# Man loses job after punching colleague in the face - I applaud Clarkson's exit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2015, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014 "2015-03-26T10:14:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/21 "2015-03-26T15:27:57Z")
They’d have to Jon Stewart the show. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/22 "2015-03-26T15:28:15Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’m saying I don’t care what goes on behind the scenes any more than I care if the guy who worked on putting my car together is an asshole. I care about the product. But if the guy who fixes your car is found beating his wife, I hope you wouldn’t say the police should let him off scot free because of his skill with mechanics. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/23 "2015-03-26T15:30:35Z")
Also, Clarkson is not just on the show, he’s a producer. He might not be the actual top guy, but he definitely leads some of the direction of the show. And he does genuinely know a whole lot about cars. I would guess it would be somewhat difficult to find a replacement who is entertaining and could anchor a show but is also knowledgeable about cars. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/24 "2015-03-26T15:32:02Z")
One of the special privileges of fame/money/power is everyone ‘overlooking’ transgressions that, any other individual, might get taken to task for, because, y’know, it’s Bill Cosby, or Jian Gomeshi or that guy in England that was molesting kids in hospitals. It’s like we’ve learned nothing from these incidents. I don’t know if there are any jobs where you can punch your colleague in the face and not expect the consequence of losing your job. He’s not being hung for goodness sake. He’ll work again. And he totally deserves this, no matter how much you love the show, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/25 "2015-03-26T15:47:30Z")
I really haven’t been following the story, I don’t care for the show and Clarkson always seemed like a British version of Anthony Bourdain (i.e. asshole). But I have heard BBC producers have been know to bully their cast. Is that apologist bullshit? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/26 "2015-03-26T15:59:18Z")
I hope they punish him with a show on Channel 5. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/27 "2015-03-26T16:12:05Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I don’t know if there are any jobs where you can punch your colleague in the face and not expect the consequence of losing your job. There are reasons to punch your colleague in the face that should not lose you your job, but “Get me a goddamn sandwich” is not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/28 "2015-03-26T16:59:44Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > There are reasons to punch your colleague in the face that should not lose you your job, but “Get me a goddamn sandwich” is not one of them. It wasn’t about a sandwich. It was about a steak. A world where I can’t punch a man for failing to give me a steak is just not a world I want to live in. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/29 "2015-03-26T17:05:28Z")
To be fair, he wanted a steak and was given the option of a cold sandwich as a substitute. Which is even MORE offensive when you think about it. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/30 "2015-03-26T17:10:12Z")
I don’t get the hero worship either, then again I don’t watch that show. I’ve always thought he was Stephen Fry, they look exactly the same ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/31 "2015-03-26T17:11:43Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > This is exactly how I feel. I really like Top Gear, I snort laugh so hard at some of their stuff it makes me glad I live alone and no one can see or hear me doing this. I would probably keep watching if he was kept on, but I can completely understand letting him go. Ditto. I really enjoy the show and laugh myself silly about it. Clarkson has a sthick, sure, but the punch was over the top. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/32 "2015-03-26T17:12:35Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > But I have heard BBC producers have been know to bully their cast. Is that apologist bullshit? If you think millionaire celebrity Clarkson’s verbal and physical assault on a junior producer over the available food options was the result of bullying, yes, it would be apologist bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/33 "2015-03-26T17:21:18Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t get the hero worship either, then again I don’t watch that show. I’ve always thought he was Stephen Fry, they look exactly the same I’m fairly certain you’re thinking of James May, not Clarkson. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/34 "2015-03-26T17:28:11Z")
Stephen Fry agrees: > **[Stephen Fry: I'm not James May](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/stephen-fry-im-not-james-may/28643434.html)** > > Stephen Fry has grumbled that he keeps being mistaken for Top Gear star James May. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/35 "2015-03-26T19:04:27Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > If only the presenters of the US version of _Top Gear_ would punch each other in the face… This. One thousand times. With sugar on top. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/36 "2015-03-26T20:00:19Z")
Some say he punched a man in the face for offering him cold cuts when he was craving steak, and that he isn’t fat but is actually suffering from pre-partum depression. All we know is that he’s called Jezza. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/37 "2015-03-26T20:10:15Z")
I think the last two series have been a bit patchy anyway, I had this creeping feeling that it was running out of ideas and was stretching some sketches out longer than they warranted. In between there have been some good episodes, just to remind you what TG was like. I think it does need a new outlook, maybe a big change of personnel behind the scenes to come up with some creative stunts ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/38 "2015-03-26T23:21:31Z")
> [@naita](#): > > This is the pit. Calls for calming down are not welcome. Now buzz off. The other thread that \*\*JustinC \*\* is referencing is in Café Society. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/39 "2015-03-27T02:45:26Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > nice Matthew Broderick actually killed two people. So I have a reason, besides his being an appalling actor with a smirk I want to punch, to boycott him? Done and done! > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > But if the guy who fixes your car is found beating his wife, I hope you wouldn’t say the police should let him off scot free because of his skill with mechanics. Well, that depends on the car, doesn’t it? And you said he’s really good? Do I know his wife? > [@casdave](#): > > I think the last two series have been a bit patchy anyway, I had this creeping feeling that it was running out of ideas and was stretching some sketches out longer than they warranted. Yeah, that vein is played out. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014/40 "2015-03-27T03:38:45Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > If you want to read some bullshit then just check out the thread in Cafe Society, the stench of victim blaming is quite something. And if you want to see people that have zero reading comprehension read the replies to my posts. Read the first sentence of the first quote of mine I understand what the BBC did. Let that soak in for a moment Allow me to repeat: I understand what the BBC did. Only a Social Justice Warrior could think that those six words somehow are blaming the producer. Or maybe the first two words of the next quote where I wrote I agree with the previous poster about the termination. How could anyone misunderstand I agree? Beats the fuck out of me. Now since no one could comprehend those two simple sentences I guess I should not be surprised that you could not comprehend the rest of my posts. Here I will type slow and use small words. Here in the real world people pay for performance. This is different than Doperland where performance doesn’t matter. (sorry about the big words) Like it or not the producer has probably thrown a serious monkey wrench in his future career. It is quite likely that he will never have a producing job of any import as he will have a taint about him. The guys that hire him won’t remember that he worked on TG for 10 years, they will recall he was involved in the dust up that cause JC to be fired and ended TG. Quite likely no one will take a “chance” on him no mater how good he might be at his job. Sucks to be him don’t you think? I have been in his position. Left a job under a cloud and found it very hard to find a similar position. So two years from now when he is producing chips at the local chip shop do you think that maybe, just maybe he might look back on that night and think Gee I wish I had a steak ready for JC that night? But I forget you guys live in Doperland where no one gets splattered with shit that isn’t their fault and all bosses are cuddly understanding guys that forgive and never blame anyone unfairly (or fairly for that matter) Must be nice living in Doperland, what’s the weather like? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-loses-job-after-punching-colleague-in-the-face-i-applaud-clarksons-exit/716014.md?page=3)