Jeremy Clarkson interview on ACA

[RedHotGT]

http://video.aol.ca/video-detail/jer...id=VIDLRVNWS05

Tracey Grimshaw interviews Jeremy Clarkson on ACA last night...

The reason I have posted this thread is to discuss something that was brought up on 3AW this morning by Neil Mitchell...

Neil was offended by the way that Jeremy answered a question regarding the young people who 'copycat' the way that the Top Gear presenter drives cars... drifting and speeding etc...

Jeremy answered that 'speed doesn't kill, its the sudden stop at the end that causes the problem' (not direct quote - i'm paraphrasing)...

Which - by physics is of course true...

The other response that has caused uproar was when Jeremy was asked what he/we can do to stop young people from killing themselves in cars... His answer was blunt... 'Nothing'...

Now, I rang Neil Mitchell and was on the radio this morning in support of Jeremy's comments... mainly because he answered the questions bluntly but realistically - as J Clarkson does...

And I agree with him 100%... there is nothing you can do to stop young hoons from killing themselves... And sure -we've all been involved in countless threads regarding this issue...

Just wanted to see what other people thought about the interview (and if you didn't see it, the link is above)...

[BA GT-HO]

As usual Clarkson is right.

I don't understand the media/Government's fixation with the road toll. We all drive in metal boxes surrounded by glass and other sharp pointy things. What do you think if going to eventually happen? Especially when we have a woefully inadequate licensing system.

How about the media focus on young people being killed from industrial accidents due to slack employers with no regard for OHS? Or how about young people who OD on drugs or booze?

I guess spectacular images or twisted metal on the front page sells papers.

[pottery beige]

Have to agree there.. Even if we all drove electric golf cart's DH's would still manage to kill themselve's.. Darwin's theory of evolution.. Stupid creature's will die.. Simple..

[UNR8D]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

Have to agree there.. Even if we all drove electric golf cart's DH's would still manage to kill themselve's.. Darwin's theory of evolution.. Stupid creature's will die.. Simple..

100% agree, as per usual Clarkson is right, morons just seem to think that by making legislation and more rules it will change, NOT 1 of the fatal accidents that they were talking about would have changed by adding more rules, FFS they were breaking 4-5 anyway, what’s one more to the equation. ACA are a parasite.

[Daniel]

I agreed with your view, entirely.

Anyone who follows JC in media or on TV (or both) would know this is FAR form the first time he has been 'pulled up' on his comments, views or opinions. The difference is that it was here, in Australia and of course our media will jump all over it, which is to be expected. It is somewhat obvious that with somebody such as JC coming to our country and speaking up on different topics; the media were just deciding WHAT comment to jump on.. it was only a matter of time.

The question of how to 'stop' these deaths is silly and I really do agree with JC in an unbiased way - you cannot stop it, but there are a number of small hurdles, laws, preventative measures we could employ to aid reduce them.


Also, I think I'm right in saying that what was said isn't the first time he has said it. I find our media laughable, how they jump on the wagon all of a sudden now that his feet are within Australia...

[elvisidal]

can't see it damn MSN not supporting safari!
but i'm sure jezza is right.

[Franco Cozzo]

He's going to get raped by the media for that comment. No matter how right/realistic it was.

[RedHotGT]

Originally Posted by BA GT-HO

As usual Clarkson is right.

I don't understand the media/Government's fixation with the road toll. We all drive in metal boxes surrounded by glass and other sharp pointy things. What do you think if going to eventually happen? Especially when we have a woefully inadequate licensing system.

Correct - our licensing system is rubbish, it is way too easy to get a license, and as said previously on other threads - you are trained to pass the test - not to drive a vehicle safely.

The logic in blaming Top Gear for hoon drivers and young fatalities on the road is the same logic as blaming TV shows like Law and Order or NCIS for murders and terrible crimes... Ridiculous...

What I wonder about the interview by Tracey Grimshaw, who I accept is a good journalist and does ask hard questions (sometimes), was what sort of answers was she expecting from Jeremy? He's not here as a consultant on social issues relating to cars... What did she think he was going to say...

Kinda like interviewing Sam Newman about Victoria's Secret Lingerie Models - and then complaining about the answer that is given...

[elvisidal]

Movies like The Fast & The Furious do waaaaaaay more damage than Top Gear could ever dream off

[Fev]

I'd really love to meet the team!
Tracey is a good interviewer, she needs to put her talents into important work. It's a shame she's wasting her talent on the crap that is ACA.

[UNR8D]

what I found amusing is how they tried to corner the question about him being an influence on the HOONS as such, he does his speed/burnouts etc on a TRACK you moron, how someone supposedly educated like Tracey seem to time and time again ask the dumbest questions in history is beyond me.

to add to that, you just jealous trace that he has a budget that makes yours look like the lunch budget for one episode and millions more viewers?... watched ACA for the first time last night just for the fact Clarkson was on, watched the rest of your show and I cant believe people can force themselves to watch your crap every night.

[GTJOHN]

Hes just being honest ...ive watched car movies growing up, watched races , watched horror movies... never made me want to mimick this stuff... People nowdays seem to be to easily influenced and also lack of discipline at home and by authorities allows them to keep doing these stupid things...You cant legislate against stupidity..will always be around in some form...
Only thing we can do as parents , siblings is try and instill a sense of right & wrong into our own and hope the message sticks ...if everyone did that , then maybe whilst not stopping idiots, we may be able to reduce their numbers...

[pottery beige]

Having a conversation with Tracey Grimshaw would be much like talking to a block of wood down the wood yard......

[RedHotGT]

I kinda wish he had have bitten back - but that would have just caused more problems witht he media... (he actually looked a little tired or jetlagged.. not sure when he landed in Syd)...

I wish he had have defended his joke/response about speed not being the killer...
Jeremy / Hammond / May drive on closed circuits and are trained/experienced drivers...
Even the stuff they do on the public roads would surely be permitted/planned for...
Race car drivers drive at incredible speeds - and to be realistic there are not many race incidents resulting in death (obviously they do happen, but not often)...

I know that TG did not directly say that Top Gear is responsible for the young hoon issue (but that was what she was trying to nudge at)...

They already lost a MASSIVE amount of cred regarding this 'hoon' issue when they did that segment on the drifing 200SX (which was a STIG entry for a Top Gear Australia competition)... (see other threads)...

[LeadFoot81]

The underdone and irresponsible licencing system in place leads to bad drivers making it onto the road.

JC is just some dude who hosts a TV show, he's not Superman and he's not responsible for the morons who drive irresponsibly.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

He's going to get raped by the media for that comment. No matter how right/realistic it was.

He would be used to it by now id say, but that said i do agree with his comments, realism FTW
Maybe we could coax him to OZ to be the new Premier of QLD

[TUF_302]

That interview was Clarkson at his best, and he is completly right, theres nothing that can be done to stop young people killing themselfs on our roads, no matter how much education we throw at them, no matter how many tv/radio adds are played some of them are just to thick and the message wont get threw to them!

Its to bad pollies dont think like clarkson!

[ltd]

Originally Posted by loftie

The logic in blaming Top Gear for hoon drivers and young fatalities on the road is the same logic as blaming TV shows like Law and Order or NCIS for murders and terrible crimes... Ridiculous...

Preposterous.
If they can draw a link here then I should be able to sue Hustler for giving my wrist carpel tunnel syndrome.

As for Jezza's comments; bang on. Nothing you do will stop fools from acting foolishly.
Some young people act a hoon, have a scare or two then settle down. Others aren't so lucky - act a hoon, no second chances. Fact of life.

[RedHotGT]

Originally Posted by ltd

Preposterous.
If they can draw a link here then I should be able to sue Hustler for giving my wrist carpel tunnel syndrome.

Exactly my point...

And we better start blaming McDonalds for our obesity epidemic... obviously that's the only source of fatty foods...

And we better turn off our radios and tv for the bad influence that pop music and reality TV has on our kids...

I've read Jeremy's books (some, not all) and really like them... He should be applauded for calling a spade 'a spade'

[buggo]

Originally Posted by loftie

Exactly my point...

And we better start blaming McDonalds for our obesity epidemic... obviously that's the only source of fatty foods...

IIRC someone in America did just that, sued Maccas for causing his obesity.
Welcome to the future-where your problems, are someone elses fault :

[flappist]

Originally Posted by buggo_gt

IIRC someone in America did just that, sued Maccas for causing his obesity.
Welcome to the future-where your problems, are someone elses fault :

No actually it was UK ans it was Maccas who sued two university students for publishing their findings.

Maccas lost....

[buggo]

Originally Posted by flappist

No actually it was UK ans it was Maccas who sued two university students for publishing their findings.

Maccas lost....

This was the one I was talking about, http://money.cnn.com/2003/01/22/news...ies/mcdonalds/
even though it was dismissed someone still tried

[RedHotGT]

Originally Posted by flappist

Maccas lost....

Now there's a quote not often written about ANY case regarding the golden arches...

*off topic*
I had a friend who took McDonalds to court here in Victoria, and due to his greed, he didn't get what he wanted.

He was at McDonalds in Western Suburbs during a fierce storm and the large Golden Arches sign out the front (think powerpole size) blew over and crushed his car as it was waiting in the waiting bay (from drivethru)... No major injuries, but car was a write off (series 2 RX-7)...
Macca-D's offered him around $25,000 out-of-court for damages/stress/injury compensation... but he figured he's take them to the cleaners (he was thinking that $50k+ was more realistic)
He lost on damages, and only received market value for his vehicle (from his insurance company) as it was deemed that he was 'incorrectly' parked in the waiting bay (across both spots)... they decided if he had have parked in the correct bay - the pole wouldn't have even hit the car... (mind you - if he had have parked in the other bay properly - most likely would have been seriosly injured or killed)...

So he lost... Maccas win!!

*(back to topic now... sorry...*

[UNR8D]

Originally Posted by loftie

Now there's a quote not often written about ANY case regarding the golden arches...

*off topic*
I had a friend who took McDonalds to court here in Victoria, and due to his greed, he didn't get what he wanted.

He was at McDonalds in Western Suburbs during a fierce storm and the large Golden Arches sign out the front (think powerpole size) blew over and crushed his car as it was waiting in the waiting bay (from drivethru)... No major injuries, but car was a write off (series 2 RX-7)...
Macca-D's offered him around $25,000 out-of-court for damages/stress/injury compensation... but he figured he's take them to the cleaners (he was thinking that $50k+ was more realistic)
He lost on damages, and only received market value for his vehicle (from his insurance company) as it was deemed that he was 'incorrectly' parked in the waiting bay (across both spots)... they decided if he had have parked in the correct bay - the pole wouldn't have even hit the car... (mind you - if he had have parked in the other bay properly - most likely would have been seriosly injured or killed)...

So he lost... Maccas win!!

*(back to topic now... sorry...*

No sympathy and justice served.

the reason **** is so expensive now is because everything is open to litigation and people being just plain greedy, 25K was above what I would have expected out of it should have shut up and just taken what was offered.

There are however circumstances where the payout is lowballed and needs to be negotiated but in this instance... sorry.

[prydey]

JC says it how it is. calls a spade a spade! and of course he is spot on again.

there are a couple of comments in this thread critisizing the licensing system too. not sure how thats relevant. kids don't wait for that piece of plastic to jump in a car anymore. even when people get their licence suspended, they still drive! making it harder to get a licence won't stop people driving.

[snowcone]

JC is a television presenter from another country. Nothing unusual about that. So where the hell do the media get the idea that he is now an expert on young Australian's and their driving habits. To my knowledge he has never professed to be such a person. In any case JC was never going to answer any serious question without a tongue in cheek reply because this is his personality. The media again puts both feet in mouth.

[Bad Bird]

And yet his tongue-in-cheek answer "Nothing", is the most honest and refreshing view I've heard on the topic in a long time.

[Wally]

Originally Posted by loftie

.........

Neil was offended by the way that Jeremy answered a question regarding the young people who 'copycat' the way that the Top Gear presenter drives cars... drifting and speeding etc...

.......

Mate, reactions like this have become the great australian way. We have passed the poms in the whinging race and lapped them. In my short lifetime I've witnessed an almost nationwide sense of humour lobotomy. What was once a larrikin nation has become an antiseptic sponge. You see it in it's stark reality on tv, in the lleters to the editor, on discussion boards even in face to face encounters. We've become twats who look for any reason to whine, bemoan, ridicule, cruel, complain and hopefully get 15 minutes of fame in the process.

[CHOOK N CAROL]

Originally Posted by prydey

JC says it how it is. calls a spade a spade! and of course he is spot on again.

there are a couple of comments in this thread critisizing the licensing system too. not sure how thats relevant. kids don't wait for that piece of plastic to jump in a car anymore. even when people get their licence suspended, they still drive! making it harder to get a licence won't stop people driving.

not a matter of makin it harder to get a license, but better training should be a part of it. To get a bike license you have to do a rider safe course, which is a very good course, I dont understand why an advanced driver course isnt part of the licensing system!! Yeh it costs, but whats a couple a hundred on top of the thousand it costs anyway. That is of course for those who bother to get that piece of plastic! For those who dont, all the laws in the world wont save them!!!

[MITCHAY]

I didn't see the whole interview, but JC was telling it how it is and how it will always be. As usual people don't like it, cause the truth hurts. He had her covered :