HAVE WE LOST OUR COLLECTIVE SENSE OF HUMOUR?

I’m not quite sure what to make of the latest outburst from Jeremy Clarkson and the resulting furore. Does it paint Mr Clarkson as an odious individual who fails to recognise that, when paid handsomely by a public service broadcaster, it comes with a responsibility to be mindful of conduct, language and behaviour. Or does it portray union leaders as humour-less trouble makers who not only fail to identify a tongue-in-cheek remark when they hear it but who are so cosseted they’ve lost touch with the reality of Britain in 2011.

When one union leader declared he would be seeking “legal urgent advice” following Clarkson’s rant on ‘The One Show’ that last week’s strikers should be taken out and shot in front of their families, the only reaction really was to poke fun at said union boss.

As I write, the BBC has received 21,000 complaints – and as licence fee payers each of those viewers has every right to voice their disquiet.  But I wonder (a) how many of them were offended enough to pick up the phone or log-on having actually seen the broadcast and (b) did they only react when they saw the subject trending on Twitter or caught the following morning’s headlines.

And I suspect a fair number of these complainants have just jumped on the bandwagon. We’re British – we love being outraged but in a comfy armchair kind of fashion.

I’ve watched ‘The One Show’ piece back a couple of times and also listened to the audio-only version of Clarkson’s comments.

I won’t tell you what I think of Mr Clarkson but I fail to see how anyone could have watched this and thought he was being serious - or that his remarks we’re not completely in keeping with the outraged, grumpy old man persona that is his trademark.

Clarkson is a popular broadcaster and public figure so, come on, we know what to expect when’s he wheeled out on our screens or within the pages of our newspapers.

On the one hand, no ones comes out of this with much honour but on the other it’s a kind of perfect storm. Clarkson got publicity for his new DVD (and himself) and the union’s case was further highlighted. Some commentators are suggesting the BBC is over-reacting.  No it isn’t.  It has responded as it should do when that number of licence fee payers feel compelled to complain, for whatever reason.

One small thing it does tell me is that as, a country, we might well be losing our sense of humour.  And in depressing times like these if we do that we’re sunk.