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Post by Obviousman on Feb 1, 2008 19:50:10 GMT -4
I just watched the Top Gear episode where Jeremy and the lads almost get killed in Alabama. www.videosift.com/video/Top-Gear-crew-nearly-get-lynched-in-AlabamaThey set US-UK relations back 100 years! Oh - and I love the lawyers from the ministry they donated the cars to threatening to sue them! I love you yanks, but BOY! Drop the bomb there, please. |
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Al Johnston
"Cheer up!" they said, "It could be worse!" So I did, and it was.
Posts: 1,453
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Post by Al Johnston on Feb 1, 2008 19:58:04 GMT -4
... if the bomb-dropping could be arranged while Clarkson's still in the lethal blast range, that would be a real service to mankind ;D
Edit for typo
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Post by PeterB on Feb 1, 2008 20:05:09 GMT -4
Yes, I saw that episode on the TV too. I laughed at their discomfiture, but it also made me shake my head at the behaviour of the locals (both those in Alabama and those in New Orleans).
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Post by Ginnie on Feb 1, 2008 20:33:25 GMT -4
The video is gone. What episode is it? Where else can we see it?
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Post by PeterB on Feb 1, 2008 20:41:11 GMT -4
It was interesting to read the comments on the link that Obviousman provided. At first the comment "What if they'd written racist comments on their cars and driven into Harlem" seems a thoughtful response. But the difference is that racist comments are illegal, and nothing written on the cars was illegal.
What does it say about someone's maturity when their reaction to seeing people express different attitudes is to throw stones at them? One thing to be said for living in a city is that you can't escape from people who think differently from you, and if you were as thin-skinned as those Alabaman good ol' boys, you'd be in a lot of trouble.
Having said that, the lawyers in New Orleans weren't much better. Their attitude seemed to be that if you had enough money to afford to be charitable, it was worthwhile trying to scam some more out of you.
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Post by Obviousman on Feb 1, 2008 22:13:02 GMT -4
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Post by Obviousman on Feb 1, 2008 22:19:04 GMT -4
It was interesting to read the comments on the link that Obviousman provided. At first the comment "What if they'd written racist comments on their cars and driven into Harlem" seems a thoughtful response. But the difference is that racist comments are illegal, and nothing written on the cars was illegal. What does it say about someone's maturity when their reaction to seeing people express different attitudes is to throw stones at them? One thing to be said for living in a city is that you can't escape from people who think differently from you, and if you were as thin-skinned as those Alabaman good ol' boys, you'd be in a lot of trouble. Having said that, the lawyers in New Orleans weren't much better. Their attitude seemed to be that if you had enough money to afford to be charitable, it was worthwhile trying to scam some more out of you. I think the lawyer might best be described as a shyster. Peter - that's right. We're not much better - the Cronulla riots were a shameful example of us at our worst. To react to a slogan on a car, however... and they are not really that offensive. Could I reasonably beat up a person who wears a DISCO SUCKS t-shirt? Could I assault a liberal supporter in a labor stronghold? Is gay-bashing considered an acceptable thing to do? No matter how we try to better ourselves, there will always be someone else who'll be sinking to new depths. |
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Post by Ginnie on Feb 1, 2008 22:59:33 GMT -4
Just watched it. Now come on, you mean the same thing wouldn't happen if you drove through rough parts of England with slogans such as "The Queen Sucks" or "Manchester United is Queer" or "I Hate Brits" on the cars? The same thing could happen if you drove through parts of Newfoundland with "Newfies are Stupid" on your car. At least I hope so... ;D |
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Post by Obviousman on Feb 2, 2008 1:56:48 GMT -4
I can't speak for the UK, but that wouldn't happen in Australia generally (using an Australian example).
Oh, you might get someone telling you that you were a $%#*!, but you'd just as likely find someone giving you a big thumbs up!
No, we're just as bad in many ways but a simple slogan on a car like that would not incite that response.
Paint "Australia Sucks" on a car, and drive it through a crowd on Australia day and you'll get a response. Other times, you'll just get the finger.
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reynoldbot
Jupiter
A paper-white mask of evil.
Posts: 790
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Post by reynoldbot on Feb 2, 2008 2:12:26 GMT -4
Ironic since us southerners refer to northern Americans as yanks. Living now in Minneapolis I get a kick out of calling the midwesterners Yankees.
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Post by Data Cable on Feb 2, 2008 15:01:07 GMT -4
So the saying goes, outside the US, a Yankee is any American. In the US, a Yankee is anyone who lives north of the Mason Dixon line. North of the Mason Dixon line, a Yankee is anyone from New England. In New England, a Yankee is anyone from Vermont. In Vermont, a Yankee is anyone who eats apple pie for breakfast.
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Post by The Supreme Canuck on Feb 2, 2008 15:44:40 GMT -4
Hey, I'll call Americans "Yanks." They get all standoffish and try to explain what state they're from. Good fun! But I'm fair - I let them call me a "Canuck." Seems only right.  |
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Post by Obviousman on Feb 2, 2008 16:11:21 GMT -4
But call a Canadian a Yank... boy, then you see some fireworks!
(Call an Australian a Brit; call a Kiwi and Australian, etc)
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Post by The Supreme Canuck on Feb 2, 2008 17:39:11 GMT -4
Darned right.
"Oh, you're from Glasgow? So you're English then?"
Mistake.
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Post by Obviousman on Feb 2, 2008 22:37:39 GMT -4
Oh yeah... one of our Squadron COs is a Canadian. Tremendous fella. Call him a yank, though, and your life is not worth living.
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