And thus you demonstrate your profound bigotry based upon ignorance. If you did visit the American South you'd quickly discover just how ignorant and bigoted you truly are. It's no wonder you found that bit of tv tripe to be funny.

If you look at where crimes are committed in the US, you'll find them mainly centered in not only the "progressive" urban strongholds, but also in places that have more strict laws pertaining to weapon ownership. I tend to think you would have never said anything so crass about the really unwelcoming, violent areas if there was a racial connotation to it. Well, surprise, there was, you just don't see "white" as a race, or respect the validity of my heritage.

How sad for you. I guess you're just walking proof of the success of such hate and intolerance. If you want to know why idiots like the Top Gear crew make me so mad, just look at yourself. You've given me reason to think it wouldn't be very enjoyable to visit your neck of the woods. People there don't like my kind; if they were to find out where I am from, they might be all skeert of me.

The most intolerant and unsophisticated people (aka idiots) in the American South aren't the rural folks that are poked at in this video. They (the idiots) are the "fine and well educated" folks that come in and pull stunts like this one.

Outside of the urban areas (which, oddly enough resemble urban areas EVERYWHERE ELSE!), the only time you would be in danger from a Southerner with a weapon is if you a) have 4 legs or wings, are covered in fur or feathers, and c) smell good roasting over a barbeque pit. Since most of the cultured elitests MIGHT (with effort) meet requirements A and B, but fail at meeting C (too sour and filled with disgusting ideas), they're in no danger. The majority of weapons in the RURAL (note that part) South, are used to put food on the table or for protection.

As LW said, you're more than likely to run into idiots with a proclivity to use firearms on each other in urban areas. And that tendancy isn't something that's limited to the South. Southside Atlanta is just as dangerous as Southside Chicago. Actually, thinking about it - I think Southside Atlanta's SAFER than Southside Chicago.

Crime in the United States by Community Type, 2005

The "deliverance" mindset is, and has always been bogus. People hype "dangerous" rural America where people smile and nod, and laud the progressive nature of cities where it often isn't advisable to make eye contact. I've never understood that.

Come on guys. Take a bit of self-searching. Top Gear is great and they take the mickey out of everything---including their own. Where's that good old American humour?

I would too. That's why I think I found the original funny. But I don't think others would.

Oh well. Good times.

I wouldn't go to the US unless I had nothing better to do at the time. If I had to I wouldn't visit the slums in the city centres either. But the topic was the south, and I certainly doubt I'd find many people like me there. I've never even heard of an electro act coming from the American south. And if you've got no one to socialise with, why go at all?

But you can call it racism if you like. That always makes things easier.



If it makes you feel better, Mason, I've always been of the opinion that ignorance is bliss. Did you ever laugh at Croc Dundee or the Crocodile Hunter? Both were horrible caricatures built towards satisfying American bigotry and ignorance about Australia. They seemed to be mildly successful too.

Come to think of it I'm not sure where I'm going here, but I'd much appreciate it if you just pretended that was an adequate response...



Yes. I've always loved comedy where they take things too far, and let's face it, upper-class gangsta culture is hilarious. Taking the piss out of grills and stupid cars and their hatred of women could work as a joke. Taking the piss out of their skin colour or voting rights though is going a little far. Acknowledge the ridiculousness of the stereotype, sure, but at least acknowledge their humanity. Top Gear didn't say the Southerners were monsters, remember; they just made them out to be prejudiced.

In any case I'm not sure your police would be too thrilled about it though, so a tour through urban Detroit might not get very far.

MMmm, yes, it's all banjos and mandolins there. *boggle*. There are no cities and no one has running water either. Can't you hear how lightweight this stuff you are spouting is?

It tickles the crap out of me to think of Micheal Stipe, growing up in Decatur Georgia and forming REM in Athens, Georgia, being lumped in with all this. I could list for hours the exceptions to these moronic rules. You have no, zero clue about the region you are talking about. I can barely stomach many of my friends from Georgia because they are almost ALL sickingly liberal.

While I find your ignorant ideas about American Southerners to be disturbing, this line was amusing enough to get a chuckle out of me.

I can understand not knowing anything about what real life Americans are actually like as you've never been here, just remember that all of those stereotypes are way off base from reality. Shows like this certainly don't do anything to educate you either.

And yes, if you did come here you would easily find people with many of the same interests and tastes that you have. Not everyone in the South drives pickup trucks and listens to country music. They're actually in the minority here these days.

election 2004 map, by county. Feel free to compare south to north, west to east. Even the "hillary for president" thing is a myth. There are very few blocks in those southern states that are 100% Republican, and if you look at Indiana, Pennsylvania and other northern states you'll see PLENTY of red. Lok at the most poverty ridden, hillbilly parts of Kentucky and you'll see blue.

You've done a great job of exemplifying why this thing made me mad, Cacto. Between the top gear guy godwining himself on his blog and you basically advertising that you are biased against a whole region that you know nothing about... wow, this has been productive.

Okay, I saw the footage in question and yes, I laughed. But mainly at the balls of the Top Gear guys.

I personally don't find denigration of this sort funny (believe it or not: Borat does very little for me too). But I can appreciate others DO like this kind of humour. Oh well, different strokes and all that...

I'm always been a firm believer in the importance of collecting prejudices. It's the only way to survive, or at least it's the most popular. And if you're not doing the popular thing, what are you doing? I'm glad you approve of my little hobby anyway.

I vaguely remember him. He hasn't posted much in ages though.

In any case I wouldn't worry too much about my dislikes and prejudices. One of my best friends is from Alabama. Being anti-American is a pose, and the most irritating one I know, so naturally it's something to indulge in at every opportunity. Everyone needs a hobby in their young age.

  Now this is funny. I mean coffee-squirting-through-my-nose funny.

The BBC pulled the video so now I won't get to know what the fuss was all about.

Darn!