what happen to freedom of speech?

I spent my extended time in the UK around thirty years ago so I wasn't sure about specific examples anymore but yes, you can do something moronic to get the ire of the locals almost everywhere.

Anyone who doesn't know what bit is talking about when he says Britain doesn't consider themselves part of Europe needs to reflect on the fact that Britain does not use the Euro for its currency.

Most of us who live here know this country has things that aren't perfect, no country is. The episode in question is just not my cup of tea. And it probably went down very well in the UK as it did with some people here. I just don't find getting laughs at someone else's expense to be that funny. Especially in this instance where they painted each others cars as requested, to insult whoever they could in an attempt to get shot - I just didn't find it funny or entertaining that they did manage to pi** some people off. If it is a scripted show, that is one thing, they are trying to make a preposterous situation appear funny. But a quasi reality show is attempting to make you believe that is reality and it isn't IMO.

When I mentioned Survivor and the Donald (yeah, the Apprentice) I was just blanket referring to these annoying "reality" shows that have been all the rage.

Whoever the Stig is, he makes the show for me. Put a trained driver in different cars on the same track (assuming the weather cooperates) and you not only get out pretty near all that the car has to offer but you can compare results. Once you get to "reviews" you are in opinon land whether it is Top Gear or Car & Driver, and opinions vary.

The only reason I started watching it was because of so little else to watch on Monday night. But once you have seen the handful of episodes, that's it. Back to surfing the wasteland.

It got suspended when people learned they could make a living out of the idiotic.

Ron, I would agree with you on Clarkson's only. His car was the only car that threw insults to a specific person by mentioning Bush. The other two cars simply has something about Gay Pride and man love, Hillary for President and Nascar Sucks. Those cars IMHO were just fine as you see bumper stickers saying the same thing. The Bush comment was probably the worse, but then again half the country at the time was saying the same thing. Not that I agree, but I really didn't see much difference over all than what a lot of people say every day in their own clicks to each other. The only difference is the location. Most American's know when to keep their comments to themselves when in certain parts of the country and when they are in more friendly areas that share their same view. Run those same 3 cars in California and my guess is nothing major would have come about from it.

Im asian, and im afraid to go into the mid west.

Read bit's post on just what having a certain team jersey can do to you in some parts of the UK. I am not going to defend many things that aren't right with this country but when you are in the Bible belt, gay pride and man love are inflammatory and were only prominently displayed on the cars to provoke a reaction from people who really weren't doing anything to them. Had they been doing their little stunt in SF, they would have simply changed it to something moronically homophobic or they could have gone to Oakland and made it viciously anti black. Just imagine what "fun" that would have been?

But what's the point here? Can you go out in the real world somewhere and do something to pi** off people you don't know because to you it is "funny". Unfortunately, you can. I just don't find it entertaining. Do I think that three dimwits from England can come to the US under the pretext of being automotive "experts" but actually try to demonstrate that there are people here who don't find their antics "funny". Yes I do. The part I did find amusing in that episode was when they realized they had truly pi**ed some people off who weren't doing them any harm at all, they scurried as fast as their tiny little driving skills would permit to get out of there and remove the offenses from their cars. Of course once they were safely back in their studio in the UK they could once again assume their rightful place as automotive demi gods and expert surveyors of society. Muzzle Clarkson and devote more time to the Stig.

I'm from the MidWest and I'm afraid to go to Asia.

oh man, the african special! and now hammond actually has that car hahahahaha

What are you afraid of or what do think is going to happen to you in the Midwest that is not going to happen in California?

I (an Asian) once visited a small town in Mississippi during a cross-country trip.

My friend (who is white) left me to go shopping.

As I was left alone in the town center, I noticed people staring and pointing. As I got up from a bench to pick up something to eat, people actually ran away. Some shops closed their doors and windows. I went into a Subway restaurant where everyone stared at me. I walked back into the town center to eat, but was too uncomfortable to eat.

As soon as my friend got back, we left that town quickly.

I had never felt anything like that before...




Back to topic: yes, the South is a very scary place.

I remember this episode from a few years ago. It struck me that the basic idea for the show was scripted well in advance and then they went to the US and made the filming fit their idea. They like to give the impression that it's just three blokes "cocking about", but much more planning goes into it than they imply.
Yes they take the **** out of Americans, Germans, The French etc, but they also rip it out of themselves, other Brits; Northerners, Scots, the Welsh etc. As long as you can laugh at yourself I don't have a problem with laughing at others. Jeremy Clarkson always strikes me as a bloke who would be good to invite to a dinner party - you'd hate him by the end of the evening but he'd be good value while he was there.

BTW, the UK isn't part of Europe - it's a small island off the coast - just how far it is off the coast, and how near the US it is, can vary considerably.

It's sad that folks there have the mentality "If you ain't white, you ain't right". These folks are brought up thinking all foreigners are evil and should be banned from the US. We like to call these people TRAILER TRASH.

No need, just make sure you don't run into any old people who didn't even serve time in a war. There are some who think we'll kamikaze them with our cars. My dad messed up one old dude because of that accusation

ROFL

lol for a second there, i couldnt tell if philip was mocking my comment. but...yeh it does suck.

growing up and living in california im sure if a much different experience. were just a bunch of prius driving homo welcoming people. lol

I would love to see an American version of Top Gear.

But who would you cast in the three roles?

They wouldn't have to be automotive journalists, just humorous presenters who have an interest in cars.