NationStates Jolt Archive

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.

Top Gear? It's a bit of a debate, but I prefer this set:

Prism Helm
Nova Armour
Prism Specs

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.

I can say if that was real or staged, but when that pickup truck pulled into the petrol station I was in stiches...

Don't even know if that has aired here in Australia yet, not that I watch it when it does, but from wiki:

Challenge 3 (Car decorating): The team had to decorate each other's cars with slogans which might lead to them getting shot at in Alabama. May painted pro-homosexual slogans on Hammond's car ("Man love rules OK"), Hammond painted "Country and Western is Rubbish" on Clarkson's, and Jeremy painted "I'm bi," "Hilary for President" and "NASCAR sucks" on May's car. All three offended locals, and led to both the presenters and the crew members being chased out of town by friends of a gas station owner.

Anybody elaborate with some hilarious details?

I haven't seen the show you are talking about, nor do I know what you mean by "slogans" or "reactions" but if you want to judge all of America by people from Alabama, or Texas, or whatever redneck state you guys decide represents us, then I guess, yeah, we are all evil uneducated bigots. :mad:

Don't even know if that has aired here in Australia yet, not that I watch it when it does, but from wiki:



Anybody elaborate with some hilarious details?

I think the funniest moment was after the petrol station owner threatend to "call the boys", and then minutes later a pickup pulled into the station with I'd say about 10 rednecks sitting on the back... the rest was basically just headless flight.

As I said, I've no idea if they staged that.

I think the funniest moment was after the petrol station owner threatend to "call the boys", and then minutes later a pickup pulled into the station with I'd say about 10 rednecks sitting on the back... the rest was basically just headless flight.

As I said, I've no idea if they staged that.

Judging by this (http://www.topgear.com/blogs/planettopgear/026-top-gear-us-special/), probably not.

I haven't seen the show you are talking about, nor do I know what you mean by "slogans" or "reactions" but if you want to judge all of America by people from Alabama, or Texas, or whatever redneck state you guys decide represents us, then I guess, yeah, we are all evil uneducated bigots. :mad:

I try not to judge anyone, usually. But if I had to, which state would you recommend I use as representative? ;)

I try not to judge anyone, usually. But if I had to, which state would you recommend I use as representative? ;)

nothing east of the Mississippi and nothing west of the Mississippi.

;)

nothing east of the Mississippi and nothing west of the Mississippi.

;)

Sooooo... just the Mississippi itself? Which Huck Finn characters we talkin' here?

nothing east of the Mississippi and nothing west of the Mississippi.

;)

I had no idea the USA was best represented by some uninhabited islands in the Mississippi.... ;)

Sooooo... just the Mississippi itself? Which Huck Finn characters we talkin' here?

only Jim. :)

I watched it...from the fat stig to cow on the roof to the end in NOLA...

What the hell kind of reception did they expect in Hicksville, USA?

Although given all the slogans...they chose the Country & Western is Rubbish and NASCAR sucks to vent their wrath rather than the 'Man Love Rules OK' or Hilliary for President...that was odd.

I am surprised no one has mentioned the drive into New Orleans...where Jezza makes to comment...the richest nation on earth...a year after Katrina and its still devastated.

Then after deciding to donate the cars (as they could not sell them in NOLA because it was just not the right thing to do) they get some uppity lawyer wanting $20k or the mission (that had the cars donated to) would sue for misrepresentation... (91 Camero instead of '89).

As for the stoning...I am gutted they missed...what a stupid thing to do...these people are inbred moronic fuckwits. Really if I supported eugenics I'd have them all removed from the gene pool...but as I am a reasonable person I'll just wait for the next hurricane to wipe out that neck of the woods.

I had no idea the USA was best represented by some uninhabited islands in the Mississippi.... ;)

all I am saying is that I get not liking our government....or our representatives, and I even really understand not liking the current administration, but to stereotype all of us just pisses me off.

I haven't seen the show you are talking about, nor do I know what you mean by "slogans" or "reactions" but if you want to judge all of America by people from Alabama, or Texas, or whatever redneck state you guys decide represents us, then I guess, yeah, we are all evil uneducated bigots. :mad:


Noooo nooo not at all, that is why I asked questions, not made statements.

all I am saying is that I get not liking our government....or our representatives, and I even really understand not liking the current administration, but to stereotype all of us just pisses me off.

I've news for you...there are a fair few yanks I do not like...who are not in your government nor are your representatives.

What are you doing to change those stereotypes?

Noooo nooo not at all, that is why I asked questions, not made statements.

all of us are not like that, most of us aren't and I can say that living in a redneck state.

It's not hard to piss people off when you know your target audience. I am pretty sure I could come up with some good slogans and stuff to go into any of the more liberal states and piss people off as well.

I am very sure I could piss off some people in Europe quite easily.

I've news for you...there are a fair few yanks I do not like...who are not in your government nor are your representatives.

What are you doing to change those stereotypes?

what do you want me to do to change them?

all of us are not like that, most of us aren't and I can say that living in a redneck state.

It's not hard to piss people off when you know your target audience. I am pretty sure I could come up with some good slogans and stuff to go into any of the more liberal states and piss people off as well.

I am very sure I could piss off some people in Europe quite easily.

Sure... but to get stones thrown at you, you'd really REALLY have to know which one street in the country you have to drive down ;)

what do you want me to do to change them?

Good question. Maybe by having a fair and unbiased media for starters?

Better education, removal of religion from public life...

Yeah I am asking the impossible.

Sure... but to get stones thrown at you, you'd really REALLY have to know which one street in the country you have to drive down ;)

Alabama ;)

there was a reality type show filmed here not long ago, and it took the producers about 3 hours to piss someone off enough to get a good rant.....of course they only showed the rant and it looked like it came from nowhere.

all of us are not like that, most of us aren't and I can say that living in a redneck state.

It's not hard to piss people off when you know your target audience. I am pretty sure I could come up with some good slogans and stuff to go into any of the more liberal states and piss people off as well.

I am very sure I could piss off some people in Europe quite easily.

Perhaps so, I guess it may just be a culture thing, I was talking about it with one of my brothers(I was at his house watching it) and truely I was flabbergasted at the responce, I turned to my brother and said would we do that over her, and he told me, I don't think so point and laugh maybe...

I mean these slogans weren't even that bad, not offensive in any way, rather like saying, all tea drinkers are quite mad. I mean that doesn't offend me.

Alabama ;)

there was a reality type show filmed here not long ago, and it took the producers about 3 hours to piss someone off enough to get a good rant.....of course they only showed the rant and it looked like it came from nowhere.

I'm not saying that what they did wasn't provocative. Of course it was, it was meant to be.
But the reaction they got was rather extreme, at least compared to what the reactions here might be. That was what made it funny, really. ;)

Good question. Maybe by having a fair and unbiased media for starters?

Better education, removal of religion from public life...

Yeah I am asking the impossible.

you want meto have a fair and unbiased media?

I am working on the better education thing......for my kids, I would try to help the others but I am no longer welcome at school board meetings.

what exactly do you mean about religion in public life?

Good question. Maybe by having a fair and unbiased media for starters?

Better education, removal of religion from public life...

Yeah I am asking the impossible.

Hah you're funny, pray tell me where does one find such a thing as a fair and unbiased media?

Perhaps so, I guess it may just be a culture thing, I was talking about it with one of my brothers(I was at his house watching it) and truely I was flabbergasted at the responce, I turned to my brother and said would we do that over her, and he told me, I don't think so point and laugh maybe...

I mean these slogans weren't even that bad, not offensive in any way, rather like saying, all tea drinkers are quite mad. I mean that doesn't offend me.

hmm..... if tea slogans wouldn't piss you off, then I just don't know :rolleyes:

hmm..... if tea slogans wouldn't piss you off, then I just don't know :rolleyes:

And slogans about Western music are so inherently different? *lol

I'm not saying that what they did wasn't provocative. Of course it was, it was meant to be.
But the reaction they got was rather extreme, at least compared to what the reactions here might be. That was what made it funny, really. ;)

I just wonder what went on off camera? how much time did they spend finding a reactionary for example?

I just wonder what went on off camera? how much time did they spend finding a reactionary for example?

I don't know. As I said, I don't know if it was real or staged. But most people seem to assume it was real, so I'm just going with that for now.

you want meto have a fair and unbiased media?

I am working on the better education thing......for my kids, I would try to help the others but I am no longer welcome at school board meetings.

what exactly do you mean about religion in public life?

bolded, italicized and underlined! I am honoured ;)

No...I think you know what I mean. That the US should not rely on things like Fox, CNN, Air America (if its still running) or C-Span for unbiased news.

Religion in public life...you know the kind of thing...people trying to out religion each other...god this god that...it serves no purpose.

Education...home schooling is not an answer. Religion, beyond teaching about the different religions has no place in school. Empiricism rules ok.

And slogans about Western music are so inherently different? *lol

in Alabama? yeah.

Alabama is the state that brings us Jesus dressed like Elvis on velvet framed and put over the fireplace.

*stereotypes Alabama*

Hah you're funny, pray tell me where does one find such a thing as a fair and unbiased media?

Through hard work and diligence.

I would say that there are possibilities to have a unbiased media.

It not rocket science. The problem is when sensationalism is easier to turn a profit.

I've news for you...there are a fair few yanks I do not like...who are not in your government nor are your representatives.

What are you doing to change those stereotypes?
Just don't assume that "America" is some uniform place or homogeneous group of people. There are HUGE regional differences, and tremendous differences between trends in major urban areas and rural areas.

Honestly, I find myself frequently baffled by the "Americans" you are talking about. They're nothing like me or the people I know. They are ignorant, rage-filled children who throw tantrums when they are forced to acknowledge the existence of things they don't like (i.e. brown people, atheists, gays, liberals, women who talk, etc.). Their mentality and way of life are as foreign to me as if they were from the other side of the Earth.

Look at the US broken down into smaller pieces. Look at the states with the highest literacy rates, highest rates of college attendance, lowest rates of infant mortality...basically, look at important indicators of progress and general "health". Look at which states suck tax dollars from the rest of the country, and which states get the lowest return on the federal taxes they pay. Look at where the most people have health care. Look at where the lowest rates of domestic abuse and rape are. Look at where the lowest homicide rates are.

You'll notice pretty amazing disparities between different regions of the US. It's a big country.

in Alabama? yeah.

Alabama is the state that brings us Jesus dressed like Elvis on velvet framed and put over the fireplace.

*stereotypes Alabama*

And slogans about tea drinkers in the UK? Hello?
Tea-time, anyone?

That would be offensive to me, too. I'm on 7 mugs a day, after all. Only I still wouldn't go and throw stones at people, no matter how much they badmouth tea ;)

bolded, italicized and underlined! I am honoured ;)

No...I think you know what I mean. That the US should not rely on things like Fox, CNN, Air America (if its still running) or C-Span for unbiased news.

Religion in public life...you know the kind of thing...people trying to out religion each other...god this god that...it serves no purpose.

Education...home schooling is not an answer. Religion, beyond teaching about the different religions has no place in school. Empiricism rules ok.


find me an unbiased news source
I have a constitutional right to practice my religion and I am not going to give that up
homeschooling is an answer. Public schools fail, I am not going to be a dumbass and put my kids into a failing system, I am trying to fix the public school system here but I don't have as much access as I need.

The whole point here was the extremism of the reactions they got. Paint "bagpipes are rubbish" on the side of your car and drive through Edinburgh. You'll probably get a few peole laughing and pointing. Stones and irate behaviour? I don't think so

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.

I pointed an laughed at the screen, and vowed to never ever go to Alabama.

find me an unbiased news source
I have a constitutional right to practice my religion and I am not going to give that up
homeschooling is an answer. Public schools fail, I am not going to be a dumbass and put my kids into a failing system, I am trying to fix the public school system here but I don't have as much access as I need.


Why should I find you an unbiased news source? What I said was that it is something that is needed. That at this moment in time in the US it does not exist. Therefore I am not able to provide you with an unbiased news source.

I never said that you or anyone should give up your religion. Public life refers to things like elections and government. Not what you decide to practice in your own home or place of worship.

Homeschooling is not an answer. I fail to see how every family can homeschool their children.

If I had children I would very much do the same as you with regards to not having my children in school. I would also not deny them the chance to socialise (after school activities would be allowed...kids need other kids). I would also use tutors to ensure that they have the proper grounding in certain areas like maths and science.

Anyway...this is getting away from the OP I think?

Fact is that the Top Gear crew went somewhere with the idea to provoke the locals. For that they really deserve a smack around the earhole.

find me an unbiased news source
I have a constitutional right to practice my religion and I am not going to give that up
homeschooling is an answer. Public schools fail, I am not going to be a dumbass and put my kids into a failing system, I am trying to fix the public school system here but I don't have as much access as I need.


Smunkee, I do agree with you on this one - I hate stereotypes more than I hate Marmite - but a word of warning; the phrase 'I have a constitutional right' will not get you very far in a debate with people like us British. IMHO, anyway.
As for the OP, Top Gear was pretty frightening - but must have been pretty heavily edited to look like it did. and what could they possibly have expected?

find me an unbiased news source


Fox News? Just kidding. Seriously though, as far as it is practical there are plenty of fair and balanced news publishers/broadcasters. CNN Internaional for example. This is kinda off topic, but it baffles me that people say "everybody has some bias" and so draw the conclusion that there is no such thing as unbiased news, as if journalists don't realise they need to write fair stories and just go ahead and let the first thought that pops into their head into an article.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.

You fail...

...judging anything or anyone based on a TV PROGRAM!

Honestly non-U.S. people...that's something we're supposed to be doing, not you. :rolleyes:

A quote from one of the comments about the program on the top gear site.
This was undoubtedly the most excruciatingly awful rubbish you lot have yet perpetrated. An already puerile descent into lager-lout territory has degenerated further to the point where you now evidently consider insulting an entire nation (fat, murderers etc, etc) to be fair game. I'd have been tempted to stone you if I'd been there, just for bringing the English into yet more disrepute. It's one thing being iconoclasts, which is how I imagine you see yourselves, it's quite another being w*****s. I would say its people like them that the english into disrepute. Its a comody and made the most of american steriotypes, comody always needs a victim.

Just don't assume that "America" is some uniform place or homogeneous group of people. There are HUGE regional differences, and tremendous differences between trends in major urban areas and rural areas.

Honestly, I find myself frequently baffled by the "Americans" you are talking about. They're nothing like me or the people I know. They are ignorant, rage-filled children who throw tantrums when they are forced to acknowledge the existence of things they don't like (i.e. brown people, atheists, gays, liberals, women who talk, etc.). Their mentality and way of life are as foreign to me as if they were from the other side of the Earth.

Look at the US broken down into smaller pieces. Look at the states with the highest literacy rates, highest rates of college attendance, lowest rates of infant mortality...basically, look at important indicators of progress and general "health". Look at which states suck tax dollars from the rest of the country, and which states get the lowest return on the federal taxes they pay. Look at where the most people have health care. Look at where the lowest rates of domestic abuse and rape are. Look at where the lowest homicide rates are.

You'll notice pretty amazing disparities between different regions of the US. It's a big country.

Bottle...

I have lived in the US. I grew up on USAF bases. My father is American. My brother is serving in the US Army. I know how varied the US is. I fail to see your point as I have never said that the groups of people are similar.

Then you go into a rant...that is completely opposite of what you posted in your first paragraph. Not all Americans I know are like that.

The rest...sorry mate...but you've lost me.

Originally Posted by Smunkeeville
find me an unbiased news source

The BBC

A quote from one of the comments about the program on the top gear site.
I would say its people like them that the english into disrepute. Its a comody and made the most of american steriotypes, comody always needs a victim.

QFT. The great thing about the British is their ability to laugh at themselves. Self parody is a value that most Americans I have encountered don't seem to have developed yet.

You fail...

...judging anything or anyone based on a TV PROGRAM!

Honestly non-U.S. people...that's something we're supposed to be doing, not you. :rolleyes:



Sheesh man, read the words which I wrote, as I have already said I was asking questions, not makeing statements.

QFT. The great thing about the British is their ability to laugh at themselves. Self parody is a value that most Americans I have encountered don't seem to have developed yet. was that agreeing with me or not?

Honestly, I find myself frequently baffled by the "Americans" you are talking about.You too, eh?

Smunk, Bottle & whoever else, it's not that all Americans are nutters, it's just that there seems to be a disproportional amount of nutters in the US. Besides, if you can't make fun of the special people, who can you make fun of?

Why should I find you an unbiased news source? What I said was that it is something that is needed. That at this moment in time in the US it does not exist. Therefore I am not able to provide you with an unbiased news source.
you claim that all of the news sources in the US are biased, and that we need to have an unbiased news source, I assumed that you didn't get your news from a biased source or you wouldn't be singling out "them stupid Americans" so where is an unbiased news source? link to one.

I never said that you or anyone should give up your religion. Public life refers to things like elections and government. Not what you decide to practice in your own home or place of worship.
which is why I asked what you meant, you didn't clarify much in the beginning.

Homeschooling is not an answer. I fail to see how every family can homeschool their children.
homeschooling is an answer, it's not the answer for everyone.



If I had children I would very much do the same as you with regards to not having my children in school. I would also not deny them the chance to socialise (after school activities would be allowed...kids need other kids). I would also use tutors to ensure that they have the proper grounding in certain areas like maths and science.
good for you

Anyway...this is getting away from the OP I think?
sure.

Fact is that the Top Gear crew went somewhere with the idea to provoke the locals. For that they really deserve a smack around the earhole.
hey, if they want to do that I don't care, it's funny sometimes, but for people to use that to say "wow, all Americans must be like this" is what I have a problem with.

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.
yeh, i saw it. it was entertaining. but i do think there was a fair bit of acting and sly editing and unnecessarily shaky cameras to make it look more scary. the only actual bit of agression that we saw was the woman pointing and ashouting and telling them to leave, we couldn't actually hear what she was saying and only have clarkson's word for it that she was "going to call the boys". all the times where they were running away we didn't see their pursuers at all.

hey, if they want to do that I don't care, it's funny sometimes, but for people to use that to say "wow, all Americans must be like this" is what I have a problem with.

Who in this thread said that? :confused:

You too, eh?

Smunk, Bottle & whoever else, it's not that all Americans are nutters, it's just that there seems to be a disproportional amount of nutters in the US. Besides, if you can't make fun of the special people, who can you make fun of?

I don't think there are any more of them than there are of us "rational" types, just that they make better entertainment.

For every 1 insane religious person you see on TV there are at least 50K more that are peaceful, tolerant, etc.

I run into a triple bias, being American, a protestant, and a homeschooler, any time you see any of these on a reality show they are insane, hateful, ignorant, and just plain scary.

you claim that all of the news sources in the US are biased, and that we need to have an unbiased news source, I assumed that you didn't get your news from a biased source or you wouldn't be singling out "them stupid Americans" so where is an unbiased news source? link to one.

I currently do not* live in the US.


which is why I asked what you meant, you didn't clarify much in the beginning.

Well I thought the term 'public life' was pretty self explanatory.


homeschooling is an answer, it's not the answer for everyone.

Its an option.

good for you

Why thank you.


hey, if they want to do that I don't care, it's funny sometimes, but for people to use that to say "wow, all Americans must be like this" is what I have a problem with.

And not all English are football hooligans.

*damn my forgetting those important words! LOL

I run into a triple bias, being American, a protestant, and a homeschooler, any time you see any of these on a reality show they are insane, hateful, ignorant, and just plain scary.

Art imitating life?... Sorry.

Who in this thread said that? :confused:

sorry I hit this thread after this one, where you said

You know what keeps bugging me about the US? On the whole?

You guys are making it really FUCKING hard not to stereotype you!!!
Seriously, I'm doing my best to try and regard the US as a modern, secular, rational democratic republic... but I'm fighting the evidence, it would sometimes seem. :(

and in general I am getting tired of the attitude around here.

sorry I hit this thread after this one, where you said



and in general I am getting tired of the attitude around here.

Hey, as I said, I'm trying.
Believe it or not, it's not easy, the way the USA seem to like to present itself. I can only go with what I hear, see and read, you know?

Hey, as I said, I'm trying.
Believe it or not, it's not easy, the way the USA seem to like to present itself. I can only go with what I hear, see and read, you know?

yeah pretty much.

Its not easy to think that Americans are selfless, reasonable and not given to Neanderthal kneejerking.

I personally found that most of the Americans came across as normal, level headed people who acted reasonably whilst a group of Englishmen were filmed taking the piss out of them. Fat Stig obviously didn't know what he was being called on the commentary.
The bit in Alabama could have been staged, and was certainly well edited, and who knows about the law suit bit as it was not captured on film.

Saying that though, I laughed all the way through, as I am an immature 40 something who would love to drive an old Caddie on a road trip with my mates

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.
Originally I had a snarky reply involving equipment from an RPG but apparently because everything screwed up somehow for so long and I couldn't gain access to the forums my reply would no longer work. Only works if it's one of the first few posts. :(

There are plenty of unbiased news sources in the USA. THe problem is that they are not also entertaining. Aussie Rupert Murdoch figured that out and launched Fox News in order to inflame the partisan divide between what was seen as a "liberal elite" journalistic tradition and the sensationalism, jingoism and enforced patriotism of news information falsely labeled as "fair and balanced".

So who's to blame? Everyone, really. Corporations exist to make money. Corporations own broadcasting companies now. In broadacsting, more viewers means more ad revenue and more money. Stockholders like that, so they keep voting to keep those who made them richer by proxy. Broadacsters are copycat artists, so more programs like the successful ones show up and saturate the airwaves.

Public TV/Radio (PBS/NPR) is unbiased, but not if you ask the folks at Fox, who could just as easily label Bill Moyers a commie as shake your hand. You'd be alarmed by how Fox and related shills would describe the BBC.

Next, education. We used to teach critical thinking skills and the proper way to evaluate information. Now we teach to standardized tests. Popularity and untaxing thoughts are what sell, so teaching discernment is not something you can get often in public schools anymore. As education levels drop and we divorce ourselves from critical and evaluative thinking, the "news" we get, in order to stay popular (read: profitable), needs to appeal to that lesser-educated demographic.

It's a vicious cycle.

For am un-biased news broadcaster in the USA try BBC Worldwide. Americans complain a lot that they are stereotyped, but there not stereotypes, there the truth. The guy in the ruff end of Miami on top gear said that everybody carries a gun, in that part of the city that’s true. Its true that Americans are the rudest people on the planet, its true that Americans are the fattest people on the planet and it seems to be true that Americans are statistically the thickest in the developed world. In a democracy the majority group represents everybody. And the majority of Americans seem to be fat, rude and stupid. Live with it.

For am un-biased news broadcaster in the USA try BBC Worldwide. Americans complain a lot that they are stereotyped, but they[apostrophe]re not stereotypes, they[apostrophe]re the truth. The guy in the ruff end of Miami on top gear said that everybody carries a gun, ["and" or semicolon] in that part of the city that’s true. It[apostrophe]s true that Americans are the rudest people on the planet, it[apostrophe]s true that Americans are the fattest people on the planet[Oxford comma (how ironic)] and it seems to be true that Americans are statistically the thickest in the developed world [using standardized tests as a reference, I wouldn't trust that statistic, mate]. In a democracy the majority group represents everybody [Really? By what definition of either democracy or majority?]. And the majority of Americans seem to be fat, rude[Oxford comma] and stupid. Live with it.

You can take your sweeping generalizations and -- well, now, finishing that sentence would be rude.

So you're trying to tell me that we're all thick over here? So there are no hooligan morons knocking over dustbins in Shaftesbury? Generalizations do nothing whatsover to foster understanding or friendships between people. In fact, they give a complete cop-out to anyone intellectually lazy enough to take them at face value.

For example, I could say that ALL of the English are all dentally-challenged, obsessively rigid, dole-queueing twits. I could say it, but I know it isn't true, just as your earlier generalization wasn't true. You'd like it to be, because it makes the world eaiser for you to look at (or down upon) and massages your sense of superiority. Sorry, mate, I've seen too many Guy Ritchie films to ever believe that.

And if you think that judging a nation based on movies or media is stupid, so do I. Live with that.

It seldom bodes good when the US of A decides to rip off a Brit show.

A lot of classic Britcoms died horribly in the transition.

Unfortunately, Pop Idol did not and continues to plague us to this day.

shit i forgot to get someone to record it for me last night

For am un-biased news broadcaster in the USA try BBC Worldwide. Americans complain a lot that they are stereotyped, but there not stereotypes, there the truth. The guy in the ruff end of Miami on top gear said that everybody carries a gun, in that part of the city that’s true. Its true that Americans are the rudest people on the planet, its true that Americans are the fattest people on the planet and it seems to be true that Americans are statistically the thickest in the developed world. In a democracy the majority group represents everybody. And the majority of Americans seem to be fat, rude and stupid. Live with it.

:rolleyes:

It seldom bodes good when the US of A decides to rip off a Brit show.

A lot of classic Britcoms died horribly in the transition.

Unfortunately, Pop Idol did not and continues to plague us to this day.

Good point. Most of the TV that passes for entertainment in the US is recycled British crap. Survivor, Big Brother, and many others. Some that didn't make the transition well were crap to begin with. Everyone told me to watch the original British show Coupling because the NBC version had been so badly adapted. The adaptation wasn't the problem, folks, that show was rubbish before it crossed the pond.

For am un-biased news broadcaster in the USA try BBC Worldwide. Americans complain a lot that they are stereotyped, but there not stereotypes, there the truth.

Actually, they're stereotypes. It would be nice if, while you're insisting that we're all vastly stupider than you, you managed to learn basic grammar and spelling. ;)

The guy in the ruff end of Miami on top gear said that everybody carries a gun, in that part of the city that’s true.

Ah. So the stereotype that Americans all love guns is hereby proven to be true because some guy on TV said that everyone in his particular area of his particular city does so. Wow, that's convincing evidence!

Its true that Americans are the rudest people on the planet

Is it now? Huh. I'm glad that you've so clearly proven that to be the case. The sheer volume of evidence you've supplied to support this assertion is positively overwhelming!

its true that Americans are the fattest people on the planet

On average? Possibly; I'm sure as a large, wealthy country in which many people must drive rather than walking, we're at least in contention. Unfortunately, despite your weird ideas about what democracy means, you can't reasonably democratically declare me to be fat.

and it seems to be true that Americans are statistically the thickest in the developed world.

Wow, you just keep bowling me over with incredibly persuasive evidence! Man, how can I possibly dispute something that you've so clearly demonstrated to be true?


In a democracy the majority group represents everybody. And the majority of Americans seem to be fat, rude and stupid. Live with it.

Actually, in a representative democracy, the majority group elects political representatives. I'm pretty convinced that we have never yet elected "overweight" over "thin" or "rude" over "polite." I could be wrong, but I've never yet heard of an election in which such concepts were on the ballot... :p

*sigh
I officially apologise for this guy.

Both for his attitude and his spelling.

is this it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajWS8gCJOac

Never seen the show, or even heard of it....

I've news for you...there are a fair few yanks I do not like...who are not in your government nor are your representatives.

What are you doing to change those stereotypes?And I'm sure there are Brits you like who aren't in government too. And probably some frenchmen. Maybe even a German or two. What's your point? That disliking a few Americans validates stereotypes?

Good question. Maybe by having a fair and unbiased media for starters?No such thing anywhere ever. Less biased, sure. However, we don't get much say in that.

Better educationMy state outranks your nation in terms of education. America has 51 public education systems. They are not all the same, or even close.


Yeah I am asking the impossible.For a single person, yes.

No...I think you know what I mean. That the US should not rely on things like Fox, CNN, Air America (if its still running) or C-Span for unbiased news.CNN is fairly good. C-Span is not particularly a news source



Education...home schooling is not an answer. Religion, beyond teaching about the different religions has no place in school. Empiricism rules ok.homeschooling is AN answer. And, in many cases, very effective.

Homeschooling is not an answer. I fail to see how every family can homeschool their children. see above. Smunkee never suggested every family should, but it does work for her.


Hey, as I said, I'm trying.
Believe it or not, it's not easy, the way the USA seem to like to present itself. I can only go with what I hear, see and read, you know?
We don't choose how we are portrayed any more than anyone else. Iran gets demonized in our media. That isn't their choice. Amazingly, regions of the US that align with Europe fairly well seem to never get mention over there except for Massachusets with the gay marriage laws.

I'm not represented by someone in Arkansas or Texas. I'm not represented by someone in New York. I am represented by myself. If it needs to be expaneded, then look to Connecticut, Boston, Massachusets, and New England.

Well that’s me told. Although unlike this blessed Chris character I keep hearing about I’m not going to argue. I was trying to use statistics (of sort, not very well thought out) to put that point across. By my own reckoning of statistics many British people do have dodgy teeth, and we drink the most tea and we do have some of the worst football violence, and I must say I fall into the teeth and tea category’s, perhaps there's a correlation. Anyways I’m good at sweeping statements. Such as all sailors are gay, P.E teacher’s paedophiles or that the Irish gene pool is 25% potato, so you can expect more but don’t take them all that seriously. Oh and iv always been bad at spelling and my handwriting is terrible, although I can write a good story and tell you about math's, science and business.

P.S. MS spell checker, you have to love it.

k...so, watched the video clip. I just want to make sure I got this straight.

They painted their cars with saying that they KNEW would piss people off. They then drove into an area where they knew the reaction would be worst.
They made it clear (by having cameras) that they were doing it just to piss people off.
They held it against the people for reacting?

For some reason, I have trouble blaming the hicks here...Kinda like someone who ties meat to themselves and goes to play with alligators, if you're that stupid, you get what you deserve.

We don't choose how we are portrayed any more than anyone else. Iran gets demonized in our media. That isn't their choice. Amazingly, regions of the US that align with Europe fairly well seem to never get mention over there except for Massachusets with the gay marriage laws.

I'm not represented by someone in Arkansas or Texas. I'm not represented by someone in New York. I am represented by myself. If it needs to be expaneded, then look to Connecticut, Boston, Massachusets, and New England.

I knew I should have stayed out of this... there's nothing I could possibly add to help the conversation.

I haven't seen the show you are talking about, nor do I know what you mean by "slogans" or "reactions" but if you want to judge all of America by people from Alabama, or Texas, or whatever redneck state you guys decide represents us, then I guess, yeah, we are all evil uneducated bigots. :mad: If Clarkson was in America, he would be about as redneck as they come.

I'm sure everyone's heard about the Hammond accident. Top Gear do stupid stunts like this, it's a testosterone thing and absolutely incredible to watch.

k...so, watched the video clip. I just want to make sure I got this straight.

They painted their cars with saying that they KNEW would piss people off. They then drove into an area where they knew the reaction would be worst.
They made it clear (by having cameras) that they were doing it just to piss people off.
They held it against the people for reacting?

For some reason, I have trouble blaming the hicks here...Kinda like someone who ties meat to themselves and goes to play with alligators, if you're that stupid, you get what you deserve.

The presenters of top gear did not bash the people for reacting, they were expecting it to happen of course.

The presenters of top gear did not bash the people for reacting, they were expecting it to happen of course.

"They really do have an irony deficiency. I honestly believe that in certain parts of America, people have started to mate with vegetables."

"They really do have an irony deficiency. I honestly believe that in certain parts of America, people have started to mate with vegetables."

It's called a joke/humour.

It's called a joke/humour.jokes tend to be funny, not just insulting people. But then, I'm an American...perhaps I have that damned irony deficency [oh the wit! the word play! sheer brilliance!)

Yes, it was joking, tongue in cheek. However, the sentiment that motivated it wasn't. They drove in like assholes, got treated as such, and pouted about it. They didn't mock themselves, they didn't mock the situation. They mocked the people they used as toys.

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.

no I didnt see it.

editing always has something to do with the way the clips are presented

I have driven thru a few small closely knit towns and they are often scary (this goes for backwater european towns as well)


yes, there really are people out there who react violently/stupidly/moronically when confronted with somethign they dont agree with, especially when being provoked

no, of course all US Americans arent like that... not even most.

To understand the US Americans you need to pay attention to US media, world history, and human psychology.

I actually laughed. Such as the fact the car wouldn't start as the boys showed up. And then came the rocks..

I thought it was funny, it was nice at the end when they gave their cars away to the people in New Orleans, the remark on America being shameful is true no one seems to have brought up that point.

Did anybody see this programe last night?

Okay now I admit that editing may have had something to do with it, but was anybody else actulay sacred to see the reactions of some locals when they drove through Alabama with slogans on their cars.

Fuckin' hell are there really people like that out there? Surly not all of our American friends as this bigoted? Help me understand this my stateside cousins.

That was terrifying. Not that I construe the "Alabama thing" as representative of the USA as a whole, however, that it even exists is disturding. The most powerful man in the world is elected by morons.....

k...so, watched the video clip. I just want to make sure I got this straight.

They painted their cars with saying that they KNEW would piss people off. They then drove into an area where they knew the reaction would be worst.
They made it clear (by having cameras) that they were doing it just to piss people off.
They held it against the people for reacting?

For some reason, I have trouble blaming the hicks here...Kinda like someone who ties meat to themselves and goes to play with alligators, if you're that stupid, you get what you deserve.


I think the issues here is not wether people were pissed off, but how extreame the reactions where.

Perhaps it is true and us Brits are too resrved, but I really can't see that sort of reaction happening over here.* I mean come on, 'Country and Wetern music is rubbish' Does that really stir up so much aggresion?


*Ohh sorry, perhaps in some parts of Wales!;)

I thought it was funny, it was nice at the end when they gave their cars away to the people in New Orleans, the remark on America being shameful is true no one seems to have brought up that point.

Ahhh that's another point. When they got to New Orleans, the devistation was incredibule, and as Clarkson said, two things struck him, that the scale of the damage was huge, and that a year later, the richest nation on the planet had not got around to rebuilding yet.

It may seem like I'm engageing in that newest of sports, American bashing, I'm not honest, lets just put it down to cultural differances. The whole slogan thing was quite frankly astounding to see, the nature of the reaction was not an applicible response to the nature of the slogans(to my mind), but the New Orleans thing, well he did make a very good point.

Ahhh that's another point. When they got to New Orleans, the devistation was incredibule, and as Clarkson said, two things struck him, that the scale of the damage was huge, and that a year later, the richest nation on the planet had not got around to rebuilding yet.
what's the point?

It may seem like I'm engageing in that newest of sports, American bashing, I'm not honest, lets just put it down to cultural differances. The whole slogan thing was quite frankly astounding to see, the nature of the reaction was not an applicible response to the nature of the slogans(to my mind), but the New Orleans thing, well he did make a very good point.
again, it was probably highly edited, you don't know how much provocation it took to get that reaction.

what's the point?


again, it was probably highly edited, you don't know how much provocation it took to get that reaction.

The point is that after a year after a natural disaster a major US city is still in ruins...and that is so wrong. Seems no one is interested in dealing with the situation.

If there is major work being done to clear up the debris I have yet to see it...or is there a debate going on with regards to what to do?

It could have been edited. Then again maybe the people ought not to have participated. Thing is...I suspect that what happened was true but could have been embellished...who knows...lets see what they say in the next show on Sunday...

Ahhh that's another point. When they got to New Orleans, the devistation was incredibule, and as Clarkson said, two things struck him, that the scale of the damage was huge, and that a year later, the richest nation on the planet had not got around to rebuilding yet.

It may seem like I'm engageing in that newest of sports, American bashing, I'm not honest, lets just put it down to cultural differances. The whole slogan thing was quite frankly astounding to see, the nature of the reaction was not an applicible response to the nature of the slogans(to my mind), but the New Orleans thing, well he did make a very good point.
If pointing out the horrible failure that followed Katrina is "America bashing," then I'm a goddam gold medalist in that sport.

Watching the complete and utter failure on the part of my government made me ashamed to admit I'm American. Seeing how our elected leaders so completely and totally abandoned our own people, and how our highest levels of government poured money into the pockets of corrupt contractors while leaving American citizens with NOTHING...I have not the words to express how angry it makes me.

jokes tend to be funny, not just insulting people. But then, I'm an American...perhaps I have that damned irony deficency [oh the wit! the word play! sheer brilliance!)

Yes, it was joking, tongue in cheek. However, the sentiment that motivated it wasn't. They drove in like assholes, got treated as such, and pouted about it. They didn't mock themselves, they didn't mock the situation. They mocked the people they used as toys.

Why? It was damn funny, it got awesome ratings, and frankly, if certian Americans do react like that to a manifestly evident joke, they deserve the invective they recieve.