69 trapped in mine

[Walsingham]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6921699.stm

 

Here's hoping the poor devils get out safe.

[Guest The Architect]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6921699.stm

 

Here's hoping the poor devils get out safe.

 

Me too. Poor buggers.

Edited July 30, 2007 by The Architect

[Guard Dog]

That is one dangerous business. I don't think I've ever read the headline "All trapped miners rescued". Let's hope for a different outcome this time.

[Meshugger]

A sad thing indeed. I read somewhere that it is the worlds most dangerous job to work in the Chinese mines. Official figures show around 4000 deaths/year in those hellholes, but some unofficial go as high as 20000/year.

Edited July 30, 2007 by Meshugger

[Gorth]

One of the most bizarre mining accidents has to be the one in Lassing, Austria 1998. I will not use the term "amusing" as that would imply humour somehow, it wasn't funny, just bizarre.

 

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFi...2n1/lassing.xml

 

**** happened and a miner became trapped underground. A 10 man team goes down below the missing guy trying to stabilise the shafts and **** happens to them too. In the end, the first guy gets rescued and the 10 man team doesn't... somebody somewhere has a warped sense of humour.

[Walsingham]

That's a really interesting report, Gorth. It's given me some ideas!

[Azarkon]

On-topic: Mining is not only a dangerous job, it's also a generally debilitating one. Miners expose themselves to all kinds of harmful chemical agents via fumes, dust, etc. on a daily basis. This is particularly true of coal mining, which causes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_lung, among other problems. While these occupational hazards have been reduced by improved safety standards and technology in most first-world countries, the same cannot be said, unfortunately, for developing nations (yes, China is still a developing country - don't let the facade of urban prosperity blind you to the very real poverty and exploitation that enable it). That businesses fail to comply with government regulations and aren't prosecuted due to their clout in the economy, of course, also doesn't help.

 

Off-topic: Err, I reckon I'm not that familiar with British vernacular/slang, but what's the rationale behind using "devil" to refer to miners? Walsh?

[Aram]

My granddad mined coal in Durham for most of his life from about 1940. He didn't talk much about it, but I'm willing to bet he knew some guys who died down there. Never had a single problem with his lungs, oddly enough, and he smoked like a chimney to boot.

[Walsingham]

Off-topic: Err, I reckon I'm not that familiar with British vernacular/slang, but what's the rationale behind using "devil" to refer to miners? Walsh?

 

 

Interesting question. Basically it isn't the 'done thing' to be too soppy. So when expressing sympathy for others British people (and sometimes the colonials like the Aussies) toughen up a sympathetic comment with a rude-ish term or two. Hence calling the miners devils is a good thing, denoting care.

 

I guess. I never thought about it before.

[Volourn]

On-topic: Mining is not only a dangerous job, it's also a generally debilitating one. Miners expose themselves to all kinds of harmful chemical agents via fumes, dust, etc. on a daily basis. This is particularly true of coal mining, which causes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_lung, among other problems. While these occupational hazards have been reduced by improved safety standards and technology in most first-world countries, the same cannot be said, unfortunately, for developing nations (yes, China is still a developing country - don't let the facade of urban prosperity blind you to the very real poverty and exploitation that enable it). That businesses fail to comply with government regulations and aren't prosecuted due to their clout in the economy, of course, also doesn't help.

 

Off-topic: Err, I reckon I'm not that familiar with British vernacular/slang, but what's the rationale behind using "devil" to refer to miners? Walsh?

 

Yup, my dad is one of the victims here. He has many illnesses because of working in the mines.. Yet, he is still in decent shape for a near 60 year working, and volunteering.

 

For the topic, good luck to the trapped miners!

[Azarkon]

Interesting question. Basically it isn't the 'done thing' to be too soppy. So when expressing sympathy for others British people (and sometimes the colonials like the Aussies) toughen up a sympathetic comment with a rude-ish term or two. Hence calling the miners devils is a good thing, denoting care.

 

I guess. I never thought about it before.

 

Huh, interesting... And very British, indeed. Didn't know that before, thanks!

 

Yup, my dad is one of the victims here. He has many illnesses because of working in the mines.. Yet, he is still in decent shape for a near 60 year working, and volunteering.

 

Good to hear he's doing alright. Hmm... Somehow I'm not so surprised you love dwarves now, Volourn.

Edited July 31, 2007 by Azarkon

[Aram]

I'm pretty sure "poor devil" isn't an exclusively British colloquialism.

[Walsingham]

I'm pretty sure "poor devil" isn't an exclusively British colloquialism.

 

But you're a taciturn Texan, aren't you?