up and then wrote it in a public forum. I seriously hope it's a joke. Now if you went on Digg and said "Digg sucks! I slept with Kevin Rose's mom!" that might incur all sorts of threats, but that's mostly due to the Digg audience I think... not the sort of situation you'd be likely to get into on MeFi, or at least I thought so until I read this thread.

By: c13

c13 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:44:09 -0800

God, I'm so glad I finally got the hell out of the South!

By: badlydubbedboy

badlydubbedboy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:46:05 -0800

What amazes me is that of all the things to piss jonmc off, it's Nascar sucks? Not being an expert on all things Americana, but it's only a sport, surely? I can't stand football/soccer. Everyone around me in the UK loves soccer. I just endure some good-natured verbal bashing about my love for other things, we move on. End of.

By: IronLizard

IronLizard — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:46:29 -0800

Funny, if that's the most trouble they could manage to get into, I'd say things look pretty good for whatever town they were in. For such a 'violent response', it didn't look like anyone suffered injury or much of anything, other than a small adrenaline rush. That wasn't violence, it was melodrama. The show is much better when they stick to cars.

By: Mocata

Mocata — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:46:34 -0800

'Soccer is not football' might be a good thing to write on your clapped-out car in London. Also, 'If it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking German.'

By: opsin

opsin — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:47:29 -0800

Well, it caused a hell of a ruckus here, so I'd say it did it's job.

By: TedW

TedW — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:48:03 -0800

"Melville makes Faulkner look like Grisham!" Erskine Caldwell was an keen observer of the southern condition!

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:48:16 -0800

Mocata writes "'Soccer is not football' might be a good thing to write on your clapped-out car in London. Also, 'If it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking German.'" Meh, you're assuming that this isn't already the sort of witty banter they hear from American tourists just about every day...

By: Mocata

Mocata — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:49:53 -0800

I've never really heard that from American tourists to be honest.

By: koeselitz

koeselitz — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:50:26 -0800

Well, that was unfortunate. But we can be thankful for one thing: at least Alabamans don't hate homosexuals nearly so much as the English hate the Jews. If they did, there would've been real trouble.

By: Shave

Shave — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:51:59 -0800

The English hate the Jews? Sounds like nonsense.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:52:27 -0800

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:52:32 -0800

jonmc isn't saying that violence is an appropriate reaction to any offense, he's saying that it is understandable if you are being willfully and transparently provoked. She shouldn't have worn that red dress?

By: Mocata

Mocata — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:52:48 -0800

Or if Alabamans hated man-love as much as Mel Gibson probably hates English Jews.

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:56:22 -0800

The English don't hate the Jews. They just hate Israel. Sheesh.

By: Snyder

Snyder — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:57:07 -0800

She shouldn't have worn that red dress? I see you're continuing your willfull rove-ing of others.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:57:50 -0800

Well I hate the English, with their stilted style and emphasis on the long ball.

By: xetere

xetere — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:01:28 -0800

What on earth is happening in this thread? jonmc isn't saying that violence is an appropriate reaction to any offense, he's saying that it is understandable if you are being willfully and transparently provoked. Indeed! I note how it seems so easy for hip urban sophisticates, and Europeans as well, to make fun of Americans in the heartland. Much of that is deserved and I am not saying that one should never call out racism, homophobia, or bigotry, but the crap that this crew engaged in seems more like the "cool clique" making fun of the nerds in high school or like Wasps at an Eastern prep school making fun of the lone yokel who is there on a scholarship. In their own way, they showed that they have their own bigotry, snobbery, and stereotyping issues to deal with. But I am sure some of their best friends are Americans! Plus I might add that most of the "rednecks" did indeed do nothing, it was just the owner of the gas station, and it was the Top Gear crew's own bigotry and desire to make fun of the local rednecks that set her off because she instinctively knew that they thought she was an ignorant fool and they were there to make fun of her in front of millions even before they opened their mouths. You could do this in *any* country and get the same reaction if you wait long enough, even Sweden.

By: jimmythefish

jimmythefish — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:04:16 -0800

Mister_A nailed it. People know when they're being mocked. I also find it amusing that, far and away, it seemed that the NASCAR bit was by far the most egregious.

By: Ynoxas

Ynoxas — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:05:39 -0800

Well, it's good to know all the bigots are conveniently concentrated in Alabama. Should make it pretty easy to avoid, wouldn't you say? It scares me how simply dumb and blinded many reasonable people become on certain topics. Nothing jonmc has said here is even the tiniest bit offensive or inflammatory, unless you WANT to make it that way. If you go looking for insult and offense, you'll likely find it, no matter what. Interesting parallel to the story, huh? Basically, many above are intolerantly screaming at jonmc over his lack of tolerance. Oh my. Let's also think about this story. Instead of it being in Alabama, what if this happened in Connecticut? Would all of your responses be the same? I venture to say not. In fact, I guarantee not. The entire thread would be a version of jonmc's "why are they acting surprised people are offended when they went so far out of their way to offend". See, it's en vogue to rip on the South and Southerners. We're all dumb redneck bigots, remember? I'd like to point out that anti-gay-marriage statutes and/or amendments have been passed in such redneck, backwards states as Ohio, Utah, Colorado, Virginia, and Oregon, and already on the books in such redneck, backwards places as New Hampshire. In fact, there are anti-gay-marriage statutes in 39 of the 50 states. But yeah, it must be those dumb Southern Rednecks. There are ignorant bigots everywhere. It would have been trivially easy to reproduce this experiment in Wyoming or Indiana or New York or California or Texas or Maine. And by changing the signs, you could have done it LITERALLY anywhere. Try putting up a huge sign that says "GAYS ARE NOT REAL PEOPLE" and drive through San Francisco. Think all you'll get is a slight nod of disapproval? I don't think so. What about driving through Manhattan with a sign that says "9/11 WASN'T THAT BAD". Think that would provoke any kind of response? Or would the entire district be too highly educated and genteel to raise a voice of objection? I'm not equating the MESSAGES... but I am equating the method. It would be TRIVIALLY easy to get local populations, anywhere in this country or another, riled to the point of at least voicing objection, which is all that happened in the clip. God only knows how many gas stations they had to go to before they DID get a response. Maybe it was the first one, maybe it was the 20th, we'll never know. Yes, there are some bigots in Alabama. There are bigots everywhere. And finding them is not hard. Actually, it's rather easy to find. Just set up a voting booth. And those of you above equating "troublemakers look for and find trouble" with "woman asks to be raped" are simply so ignorant and shamefully stupid that you deserve no direct response. I'm glad you're going on record here not being able to see the difference.

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:06:39 -0800

I'm not going to bother reading the jonmc portion of the thread. I'm just going to say my reaction, not having read anyone else's comments so I'm untainted. What I saw was some folks who didn't appreciate being made fun of getting angry. They just wanted to put the fear of god into those boys, and from the sound of it ("This is god, punishing us."), they succeeded. You may disagree with these people's attitudes, but don't dehumanize them (even if they dehumanize you for being gay/black/tonedeaf), or treat them like animals in a zoo you can provoke for fun (and don't do that to actual animals, either, unless they're being jerks). That's part of the whole Christ thing that most people forget, the turning the other cheek and all. What I would have said was that I was the victim of a prank and was on my way home/back to my hotel/looking for a respray shop a la GTA. I also wouldn't have had three separate cars pull into the same station at the same time, because then you lose plausible deniability. Also, hidden cameras. They walked in expecting to get some "tee hee, stupid redneck!" footage, and they walked out with some that was "oh shit, angry redneck!" instead. I still love Top Gear, though. I mean, I'm laughing, just at the presenters (we call them "hosts") instead.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:08:03 -0800

I might add that most of the "rednecks" did indeed do nothing, it was just the owner of the gas station, and it was the Top Gear crew's own bigotry and desire to make fun of the local rednecks that set her off exactly right ... and all she did, as far as i can tell, is yell but that's ok, folks ... the self-annointed at metafilter can just go on about how enlightened and superior they are as they get taken in by a video that's phonier than a 3 dollar bill

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:09:30 -0800

I'm sorry, saxonY, but 9/11 just wasn't that bad. There were MOONINITES on lite brites in Boston, okay? Now that was some shit.

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:10:06 -0800

What Mister_A said. I have a strong suspicion that what was actually most provocative was that they were obviously trying to be very provocative. And I think a lot of folks in a lot of places will be provoked by someone intentionally trying to provoke them more than they would be by merely the kinds of slogans that were painted on those cars. A better test of just how intolerant those Alabamans are would be a display of unwelcome beliefs that is apparently earnest. But that's not what happened here. I'm not necessarily defending the typical rural Alabaman. I'm willing to believe that they're more intolerant even to the point of willingness to commit violence than is average in the rest of the industrialized West. But maybe they're not. This clip proves nothing, really. Except that this was a stupid stunt by some folks with very lowbrow senses of humor. Should we perhaps generalize about this show's viewers on that basis? Hmm.

By: rocket88

rocket88 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:12:13 -0800

It's like a strawman convention in here.

By: IronLizard

IronLizard — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:14:01 -0800

Blazecock Pileon writes "

"She shouldn't have worn that red dress?" Quick, someone call the TopGear crew and let them know they've been raped. I'm sure they'll be as surprised as I am.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:14:03 -0800

twistedonion, in your example, you claim you don't understand how somebody would get riled up if you poked a festering wound by bringing up a conflict that has lasted a few hundred years and continues today? I find that disingenuous. I think you do understand. Understanding it does not mean you endorse it. Getting way off topic here, but sure, what the hell... I understand that the hypothetical person who kills the hypothetical "shit stirrer" is insulted that someone would have the gall to walk through "their" area with the statements such as I described. So, I do understand the insult and I understand the provocation. I still don't understand the outcome, regardless. Unless you mean that I understand that there are people in the area who use violence first, and their brain cells second. That I understand only too well. But why the resort to violence? I still don't understand, no matter how disingenuous you think I may be.

By: jet_silver

jet_silver — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:18:24 -0800

Clarkson thinks he is funny and he is, just not the way he intends. He claims to hate being in the USA but he keeps coming back, perhaps because he likes the money. While he is here he manages to be disagreeable, perhaps because his teeth are hurting, and he keeps up a running patter about provincial attitudes. The man is a caricature of the ugly American. I often see British people in France behaving much like he does here. That's why I speak French to the British.

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:19:02 -0800

zomg LOL @ poms & seppos!

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:21:35 -0800

I just read that back to myself, what a fucking hippy I can be sometimes. Could someone come round here and knock a bit of sense into me?

By: Ynoxas

Ynoxas — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:22:36 -0800

Eideteker: not to derail, but this weekend I was discussing that with some people, and basically we all agreed that we would have been to ashamed to have raised the stink that Boston did. I mean, how embarrassing that not a single person in the entire city government of Boston has any idea about a fairly common cultural reference. Also, why were the fighter jets not scrambled in other cities that had the ads? Bostonians. What a hoot. Also: hippy disavows violence. Film at 11.

By: ninjew

ninjew — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:24:54 -0800

RC Cola does taste flat.

By: inoculatedcities

inoculatedcities — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:28:24 -0800

"What would happen if five cars with giant handpainted "Abortion Is Murder", "Stop Killing Babies," "America: Love It or Leave It", and "Homosexuality is a Sin" signs rolled through Northampton, Massachusetts?" The truth? Absolutely nothing. I was recently in Northhampton and saw a large pickup at a gas station covered with "Pave Iraq" and "Freedom Ain't Free" stickers and sure, people stared and looked revulsed but nobody provoked the man or threw rocks at him! To suggest that these diametrically opposed parts of the country only differ in their politics, not their tactics is foolish and sorely mistaken. It's about a bit more than that. Incidentally, it's the same reason why no environmentalist or gay rights activist or peacenik has attempted to assassinate Dick Cheney.

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:29:44 -0800

Ynoxas writes "I mean, how embarrassing that not a single person in the entire city government of Boston has any idea about a fairly common cultural reference." Are you trying to make people upset by making fun of Boston? That's sooooooo cute! I think you'll find yourself a week late and several dollars short bringing this up. Boston has been the laughingstock of much of the world for their ham-fisted handling of "the mooninite affair".

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:30:39 -0800

such redneck, backwards places as New Hampshire. They hate it when you remind them of that.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:33:28 -0800

get up every morning slaving 'fore breakfast so that every mouth can be fed oh, oh, me mooninites

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:37:53 -0800

Bostonians. What a hoot. But it's Boston that's getting $2M of Turner's money, isn't it? That's funny, too.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:41:28 -0800

Well, that was unfortunate. But we can be thankful for one thing: at least Alabamans don't hate homosexuals nearly so much as the English hate the Jews. If they did, there would've been real trouble. The UK has had a jewish PM.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:43:35 -0800

By: nofundy

nofundy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:45:09 -0800

[cue Deliverance banjoes] I'm gonna make you limeys squeal like a pig! It ain't hate, it's heritage.

By: i_cola

i_cola — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:54:35 -0800

This thread makes the clip twice as funny. If not three times. I always thought that the colonists took over the land in the Americas for the natural resources and general imperial expansionist ideals but I just realised that it was to create a nation that would have us in stitches for the rest of eternity.

By: Carbolic

Carbolic — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:57:11 -0800

"Lee was a weak strategist!" All I know is that ColdChef feller is asking for a wuppin'.

By: CynicalKnight

CynicalKnight — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:58:08 -0800

The key to avoiding overreaction to this provocative post is to dig between the black & white and focus on the grey: 1) Affirming slogans of viewpoint "A" are one thing, insulting slogans of viewpoint "B" are another. This fine line is almost always crossed and rarely focussed on. 2) Top Gear pimps it's content with melodrama as a cheap ratings grab. They were seeking a reaction and got it. However, this is not a justification of violent suppression in Alabama (red vs blue) any more than it would be in Quebec (english vs french) or Blackpool (muckers vs bisons). 3) Running is rarely cowardly as it defuses conflict. In this case it's ethically expected as they provoked the encounter.

By: ruthsarian

ruthsarian — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:59:02 -0800

Plus I might add that most of the "rednecks" did indeed do nothing, it was just the owner of the gas station, and it was the Top Gear crew's own bigotry and desire to make fun of the local rednecks that set her off because she instinctively knew that they thought she was an ignorant fool and they were there to make fun of her in front of millions even before they opened their mouths. You know what? If she and everyone else at the gas station had NOT reacted... there'd be no bit for the show. If she isn't a fool she'd have recognized that and kept her mouth shut. Now with all that's been said, I can't help but compare this to the college kids celebrating MLK with 40s and dressing up as gang members, aunt jemima, etc..

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:05:32 -0800

Throwing rocks at a gas station isn't the smartest thing to do.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:05:38 -0800

I can't help but compare this to the college kids celebrating MLK with 40s and dressing up as gang members, aunt jemima, etc.. except that we'll condemn the college kids and praise the top gear crew to the sky ... to the point where we end up believing what is a largely manufactured incident

By: bruce

bruce — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:19:02 -0800

my problem is with media corporations provoking people of certain cultures in order to get a funny reaction from them, so that the corporations can sell more advertising and make more money. if people in alabama are fair game, then surely gays in nyc and san francisco and blacks in south-central l.a. and harlem are fair game too. the folks who endorse baiting white southerners cannot protest when they in turn are baited.