(OFF) OMG USA improving???

[Jonathan Smith]

It *was* great publicity for Clarkson-- the 'controversy' may even have
been intended. In context or not, as a friend of Cameron, the remark likely
reflected his opinions, although I don't mean he actually wanted to shoot
anybody.

As you say, misjudging controversial remarks does go with the job.



On 15 December 2011 17:50, Mike Holmes <fofp at staffmail.ed.ac.uk> wrote:

> On 14/12/2011 13:10, Jonathan Smith wrote:
>
>  I am not in England but, and I know I am not supposed to say this, Mathew
>> Wright really should know better than to make jokes like that, surely?
>>
>> He is not in league with the totally offensive Jeremy Clarkson, who can
>> get
>> away with anything because he is Cameron's buddy. I don't have problem
>> with
>> Matthew Wright and he did appear to apologise but some people, Clarkson in
>> particular, deserves being attacked by email-- he NEEDS it.
>>
>
> This time around anyway, Clarkson was quoted out of context. He made a
> joke, mainly at the expense of the BBC balance requirement. By quoting half
> the sentence, the newspapers made it something it wasn't.
>
> I doubt Clarkson will be shedding any real tears though. He has a book to
> promote. Any publicity is good publicity when you're selling something.
>
> I think Matthew Wright was slightly funny given that it's decades since
> the last murder there. Perhaps it having been only a week since the murder,
> a little more thought could have been given to how the family would feel if
> they were watching. I think it fails the "If you wouldn't want your mum to
> see you on the front page for this, don't do it" test.
>
> Again though, Wright is in the business of selling controversy, because it
> brings in viewers. Occasionally judging things badly is presumably seen as
> a hazard of his trade.
>
> FoFP
>
> --
> The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
> Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
>