Nice, so using the word bitch will also make one a raging misogynist?

The point being discussed, I thought, was one of nomenclature. It was not one of getting the opportunity to air racist views as if they were acceptable. It is rather one of people being outraged and offended buy often slips of the tounge by a generation were such words were part of every day language. It is not acceptable now, but an apology should be accepted.
I am not stupid enough to think n word acceptable, but confused as to why coloured is also not acceptable, or indeed what is.

I have I really, really like what I see.

I do have to admit though I would prefer to be a couple of stone lighter.

I grew up with the 'nigger' version of the rhyme and really never thought of it as racist to the extent I was quite surprised when my daughter started using it and I found the offending word had been replaced by "tiger".

Personally I'd think of it like the c-word (I'm only refering to it as such to avoid the Swearbot). It can be an offensive word but it's all about context. If you walked up to somebody and called them a c-word out of the blue you'd probably offend them, but if your mates tied you naked to a lamp-post on your stag do and you shouted that the were a bunch of c-words then they'd probably take it in good spirits.

The n-word seems to have a whole other level of taboo attached to it, to the extent that somebody mumbling a word that begins with an 'n' sound (which is how I've seen it reported) is newsworthy. We all know what the word is, the story only makes sense because we all know that nursery rhyme, but because somebody is on-film *nearly* vocalising it there's a national outcry?

I'm really more interested in just how taboo the word is - have we all seen this interviewer refusing to use the word to Samuel L Jackson?

Is Clarkson a racist?

He does seem to spend a lot of time appearing like one but I don't really think he is.

The modern Mr Clarkson behaves like a "shock Jock" baiting his followers, who provide the reaction he seems to expect / desire. Then again perhaps I'm just giving the man too much credit and he is indeed just an ignoramus?

I was advised that coloured is offensive because it generalises "non-whites", thereby undermining their ethnic origin. Unlike the term "white" which generalises all variations from Nordic to swarthy. Except it would appear "white Irish".

Some of the most vitriolic racism I've heard was from blacks referring to asians. However this is not useful when putting whites on the defensive. Much like race hate crimes appear to be white on "whatever" whereas "whatever" on white is just an assault. As a general rule if I see a news item on an assault which doesn't refer to the ethnicity of the assaulter, he/she/they are from a minority.

As someone who is not a rascist, I would be more concerned about the ground swell against moslems in this country. Sadly for them the radicals appear to make them a legitimate target for the mindless minority. Perhaps more robust action against the radicals would go some way address this issue.

Someone has it in for him. A member of the crew has taken this bit of film and gone to the paper that hates him.

I would imagine someone from the paper has been trying to gt stuff like this for a while.

The judas in the the production staff needs exposing.

Is Clarkson a racist ? Well if your black he most likley is or if your white most likely not . Personally i dont think he is a racist i just think it was the height of bad taste and should have known better . He did not pick on anyone in particular . I find the video in which he says the word bizarre . Talk about double standards at the liberal guardian organisation that is the BBC . Had it been anyone else he would have been long gone but because Clarkson is a cash cow for the BBC he stays .

Is Clarkson a racist? Anyone who tries to form a judgment on the basis of this is a bigger idiot than he is. Talking about Quorn doesn't make someone a vegetarian.

If someone is offended by him alluding to the word nigger, that makes sense. I am not personally but the word carries no 'sting' for me. Others will be. Others may find it amusing. I don't. Of course he did it out of mischief. If you don't like the man, fair enough. Freedom of speech can't be limited to what I find amusing or don't find offensive. When the shrill voices carelessly and unthinkingly label something as pathetic as this as any sort of 'ism or 'obia it demeans the term simply turning it into an object of abuse. It is this throwing hands up in horror that I suspect this incident was mocking.

It sells papers though and gives a lovely warm feeling of self-righteousness.

What Clarkson does do by poking fun at political correctness is validate those who through ignorance, fear or hatred arising from whatever their life has been are racist. Racism exists and is vile. Some of the things Clarkson says are vile, which takes me back to my first paragraph.

I can remember the late Tony Greig commentating on cricket regularly calling the Pakistani team P---s, Michael holding said that Greig wasn't a racist

What if he had been BME? Graham Norton? What if he had done what Hardeep Singh Kohli did? A word can cause less/more offence depending upon who says it, but we can also find our own prejudices and dislikes and our fear of being labelled tolerant/intolerant leading us to take a stance of greater/offence when objectively it is not warranted.

You are hearing what you want to hear, the N-word is NOT uttered, it is gibberish mumbling in the cadence of the rhyme.
Also by referring to "the words" you appear to make it clear that you think it is unacceptable to refer to the entire rhyme at all?

I'm not a massive fan of Clarkson but to accuse him of being a racist because he recited an old nursery rhyme is absurd to say the least, let's not forget that the footage was not even aired by the BBC, no doubt because of the controversy it would create, and yes, it is political correctness gone mad, the press in this country are pathetic sometimes.

Clarkson for President!

I don't think he's a racist. He didn't say it directly to anyone and even when he thought he nearly said it he asked for it to be refilmed to avoid any offence.

Off subject, but are there any ther nursery rhymes for those of us wanting to randomly choose something?

The only other one I can think of is also rude > 'Ip, dip, dog, sh*t.....'

I Wonder if Clarkson is voting UKIP?

remember you cant claim racism if you are pink/white .... otherwise you would be called a racist

I maybe wrong but I believe dual Heritage is the pc term these days

I've had the pleasure of meeting him on two different occasions (his son attends Rugby school and he normally goes for food at prezzo or the three horse shoes hotel) he is one of the most down to earth people I've met considering his profile and the relentless amount of people asking his autobiograph, picture etc but always happy to talk to people, sign books and have his picture taken.

I really don't think he is a racist, like said it's an old rhyme with so many different versions, but when you hum them they all said alike.

Again it's the media blowing things way out of proportion, when was that episode aired? Majority of people probably didn't even realise at the time but now it's plasterd all over the news the complaints come rolling in very similar to the Russel Brand and Jonathan Ross saga.

In my opinion it's a load of rubbish and I can't wait for the new series of Top Gear

Here here

Having spent the last 4 years in foreign (eastern countries) I know that racism is not unique to some folk in the UK. I am the minority over here; and I know it…..

Get a grip UK, open your eyes

The world has gone completely stupid with this PC garbage, apar you can't even say 'black' anymore, it has to be 'coloured'.

The word racist itself means to regard one's own race as being superior.

'Nigger' is derived from the Spanish 'Negro', which we all know is 'black'

Now Spanish for white is 'Blanco', would you particularly give a xxxx if you were referred to as a 'Blancer'?

Context is a universally misused thing.................

If Clarkson was to get the boot, I for one wouldn't bother watching Top Gear again. I've read the majority of his books and find him a very intelligent and articulate person, who quite rightly throws two fingers up at society every now and then.

double post

Yes but he loves Coupes.

Ah the double standards that make the BBC (liberal luvvies) . This guy never even said the word and was sacked or told to leave .http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/11/bbc-forces-dj-to-quit-after-mistakenly-playing-song-containing-the-n-word-4723938/

I spotted it too!




A veteran BBC local radio DJ has lost his job after playing a song on his golden oldies show containing a racist word.

BBC Radio Devon DJ David Lowe, 68, said he was unaware that a 1932 version of The Sun Has Got His Hat On included the n-word.

Mr Lowe, a broadcaster for 32 years, said it was an "innocent mistake".

He said BBC bosses declined his idea of an on-air apology, and his offer to "fall on my sword" was accepted.

The BBC said it accepted that the situation could have been handled better, and offered freelance Mr Lowe his job back.

'Political correctness'
But the DJ said the incident had exacerbated a stress-related condition and he would not be returning to the corporation.

The second verse of the song, recorded by the UK dance band Ambrose and his Orchestra, features the line: "He's been tanning [n-word] out in Timbuktu, now he's coming back to do the same to you." Later versions of the song omit the offensive word.

looks like they will have to sack Will.i.am from The Voice then ....