Clarkson:- Offensive to gays?

Jeremy Clarkson has been admonished by OFCOM for using the term "A bit Ginger Beer" when talking about a car (a Diahatsu).
OFCOM has said that his comments were offensive to the gay community, as "Ginger beer" is offensive derogatory comment about homosexuals.
The BBC has said it has also admonished the team for this comment

Is this PC gone mad or perfectly correct of OFCOM?

He's a lad in a lads' show, he makes money from being a lad, so he comes out with laddish comments. So not sure why people are surprised. And he was right in that the car was a bit of a big girl's blouse to be honest.

I suppose OFCOM were working to the now standard definition of 'offensive' - something is offensive if it causes offence. So cannot blame them, it's just a sign of the tautology in which we live. I doubt it will do JC or TG any harm. Quite the opposite probably.

Originally posted by AlanA
OFCOM has said that his comments were offensive to the gay community

and probably quite hilarious to the homophobic community.

I am not ashamed to say I am on the other bus, and certainly wouldn't choose to drive that, lol, I like my beemer.

Am I offended erm nope, there are different levels of insult many of which are offensive if you CHOOSE to be offended by them.

Ginger beer is quite funny actually, and not wanting to cause offence
I would rather be called that than a "clarckson" which transleates to "knobhead" anyway.[:o)]

As it happens there are a lot of people on my bus that are complete Jessies anyway, but there are an equal number of them on the other bus too.

[Neil]

This is quite old news now, Clarkson mentioned it and appologised in his Sun column a couple of months back. I personally don't find it offensive and I'm gay, but others might and OFCOM have a duty to investigate these things.

I would not take any personal insult, and this is a lads show, not something I would watch, as I am not in to cars! However there are some rather sensitive people out there, gay or straight. So I can see why there were complaints, some people like complaining just for the sake of it! Some of these people need to get out more! [:o)]

DMB

We'll I'm offended, becuase "Ginger Beer" was what some of the old timer designers in my business used to refer to Engineers as, and I take great offence at being compared to a Diahatsu.

[fozzyo]

Its really strange, I don't "get" cars. My best mate does and he calls me to say he's just got a new car and all he tells me about it is the colour. But I love Top Gear - its a great entertaining chat show that happens to be car related.

Ginger Beer offensive? Well since that is the name of a well known and respected Lesbian website its hardly going to win any prizes for originality. Made me chuckle more then anything.

I wouldn't drive one! [:w]

I don't personally find the phrase offencive; I don't know many people who would but there are many people out there who will nit pick at anything!

[Bazz]

We are in danger of becoming too PC in this country. We are the most watched on CCTV. We are almost always the first to comply with EU directives that inhibit our international competitiveness whilst others so bound, blatantly ignore them. We are a soft touch for economic migrants (not talking here about genuine asylum seekers). We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the developed world, highest tax rates... I could go on. I am proud to be English and of my Welsh and Scottish ancestry (with a little bit of Oz thrown in for good mix) but I am concerned that my England is going to the dogs!

[RichardMannion]

As per the others really; I don't find it as offensive at all, I think Chris Moyles landed in a similiar situation when he stated that a ringtone 'was a bit gay'.

Sign of the times really on both counts, I know people who are far more offensive and homophobic than those two; it's a very adolescent, playground demeanour in my book.

Thanks,
Richard

People ask me if I am Gay and I just say most of the time but now and again I get depressed.

now going to find a forum where I am the only one in the Village.

Just thought I would add, my rington is Dr Who for a call, and the theme from the Godfather for texts, how laddy is that lol.

[Bazz]

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
People ask me if I am Gay and I just say most of the time but now and again I get depressed.

Egg, you win again, that comment just cracks me up! (Where's the crying with laughter icon when you need it?)

I don't think that Clarkson meant any offence to anyone when he mentioned 'Ginger Beer'. The only people who should be punished are the ones who censor every little thing that people who speak their minds have to say (i.e. Jeremy Clarkson, Chris Moyles). After all the UK is a country where free speech exists...well that's the theory nowadays. [:(!]

Some people just don't have a sense of humour at all.

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

PS -- My favourite ginger beer is a Scholes Bitter. Thank you.

I bet he is after Saturday! [:o)][:o)]

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
As a Complete and Utter Gay, I would like to name AlanA as an Honorary Complete and Utter Gay for bringing up the subject and showing such concern for the feelings of me and my fellow lads and lassies. Not all people in your state would show such enlightened, dare I say consistent, interest in our little slice of the population.

It's time for people like me to come out (LOL!!!) in support of those who choose to keep the issue of, well, erm, "gay," out there in the public consciousness.

So I've decided that from now on, AlanA, you are an honorary gay, gay, gay in my book, and since gay is no insult, I would encourage you to continue speaking out on gay issues and raising awareness of this incredibly interesting topic.

Thanks!

GJ[:X]

PS -- My favourite ginger beer is a Scholes Bitter. Thank you.

I'm a honorary Lesbian. Most educational too [:0]

I was with a female friend today and we were talking about this very subject - we both use the expression that "something is gay" when referring to objects but that this is not being derogatory to homosexuals in any way just that the "somehting" is crap, useless, looks bad or is genrally poor!

And hasnt the word "gay" itself only referred to homosexuals for the past 25 years or so - corrupting the original meaning?

I really can't stand it when I hear people saying "oh, that's gay" When they actually mean something like "oh, that's stupid" I actually find it quite offencive. Would the term "that's so Asian" be accepted?

Originally posted by FlyCC
I really can't stand it when I hear people saying "oh, that's gay" When they actually mean something like "oh, that's stupid" I actually find it quite offencive. Would the term "that's so Asian" be accepted?

No I would assume not, but that is because the word is not used in the english language to mean that - there are many words that have different meanings and when I use the word "gay" to refer to an object I am not implying that the object is any way associated with a homosexual person or that I am demeaning homosexual people. Remember the word "gay" did not mean a homosexual person around 30 years ago either!!

As usual Wikipedia has some good stuff on it especially the part referring to "common usage" -

Gay is used as an adjective to describe sexual orientation and is usually chosen instead of homosexual as an identity label.

Gay sex is used to describe sexual acts between or among people of the same sex or gender, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Gay is used to describe the "gay community" by both insiders and the mainstream media.

Gay is sometimes used to describe an object of particular flamboyance or camp.

Gay can be used as a throw-away, nondescript, derogatory comment towards a person or object. (Ex: That movie was so gay!)

Don't worry, I wasn't trying to change your way of thinking! I know the word wasn't used thirty years ago to define anyone who is homo but times have changed. I was trying to say that I hate the way it has become so common to define anything 'abnormal' or 'stupid' as gay. Thirty years ago it didn't mean 'that's lame' either.

I think, for me, it's the whole referring to an object that isn't so nice as being gay because I feel it degrades the real meaning and any young person listening notices it and doesn't ever understand the real difference.

[Decker]

I'd suggest that from the late '80s on this was a homophobic put down. If it doesn't match my sexual preference it must be crap. CF The Macc Lads

[preiffer]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
At the end of the day, though, this is hardly the stuff to incite my most volcanic rage.

Tempting... [:w]

[preiffer]

Ah, shame. After a considerable amount of wine, I was up for a "yo momma so fat..." and "wassup wit dat...?" session that would have put West Side Story in its place.

[Decker]

Ah yes, ebonics. So much more amusing than gayer jokes don't you think?

I find political correctness far more insulting than Jezza calling something a bit "ginger beer".

cheers!

Dean