Unless, of course, you preach support for terrorists. And then you have a nice chat and a relaxing seaside holiday in sunny Cuba. Or some fun with water in the plush comfort of one of your security force's interrogation chambers.

Let's be realistic - there is no 'freedom of speech' anywhere in the world. It's just a little freer in some places on certain issues. At least in Europe no one's listening to everything you say in case you say a dirty word (as Echelon does).



I really don't give a damn about the reaction of others to TV shows. Call it selfishness, but when the internet gets excited about something or other I believe only a fool pays attention.

As for being afraid of the south I am too. I can't imagine being able to survive an area where the most intolerant and unsophisticated carry deadly weapons and use them regularly. I let my mouth run away with me far too often to do well in that kind of environment.

It's just not my world and I have no intention of visiting it unless I have no choice.

So an institution created by your ancestors and eventually abolished is the same thing as genocide of a people?

Besides, the "Confederate flag" is not a symbol of slavery. The Union Jack started it, the stars and stripes institutionalized it. The Stars and bars tried to remove the yoke of tarriffs that was being imposed by the tyranny of the majority. The war was not started over slavery as there was no push to abolish it at the start, nor did Lincoln get around to freeing any slaves until after the war. The Emmancipation Proclaimation declared slaves free only in those states in rebellion - not in the states that had not seceeded. And those slaves were not freed until after the war was over. If the war was about freeing the slaves, would not the Union have freed those in states that were not in rebellion at the start of the war?

All this is moot to the greater stupidity of the author of the blog. Why not compare the settling of Australia to Nazis? After all, it was not that far from slavery and he seems to have no problem comparing the Confederate flag to nazis.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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

Darn!

The truth is, cacto, much as I don't like my little redneck town, if they were as bad as you want to portray them, I'd be dead.

No two ways about it.