Claim: Video clip shows drunken Russian coal miners being interviewed about an on-the-job accident.
Example: [Collected via e-mail, 2005]
You don't need sound, unless you can speak Russian. There has just been an accident at a Russian coal mine. The local TV news crew are interviewing the operators and asking if the accident may have been caused by men drinking on the job.... |
Origins: Want to turn an ordinary video clip into an archly humorous one? It's easy — just pick a clip which provides the viewer no discernable frame of reference, is too short for the viewer to establish its context, or provides a soundtrack in a language the viewer doesn't understand. Those factors are at work in the presentation of this video clip, which purportedly depicts drunken Russian coal miners being interviewed about an on-the-job accident.
A translation of what the men are actually saying belies the proffered explanation,
Interviewer: When did you last work? Man: Last month, November, November 17. Other man [offscreen]: Imagine waiting half a year for your salary. Man: Yes. Interviewer: Why did you decide to resort to such an extreme measure? Man: Because they don't pay. They keep on telling lies. Interviewer: Do you think this will help? Man: I don't know Other man: [offscreen]: I hope so. Man: Yes, I hope so. We're counting on your help.
Man: We were last paid on March 6th, and that was salary due to us from last November.
Last updated: 23 July 2005