Job Discussion Forums

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

An apparently high-profile acquaintance of mine of Asian descent made the papers recently by complaining about an episode of the UK TV motoring program Top Gear. He’s not alone.

I'd actually watched the episode months before and didn't even notice the incident, which you can see below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-OQR5zu_J4

The Top Gear presenters drove across Myanmar in old trucks, and in doing so had to build a ramshackle wooden bridge across a river. Two of the presenters looked on at the finished bridge just as a local man was walking across.

Clarkson says, “That is a proud moment. But, there’s a slope on it.”

His colleague replies, “You’re right. It’s definitely higher on this side.”

This wasn’t an innocent mistake. It was a play on words based on the uneven bridge and the Asian man. Clarkson admits this, but he would when there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

I couldn’t find anything except the better known definition of “slope” in the Cambridge dictionary. Urban Dictionary, which is slightly wikipediaish in that anyone can write there, suggests the term dates from the Vietnam War era.

I don’t like racism. Who does? But my Malaysian wife has never heard the term slope, and to me it sounds as offensive as a German calling me a “Tommy” and me replying with "Kraut".

Of course, if I wanted the publicity, I would threaten to sue the German for calling me a Tommy. I wouldn’t get anything except publicity, which is what those offended by “slope” are after.

When will these people get a life?

johnslat · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:24 pm Post subject:

"slope" "slant" - both used during the Vietnam era by troops over there.

Lord knows what they called us. Very Happy

Regards,
John

Mushkilla · Joined: 17 Apr 2014 Posts: 320 Location: United Kingdom

johnslat · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 3:17 pm Post subject:

Dear Mushkilla,

Oh, I'm pretty sure it was worse than that, "phalangxa" comes to mind (which, by the way, traces back to ""faranji" or Da Gui/Gwai-lo (White Demon) or simply "Round-eye" or "Big Nose."

Regards,
John

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

johnslat · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 5:22 pm Post subject:

Is it offensive - could well be, depending on the hearer.

On the other hand, were I to get offended by every ignorant word /phrase /sentence /book /idea that comes within my range, well, I'd probably have to be in a state of perpetual indignation.

Rather tiring, that.

Regards,
John

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

I agree JoeKing.

Also, there is a huge difference between the exchange of Kraut/Tommy between 2 individuals and a TV presenter scripting and filming a scene so they can slip a sly racist jibe in for a cheap laugh and some free publicity. It's Clarkson's M.O. and it's vile.

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

This thread has been useful. I agree the term is not appropriate, and hopefully others feel likewise.

The derogatory term doesn't, or rather didn't, exist in British English.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/slope

In the absence of any academic references, I tried Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs#S

Slope, slopehead, slopy, slopey, sloper (US and Aus) a person of Asian (in Australia, especially Vietnamese; in America, especially Chinese) descent.

This implies it’s used for people with Chinese features for want of a better description, e.g. from Vietnam, China, Thailand, a percentage of Myanmar and Malaysia. Asian people in countries such as Turkey, the Middle East or Afghanistan are not included, according to Wikipedia.

Neither are those from India, and this is where one person has sought publicity for their own benefit.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2714815/Actress-speaks-pride-taking-Jeremy-Clarkson-race-row-Top-Gear-slope-bridge-comments.html

This is a minor celebrity at best. In fact, it’s not my opinion; I know she is seeking publicity from this.

caliph · Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 218 Location: Iceland

Lord knows what they called us.

Dead

johnslat · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:47 am Post subject:

Dear calpih,

True for 58,220 of us, but many lived to tell the tale.

Regards,
John

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

How do I know? Because she isn't remotely famous for doing anything else.

It's not a five-minute job to instruct lawyers, give interviews, etc, and read all the internet abuse she got. I don't condone this last point, but I'd tell her to her face that she's seeking publicity and maybe her time would be better spent concentrating on her career as an actress.

Why doesn't she mention that Clarkson is a Patron for the UK charity Help for Heroes? Why doesn't Clarkson mention it himself? Answer: He doesn't need the publicity.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:17 pm Post subject:

Dear JoeKing,

"he last thing I want to do is get into a debate with a Vietnam veteran, but not sure what this has to do with the thread topic, which was about Clarkson using a racial slur on his show, which was shot in Myanmar."

If it's "the last thing" you want to do, why not address your grumbles to Mr. (or Ms) caliph, who quoted me? I was quite willing to leave it at my remark before that.

As for relevancy, well, if you're taking on the job of policing the threads for relevancy. I think you'll be busy 24/7.

Have fun.

Regards,
John