Top Gear now facing potential legal action thanks to insane equality laws

[Conservative,]

If it's such a crime for people to get offended just ban free speech altogether why don't you?

It's just a laugh, a bit of good humour. I don't care if the Mexicans don't understand it because that's their problem. If someone said to me "English people are tea-drinking, crumpet eating, benefit-cheating thieves" I'd say, "well clearly you've never been there then" and laugh at them. It's obvious that they either;

Have no idea what they're talking about OR are just trying to be funny. Whether you thought it was funny or not, you cannot argue about it's intended impact. It wasn't supposed to be offensive, it was supposed to get a response from the audience and viewers, which it evidently did.

I don't see why people can't go about saying what they feel these days. I often feel if I expressed my full opinions on certain topics - I'd get a lot of haters. That may be just because of some of the things I believe, but I'm allowed my opinion, they are allowed theirs. I'm allowed to offend people if I wish, they don't have to listen to me. They can ignore me. Same with this. If Mexican people did find it offensive, they don'r have to watch it, they don't have to listen to it. Just because they're offended doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed. Where in the Geneva Convention does it say: "Human rights: Right to never be offended". It doesn't.

[Eoin247]

If they don't watch Top Gear then what is their problem exactly?

They find out via newspapers, tv, internet etc.

Well i'm just guessing here but the headlines in the mexican newspapers probably read something like :

"Show on a state owned, British television channel mocks our country"

That could be interpreted in a very different way as you can imagine.

So probably no Mexicans knew of top gear last year and never watched it, of course many of them would know now.

[Calculator]

If it's such a crime for people to get offended just ban free speech altogether why don't you?

It's just a laugh, a bit of good humour. I don't care if the Mexicans don't understand it because that's their problem. If someone said to me "English people are tea-drinking, crumpet eating, benefit-cheating thieves" I'd say, "well clearly you've never been there then" and laugh at them. It's obvious that they either;

Have no idea what they're talking about OR are just trying to be funny. Whether you thought it was funny or not, you cannot argue about it's intended impact. It wasn't supposed to be offensive, it was supposed to get a response from the audience and viewers, which it evidently did.

I don't see why people can't go about saying what they feel these days. I often feel if I expressed my full opinions on certain topics - I'd get a lot of haters. That may be just because of some of the things I believe, but I'm allowed my opinion, they are allowed theirs. I'm allowed to offend people if I wish, they don't have to listen to me. They can ignore me. Same with this. If Mexican people did find it offensive, they don'r have to watch it, they don't have to listen to it. Just because they're offended doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed. Where in the Geneva Convention does it say: "Human rights: Right to never be offended". It doesn't.

Thats a very ignorant post. They DON'T watch it. They read up on it. How hard is to understand?
Again "It's just a laugh, a bit of good humour. I don't care if the Mexicans don't understand it because that's their problem.", different culture and different thinking styles. British people have a very different and open mind than other cultures. It isn't their problem, its the way the information is given to them.

Seriously some people here are just damn ignorant of other cultures.

[Conservative,]

Thats a very ignorant post. They DON'T watch it. They read up on it. How hard is to understand?
Again "It's just a laugh, a bit of good humour. I don't care if the Mexicans don't understand it because that's their problem.", different culture and different thinking styles. British people have a very different and open mind than other cultures. It isn't their problem, its the way the information is given to them.

Seriously some people here are just damn ignorant of other cultures.

As I said, do they have some kind of God-given right where it's a crime to be offended? No.

I don't care how they find out, watching it, reading about it or otherwise. It's not our problem. We have free-speech for a reason, people are allowed to state their views without fear of prosecution just because another person doesn't like it - but now that seems to be eroded because this is exactly why free speech is in place. JC can legally say what he wants about Mexico, or any other country, without being prosecuted because it's his opinions and his views.

If people don't like it, don't watch it, don't read it, don't listen to it. If someone said something about the UK, I'd just move on, turn a blind eye, it's one weirdo on a TV show, who cares?

I'm not ignorant. Just because they have different values, they still have the same rights, no more, no less, no different. They can have their opinions, we can have ours. But that doesn't mean they can sue JC for his comments, because he's protected by free-speech. If he were to lose this court case, it would be the end of free speech.

[Calculator]

As I said, do they have some kind of God-given right where it's a crime to be offended? No.

I don't care how they find out, watching it, reading about it or otherwise. It's not our problem. We have free-speech for a reason, people are allowed to state their views without fear of prosecution just because another person doesn't like it - but now that seems to be eroded because this is exactly why free speech is in place. JC can legally say what he wants about Mexico, or any other country, without being prosecuted because it's his opinions and his views.

If people don't like it, don't watch it, don't read it, don't listen to it. If someone said something about the UK, I'd just move on, turn a blind eye, it's one weirdo on a TV show, who cares?

I'm not ignorant. Just because they have different values, they still have the same rights, no more, no less, no different. They can have their opinions, we can have ours. But that doesn't mean they can sue JC for his comments, because he's protected by free-speech. If he were to lose this court case, it would be the end of free speech.

Oh no, I do not agree with the legal action. However I do not agree with those saying Mexicans should not be offended. It's free speech yes, but it can still offend. I can assure you, if I gave you a lot of abuse, you will be offended, however I can argue its free speech and that the police and you should not moan.

[Conservative,]

Oh no, I do not agree with the legal action. However I do not agree with those saying Mexicans should not be offended. It's free speech yes, but it can still offend. I can assure you, if I gave you a lot of abuse, you will be offended, however I can argue its free speech and that the police and you should not moan.

That's what I'm saying? They can be offended, why should we have to bow down to them and never say a bad word about anyone? That takes away 99% of all comedy. They can and in some cases SHOULD be offended, however legal action and moaning will get you nowhere. They should take it like men (or women) and grow up. In life people will say things you don't like, you gotta deal with it and move on.

[Eoin247]

Where in the Geneva Convention does it say: "Human rights: Right to never be offended". It doesn't.

Correct me if i'm wrong but I think you're mixing up the UDHR with the Geneva convention. The Geneva convention is for war situations if I remember right.

If people don't like it, don't watch it, don't read it, don't listen to it. If someone said something about the UK, I'd just move on, turn a blind eye, it's one weirdo on a TV show, who cares?

To be fair, if it's on the news or if you're friends were all talking about it then it would be a bit hard to ignore. Also people want to know what's happening so you cannot really blame them for looking it up if they don't like it.

That said i'm still sticking with what i posted earlier.

[Calculator]

That's what I'm saying? They can be offended, why should we have to bow down to them and never say a bad word about anyone? That takes away 99% of all comedy. They can and in some cases SHOULD be offended, however legal action and moaning will get you nowhere. They should take it like men (or women) and grow up. In life people will say things you don't like, you gotta deal with it and move on.

I don't agree with saying they should just take the abuse and "grow up". They have a right to be offended. However, why not ignore them? You say they should grow up and take it / ignore it, then why don't we ignore them moaning :S.

Chances Jeremy Clarkson will lose? 0.01%. The woman just has no real case against him. Its just publicity and stupidity.

[Conservative,]

I don't agree with saying they should just take the abuse and "grow up". They have a right to be offended. However, why not ignore them? You say they should grow up and take it / ignore it, then why don't we ignore them moaning :S.

Chances Jeremy Clarkson will lose? 0.01%. The woman just has no real case against him. Its just publicity and stupidity.

Ignoring them moaning lets them think they can do it again. Whether they like it or not, or for whatever reason, they have to learn - in this country, there is free speech. If you don't like it, gtf out..

[Eoin247]

Ignoring them moaning lets them think they can do it again. Whether they like it or not, or for whatever reason, they have to learn - in this country, there is free speech. If you don't like it, gtf out..

Actualy by not ignoring them we are doing exactly what they want. We are making a big deal out of it and causing it to be news. I agree with what calculator is saying in that they have a right to be offended. However that doesn't mean they should take up legal action on it.

Also just to set the facts straight, this article points out only 1 Mexican woman getting annoyed and taking legal action. It's unfair to say that there are a ton of Mexicans complaining as some comments on this thread suggest.