Are they just stupid or was it a cynical publicity stunt to get themselves press headlines by doing the car stunt burn outs and donuts right by the cenotaph? Maybe I'm finally turning into a miserable old grumpy fart but for what ever reason they carried out this stunt it's very wrong,deeply disrespectful to our War dead and their families to carry it out in such a revered and solemn location
I understand your angst, however is it not just a road used by thousands of vehicle everyday? It was nearby a memorial, as most roads are in central Londonium. No one was hurt, it was a controlled feature and the ginger clown like dickhead was nowhere near the place.
I take your points on board - London is a big old city and it could have been done elsewhere? The cynic in me makes me think it was done there to create a bit of controversy and make newspaper headlines for maximum exposure.The council gave them permission but we're not told about the smoke outs and drifting cos top gear knew it wouldn't be allowed? There are memorials and statues all over London I agree but the cenotaph is a special and sacred place that means a lot to huge amount of armed forces personnel and their families.They have pissed a hell of a lot of people off
People pissing on war memorials and spraying graffiti on them is disrespectful, having someone take photos of a car stun that makes it look worse than it is is as usual people over reacting to a bad idea.
It was a stupid error of judgement and not the crime of the century; it's a bit of an over-reaction but at the same time it was disrespectful and its probably true that Clarkson would have known better and wouldn't have done it.
If some of those war dead were Top Gear fans, they'd have loved it. It's also brought the Cenotaph and it's meaning into the public eye other than for a few minutes around the 11th November each year. Why do the professionally offended proclaim to speak for everyone? I'm sure most of the armed forces have a better sense of perspective about these things.
They probably didn't even think of the cenotaph when they did it. I bet they were more interested in the proximity to No10 and the fact that it is a very wide, usually quiet road. The worry for me is that TG will now play it safe with everything they do, and lose the mischievous nature they had with the other gents.
I think it all became a bit forced a long time ago and I am sure that will not change with the new show.
WTF??? It's a public road ffs,traffic thundering past day and night...I've thrashed along there myself with very illegal pipes loads of times in the past,along with loads of other scruffy London couriers,and the Unknown Soldier didn't stir... Imitation fury whipped up by those in the Mumsnet media who like to take offence on behalf of others,no surprise there,so-called public outcry is usually a few of their own: "there have been calls.." = a few bearded TV people in a pub earnestly discussing what the great unwashed should be convinced to think. Films and television programmes are made all over the world,few locations would be available if exclusion zones were put up around every monument or historically important site. I'm more offended by the way public roads can be closed at the drop of a hat,but there you go.
its an arera that most demostrations in london pass through with many anti war anti this anti that spewing there verbal filth about few burn outs ? no big deal one day a year its a place for remembrance for a few hours ,,new years eve its like a toilet round there
They spend several days blasting around London, trying to provoke a reaction- from the wedding at St. Paul's, to osbornes tweet about noise blah blah blah and no doubt others. Get a reaction , headlines - free publicity , job done. Expect more 'shocking escapades' to hit the headlines before it airs. The PR team are enjoying champagne brekkie this morning. Still don't like Evans tv/ radio personality ( don't know the bloke personally, so that all my simple judgment is based on).
[QUOTE="TT600, post: 725139, member: 619" Still don't like Evans tv/ radio personality ( don't know the bloke personally, so that all my simple judgment is based on).[/QUOTE] The amount that bloke earns,or any so-called BBC "talent",IS offensive. If someone is lucky enough to catch the eye of/go to school with/be related to/have as a fan, a member of BBC management,or if they like your music,stand by to get their shnozz deep into the trough of gravy extorted from the PBT,(poor bloody taxpayer),regardless of whether the rest of us think you are any good.Throw in the inevitable classmates from their years at Oxbridge and a few family members,and it's a stitch up comparable with the City of London Old Boy Network/NHS Backscratchers Club/Civil Service,"First Division",and you have the Fry & Laurie show,the Attenborough dynasty,and the gurning Chakrabartis. If some of them were paid fook all,they still wouldn't be worth it.
The amount that bloke earns,or any so-called BBC "talent",IS offensive. If someone is lucky enough to catch the eye of/go to school with/be related to/have as a fan, a member of BBC management,or if they like your music,stand by to get their shnozz deep into the trough of gravy extorted from the PBT,(poor bloody taxpayer),regardless of whether the rest of us think you are any good.Throw in the inevitable classmates from their years at Oxbridge and a few family members,and it's a stitch up comparable with the City of London Old Boy Network/NHS Backscratchers Club/Civil Service,"First Division",and you have the Fry & Laurie show,the Attenborough dynasty,and the gurning Chakrabartis. If some of them were paid fook all,they still wouldn't be worth it.[/QUOTE] You're still angry about your lost vaudeville career, aren't you?
You're still angry about your lost vaudeville career, aren't you? [/QUOTE] Oooh no! Ponce about in public? My very worst kind of nightmare! I do not care what Individuals pay for,"art",(or sport for that matter): but I disagree with taxpayers money,(of any kind),being spent on it. Same goes for country houses,it's not my history,why should my money be spent supporting those who want to live in them but don't want to pay the upkeep?
Looking at the comments on the guardian website most people don't seem especially outraged. If I had my cynical hat on I would suggest the press are desperate to claim the moral high ground, as its so rare they can use the word respect legitimately. Was it in poor taste? Maybe a little.. Have the press completely overblown it in a cynical point scoring mission? I strongly suspect so. Surely the fact that we still send troops to questionable wars, and are currently allowing the rise of far right nazis is more disrespectful to those who died for the free world than an entertainment programme being shot within sight of a monument.
