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sparkindarknessexcept to say that it badly damaged a good night and made me feel damned uncomfortable and irritated.
In my hibernatey state, Beloved and I decided to dredge through our skyplus and watch television. This is pretty unique for us, since neither of us particularly like tv - oh we set Sky Plus to record lots - and then never ever watch it. But tonight I needed to relax with some brain fluff (and Beloved refused to endure my DVD collection) so TV it was.
Among other things, we watched Top Gear. We don’t particularly care about cars - but it tends to be funny and Richard Hammond is very nice eye candy. Yes, yes he is.
And in this episode there was a road trip in America, one of their notorious challenges which are normally great fun. This, however, did contain a lot of rather unpleasant southern state stereotypes that were problematic and not ideal for fluff watching and made me cringe too much to laugh.
And then they got to Alabama. The challenge was to cross the state without being shot or arrested - while trying to get your fellows in trouble by decorating their car in an inflammatory manner.
Jeremy Clarkson ended up with “Country & Western is rubbish” daubed on the side of his car
James May ended up with “Hillary for President” written on his car.
Richard Hammond had “Manlove Rules OK” painted in pink on his car. The headlights were also painted pink.
We watched for 2 seconds before changing the programme.
(I did find the clip on You Tube here because I’m told there was better segments and something poignant about Katrina after they finished in Alabama).
I know it’s supposed to be humour. And yes, exposing ignorant homophobes is a useful and powerful tool.
But giving the impression you’re gay to provoke a homophobic attack for laughs and amusement? Chuckling away that being seen as gay may get you shot?
Sorry, I’m not laughing. I know it’s supposed to be a laugh, I know it makes a comment about homophobia and I know that Top Gear and the personalities on it have a reputation for rather rough and ready humour.
But, even with the clip, I haven’t watched that segment - I really don’t want to see that. I don’t need to see it. I don’t want to see the straight guys maybe get a taste of homophobia or homophobic violence and go back to their nice safe straightness for the next stage of the challenge.
Typical, I can’t even hibernate without getting something to rant about.
In my hibernatey state, Beloved and I decided to dredge through our skyplus and watch television. This is pretty unique for us, since neither of us particularly like tv - oh we set Sky Plus to record lots - and then never ever watch it. But tonight I needed to relax with some brain fluff (and Beloved refused to endure my DVD collection) so TV it was.
Among other things, we watched Top Gear. We don’t particularly care about cars - but it tends to be funny and Richard Hammond is very nice eye candy. Yes, yes he is.
And in this episode there was a road trip in America, one of their notorious challenges which are normally great fun. This, however, did contain a lot of rather unpleasant southern state stereotypes that were problematic and not ideal for fluff watching and made me cringe too much to laugh.
And then they got to Alabama. The challenge was to cross the state without being shot or arrested - while trying to get your fellows in trouble by decorating their car in an inflammatory manner.
Jeremy Clarkson ended up with “Country & Western is rubbish” daubed on the side of his car
James May ended up with “Hillary for President” written on his car.
Richard Hammond had “Manlove Rules OK” painted in pink on his car. The headlights were also painted pink.
We watched for 2 seconds before changing the programme.
(I did find the clip on You Tube here because I’m told there was better segments and something poignant about Katrina after they finished in Alabama).
I know it’s supposed to be humour. And yes, exposing ignorant homophobes is a useful and powerful tool.
But giving the impression you’re gay to provoke a homophobic attack for laughs and amusement? Chuckling away that being seen as gay may get you shot?
Sorry, I’m not laughing. I know it’s supposed to be a laugh, I know it makes a comment about homophobia and I know that Top Gear and the personalities on it have a reputation for rather rough and ready humour.
But, even with the clip, I haven’t watched that segment - I really don’t want to see that. I don’t need to see it. I don’t want to see the straight guys maybe get a taste of homophobia or homophobic violence and go back to their nice safe straightness for the next stage of the challenge.
Typical, I can’t even hibernate without getting something to rant about.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-11-29 05:45 am (UTC)There's something else that bugs me about this -- besides the obvious stuff that you mentioned already, of course -- and I hope I can express it well enough (I'm currently on painkillers and feel a bit foggy)... It's the thought that privileged people would need to experience discrimination for themselves to learn and change, or to make a point about issue X. Sure, it can be a learning experience, but often it's being presented as if a human being couldn't / wouldn't empathize with another, marginalized or persecuted human being unless they're having this particular experience. I find that thought to be dangerous and lazy.
(And in this case, they already knew about homophobic attackers, otherwise they wouldn't have assumed that painting the car in that way would make someone a target.)
Not only that -- how many people have you heard of in the news who got beaten up or murdered because they disliked Country & Western, or liked Hillary Clinton? Now compare that to the number of victims of homophobic violence that you hear about.
No matter how I try to see it, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-01 04:16 pm (UTC)It's why I'm so leery about television - it has too many mine fields.
I think an experience like this can make privileged people learn - but even then they get to sotp when ti's boring,. We don't. And why do they need to experience it? The only reason is because they don't believe us. You don't have to experience a homophobic attack to realise how wrong it is. Srsly.
Aye, to reduce homophobic violence to someone disagreeing with your musical taste? Srsly