To: tolerance, understanding and democracy: please return to sender

[SwordsMaster]

How about this:

Isn't it a measure of civilisation if a person can laugh at themselves? The ability to view things in perspective, and appreciating the humour not necessarily in the person, but the action, no matter who is the perpetrator.


Isn't that the level at which one can see his own shortcomings, but laugh about them instead of covering them with insecurity and aggressiveness?

[KukriKhan]

How about this:

Isn't it a measure of civilisation if a person can laugh at themselves? The ability to view things in perspective, and appreciating the humour not necessarily in the person, but the action, no matter who is the perpetrator.


Isn't that the level at which one can see his own shortcomings, but laugh about them instead of covering them with insecurity and aggressiveness?

Yes, I think so. Having those abilities (view a wider perspective, appreciate one's own shortcomings, etc) seems absolutely necessary to the peaceful co-existence of the urban environment. Folks all packed together in cities must develop those skills/outlooks, or risk daily warfare (ala today's Baghdad, for example).

Then again, that would be the view of someone who values the superiority of the civilized (city-based) lifestyle, would it not? And further: can you see (in the wider perspective) how that assumption of the superiority of civilization over crude tribalism can, over some generations, morph into a sneering, haughty, arrogant sense of self-satisfied superiority? This, I think, is what "bugs" the tribals, the hicks, the rurals, from whose ranks those city-dwellers sprang originally 2 or 3 or 20 generations ago, when their less-sophisticated lifestyle is mocked.

"Ha-ha-ha, dumb hick can't operate a computer."

"Ho-ho-ho, city-slicker can't milk a cow."

Works both ways. Tribalism: not just for breakfast anymore. :)

[Don Corleone]

These jokes were aimed at Alabama, not America as a whole.

Besides the funniest bit was Clarkson with his shower in the car thing.

Of course I have never ever seen, heard, read a post, article, movie made by Americans for Americans that makes fun of hill billies, even the ones that live in Beverly Hills...

Oh lighten up. These guys are simply British Don. They are taking the piss. It's what they do, it's in their genes. Just tune into auntie Beeb any day of the week and you'll see where these guys are coming from. British humour and all that.

Hmm, I woke this morning, reread the entire thread.

Would appear at first glance I was in an even nastier mood yesterday than I thought. I give myself no points for style, no points for humor, but I scored a perfect 10 on tenacity, no?

I'm sitting here flirting with the idea of claiming somebody hijacked my computer, but as I was ranting for over 8 hours on this subject, somehow I think that would strain the bonds of credibility, even for you mushminds.

I apologize for being so ornery and for reading more into this than was there. Truth be told, I personally tease my wife about crap like this all the time. Specific apology to Tribesman, with whom I started flirting with the personal attacks, and to Doctor, to whom I started to act a tad confrontational.

What can I say folks, I don't do anything halfway. When I'm a funny guy, I'm pretty funny, and when I forget to take my funny pill, I can be a real wanker. Forgive?

[Louis VI the Fat]

Oh, no need to apologise or call yourself a British anagram of Newark.

Underneath it all, you do have a point about the stereotype of the dumb, trigger-happy American. It is used way too often. And to my never ending irritation, by people who would never make stereotypical assumptions about Blacks or Muslims. Refined euro-intellectuals indeed.

Any other day I would've been with you about this. Just not in this thread, about these guys, who take the piss for a living. This was all just a good laff'.

[Duke of Gloucester]

I did not see the youtube clip, but I did watch the original programme. As always, it was entertaining in a puerile way. Whilst you can easily offend sections of any society (and Clarkson has built a career on this) there was one bit that I though could only happen in the USA. Apparently, after giving away one of the cars through a charity once they arrived in New Orleans, they were approached by a lawyer complaining that the car they had represented as being a 1991 model was in fact a 1989 model and threatening to sue them for misrepresentation unless they paid $10000. Only in America! (unless Clarkson made it up).

[The_Doctor]

I believe this should lighten the mood a bit:

"Going out for an English"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG-pmg_CCeI

[SwordsMaster]

Oh, no need to apologise or call yourself a British anagram of Newark.

Underneath it all, you do have a point about the stereotype of the dumb, trigger-happy American. It is used way too often. And to my never ending irritation, by people who would never make stereotypical assumptions about Blacks or Muslims. Refined euro-intellectuals indeed.

Any other day I would've been with you about this. Just not in this thread, about these guys, who take the piss for a living. This was all just a good laff'.

Not sure about others, but I believe everyone is judgemental and discriminative, it is just that some don't voice it. Mind you, it doesn't have to be race, class or sex, it could be anything. If I don't like someone's smell, I will discriminate them just the same...

Then again, that would be the view of someone who values the superiority of the civilized (city-based) lifestyle, would it not? And further: can you see (in the wider perspective) how that assumption of the superiority of civilization over crude tribalism can, over some generations, morph into a sneering, haughty, arrogant sense of self-satisfied superiority?

That is the thing, if you have an open-minded view of the world, this cannot happen. You will be able to appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of both lifestyles. It does happen in the opposite direction though.

[Andres]

I for one am not offended because I have straight teeth.

[Rameusb5]

EVERYONE has stereotypes against them.

Nobody is special in that respect.

Most likely, a lot of us (in the org) are nerds. We're the black sheep of the new millenia. Lots of times nerds are treated unfairly or shown in a negative light. Fortunately, our weak forearms and pasty complexions prevent us from reacting violently...

[Tribesman]

Now then , since this clip was from Clarkson who slags everyone and everything off (didn't he once say that Wales should be seperated from the UK and burnt) .
How about some more mainstream depictions of deep down south rednecks from America itself ?
OK leave aside Mississippi Burning since that is fact based , how about Deliverance for example or Southern Comfort , Easy Rider maybe , how about the Beverley Hill Billys (since Pape already mentioned that one)?
Anyone want to take offence at any of those ?.




Onto Don don't be silly , no need to apologise , but heres a thought for you .
You wrote that the media you get is centred on US news , yet every now and again you get a story from Europe such as you mentioned . Do occurances like that not get coverage in the US media when they happen in the US (unless its something like a Neo Nazi shooting kids at a Jewish school or a Muslim who is not a Muslim but a Christian shooting workers at a Jewish centre) ?

Considering as you noted

The klan arriving (and I have little doubt it was them or some associated group of like-minded individuals that arrived) was an interesting twist.

that those people claim that your media is run by the Jewish worldwide conspiracy , don't you think it would get more coverage ?

[Ironside]

Last I checked, we haven't burned down a discotech with 300 immigrants inside (how's the Gothenberg police coming with that investegation, anyway?)

I know that it's just a rant, but I'm quite certain that the Gothenburg fire has been coming up before (big deja vú).

So I can inform you that the 4 Iranian youths that was the arsonists has been convicted, either in 1999 or 2000.

And it was almost 400 people in there, were 63 of them died . That the arrangers did cram in about twice as much people than allowed and blocked emergency exits didn't exactly help to keep the numbers down.

I'm curious though, did the US media push it quite big as a racist deed and then did mention the rest in this size if at all?

Do you remember why you know about the Gothenburg fire and remember anything about it DC?