The Grand Tour

Apparently, this Finnish advert is what prompted the Hammond comment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wEDewpBjoc

I'm not convinced to be honest but it's possible.

They'd probably be too preoccupied with the constant name calling and fear of getting their head kicked in on the way home from school.

This is not about people who feign offence for the sake of it. This is about a popular show relaying attitudes that can have serious, palpable, painful consequences.

My two lads left school almost ten years ago, I got the impression back then teenagers really couldn't
give a monkeys about sexuality, so is there still an attitude problem for that age group ? They also used the word 'gay' as a term to describe something daft or useless, and nothing whatsoever to do with sexuality.

(I'm not in any way condoling the performance in question on TGT )

I think you answered your own question there, but this is not the context in which Hammond was speaking.

A lot of people (gay and straight) seem to think that because they don't see homophobia as a problem in society anymore, that people shouldn't find this offensive.

Well it is still a problem for many gay people of all ages, who live in fear of coming out because of what they perceive might happen if they do, because of their domestic or work situation or whatever, or they may even be out but still find themselves feeling uncomfortable or anxious in certain situations - I experience this myself often. This is just a small incident but inside someone's head it can have a huge effect.

Whataday gets this, sad to say a few people I've seen on social media, gays included, do not.

If anything, sexuality is a more prominent issue at school these days - a side effect of people being able to be more open about how they feel. But this doesn't mean it's fine and accepted by everyone.

And besides which, I didn't really witness any racism in school 15 years ago but that doesn't mean I think it's acceptable to return to jokes about p*kis and w*gs just because race is perceived not to be an issue.

Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Go do some learning about how damaging stereotypes can be with respect to people's gender and sexual identity. Really easy to just say stuff when you don't have a bloody clue because it doesn't affect you.

PS: Please nobody mention political correctness. This isn't about that. And besides, most of the time PC just means "not treating people like ****"

Thing is though, yes this causes offence, but the majority of the fuss on social media is nothing of the sort. Some people seem to look for things to be offended by, and to be honest they are often as much to blame as the people making stupid comments as they end up trivialising the really nasty stuff that still goes on on a regular basis.

Although I don't believe Hammond is homophobic, what he did say can and possibly will affect stereotyping. However, I do feel it was softened by how bemused Clarkson and May were by his suggestions. I'd understand the outrage if Clarkson said something like "you're right, I wouldn't eat an ice cream, I'd look like a poof". But I felt it was insinuated that they both looked at him like he was a tool for saying what he said, further backed up by Clarkson asking the crowd why they were clapping.

Exactly, I don't think this was intended to cause genuine offence, but it's clearly been done to stir up the keyboard warriors on Twitter. It was a bit cack-handed and insensitive though and they should probably issue an apology.

The word 'offence' is thrown about a lot in these circumstances, but it is possible to complain about certain language without taking personal offence. I'm more concerned about the impact such flippant comments would have on others. That doesn't mean it's none of my business.

Totally agree. You don't have to take offence personally to realise, and be concerned about, the effect some things could have on others.