Comments on: Death by Chocolate (no, really): worker dies in hot cocoa mixing vat http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 14:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Nelson.C http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537856 Nelson.C Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537856 It's a horrible death, but also a ridiculous one. The tension between the two responses is what seeds the black humour. It's why the BBC reported the story, and why Xeni made the crack about Oompah-loompahs. It's a completely normal response and there has to be something wrong with you if you weren't simultaneously appalled and amused by this death, I'd say. I'd give you short odds that the emergency workers who attended the scene, while all business doing their job, when they knocked off their shift were cracking these same jokes and worse ones. Death is shocking; an unusual death is both shocking and funny, and made funnier by the knowledge that you really <i>shouldn't</i> be laughing. It’s a horrible death, but also a ridiculous one. The tension between the two responses is what seeds the black humour. It’s why the BBC reported the story, and why Xeni made the crack about Oompah-loompahs. It’s a completely normal response and there has to be something wrong with you if you weren’t simultaneously appalled and amused by this death, I’d say. I’d give you short odds that the emergency workers who attended the scene, while all business doing their job, when they knocked off their shift were cracking these same jokes and worse ones.

Death is shocking; an unusual death is both shocking and funny, and made funnier by the knowledge that you really shouldn’t be laughing.

]]> By: Telecustard http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537859 Telecustard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537859 <i>So help me out please; who's winning the name-calling contest?</i> At this stage both sides are feeling brave enough to say what they want because they feel they have a number of other bOINGers supporting them. But personally I would award the prize to whomever decides to set up a trust fund for the dead man's family. I imagine the "not funny" crowd will do that, because they <i>really really care.</i> Also, they will never, ever laugh at anything to do with someone's life ending, because <i>it's so wrong</i> you know. Such an outrage. I will be thinking of this thread later, folks. Remember which side you picked - it's coming back to haunt you down the road when you switch positions to pursue whatever agenda is fashionable that day. :) Cheers! So help me out please; who’s winning the name-calling contest?

At this stage both sides are feeling brave enough to say what they want because they feel they have a number of other bOINGers supporting them.

But personally I would award the prize to whomever decides to set up a trust fund for the dead man’s family. I imagine the “not funny” crowd will do that, because they really really care.

Also, they will never, ever laugh at anything to do with someone’s life ending, because it’s so wrong you know. Such an outrage.

I will be thinking of this thread later, folks. Remember which side you picked – it’s coming back to haunt you down the road when you switch positions to pursue whatever agenda is fashionable that day. :) Cheers!

]]> By: Glindie http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537865 Glindie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537865 You know, I never notice how "horrible" something is until people post comments on it... *shrug* You know, I never notice how “horrible” something is until people post comments on it…

*shrug*

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537868 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537868 That is sad. I don't care about the joke or wheter it was appropriate or not. The death is sad and unfortunate and that's how I feel about it. At one of the places my father worked a worker fell into hot metal, promptly being burned to death. People there suspected it had been a suicide though. Like the poster before me I wonder why he was up on some kind of platform above a giant vat with nothing to secure him? That is sad. I don’t care about the joke or wheter it was appropriate or not. The death is sad and unfortunate and that’s how I feel about it.

At one of the places my father worked a worker fell into hot metal, promptly being burned to death. People there suspected it had been a suicide though.

Like the poster before me I wonder why he was up on some kind of platform above a giant vat with nothing to secure him?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537618 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537618 I couldn't help it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDonSwXPUZU I couldn’t help it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDonSwXPUZU

]]> By: Sleeper http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537874 Sleeper Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537874 Does anyone else find that this brings to mind XKCD #386? Are you coming to bed? I can't. This is important. What? Someone is WRONG on the internet. Does anyone else find that this brings to mind XKCD #386?

Are you coming to bed?
I can’t. This is important.
What?
Someone is WRONG on the internet.

]]> By: forgeweld http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537621 forgeweld Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537621 Death, where is thy sting? Death, where is thy sting?

]]> By: Piers W http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537878 Piers W Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537878 Reminds me of the Grahame Greene short story, in which, as I recollect it, two teachers have to tell a schoolboy his father has been killed by a pig falling from a balcony in Naples or somewhere. They keep their faces straight, but the last line of the story is the boy asking "what happened to the pig?" Reminds me of the Grahame Greene short story, in which, as I recollect it, two teachers have to tell a schoolboy his father has been killed by a pig falling from a balcony in Naples or somewhere.

They keep their faces straight, but the last line of the story is the boy asking “what happened to the pig?”

]]> By: Patrick Austin http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537879 Patrick Austin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537879 I know another really hilarious story kinda like this: a guy I worked with was doing some maintenance on a gigantic rotary assembly machine and it crushed his head flat. It was like humpty dumpty! All the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't make his head look any better than a broken egg for the open casket. Everyone at the office laughed for WEEKS! I know another really hilarious story kinda like this: a guy I worked with was doing some maintenance on a gigantic rotary assembly machine and it crushed his head flat.

It was like humpty dumpty! All the king’s horses, and all the king’s men, couldn’t make his head look any better than a broken egg for the open casket.

Everyone at the office laughed for WEEKS!

]]> By: nanuq http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537628 nanuq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537628 I wonder what this will do to sales. I wonder what this will do to sales.

]]> By: ghostpoint http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537885 ghostpoint Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537885 I think a lot of the Boing Boing elite have their nerves frayed by a dispute on that Sarah Palin thread. Yeah, sorry about that one but... I don't think it is funny that someone died in an industrial accident involving chocolate. Maybe it is because I live in Philadelphia, near the factory in question. Maybe it is because I have known people who have died in industrial accidents. Maybe it is because I am often a worker myself. Maybe it is because I wouldn't even find it funny if a fictional oompah-loompah died. Sorry boing boing- and I'm not going away. I think maybe there is some inappropriate humor to be had within the story- I'll read it now to see if I have that reaction. It's the distanced snark that seems too pointed to me. I think a lot of the Boing Boing elite have their nerves frayed by a dispute on that Sarah Palin thread. Yeah, sorry about that one but…
I don’t think it is funny that someone died in an industrial accident involving chocolate.
Maybe it is because I live in Philadelphia, near the factory in question.
Maybe it is because I have known people who have died in industrial accidents.
Maybe it is because I am often a worker myself.
Maybe it is because I wouldn’t even find it funny if a fictional oompah-loompah died.
Sorry boing boing- and I’m not going away.
I think maybe there is some inappropriate humor to be had within the story- I’ll read it now to see if I have that reaction. It’s the distanced snark that seems too pointed to me.

]]> By: Talia http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537890 Talia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537890 Jeez. BB has been overrun by self-righteous, arrogant folks with the sense of humor of manure piles, I see. In a dark way, this is funny. I am going to laugh at it, and I am not ashamed. So THERE! *sticks out tongue* The rest of ya'll need a vacation or something. Jeez. BB has been overrun by self-righteous, arrogant folks with the sense of humor of manure piles, I see.

In a dark way, this is funny. I am going to laugh at it, and I am not ashamed.

So THERE!

*sticks out tongue*

The rest of ya’ll need a vacation or something.

]]> By: Nelson.C http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537638 Nelson.C Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537638 There was a black comedy starring Leonard Rossiter with this plot (that's a good clue to how long ago it was). In that, the unfortunate accident improved the flavour of the chocolate and it became a bestseller, until that batch was used up and sales slumped again. You've probably already figured out what the solution was. There was a black comedy starring Leonard Rossiter with this plot (that’s a good clue to how long ago it was). In that, the unfortunate accident improved the flavour of the chocolate and it became a bestseller, until that batch was used up and sales slumped again. You’ve probably already figured out what the solution was.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537894 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537894 Wow, the sheer number of one-comment concern-troll accounts in this story make me think there's one terribly upset person sitting behind over 9000 proxies all trying to rail home their point... Wow, the sheer number of one-comment concern-troll accounts in this story make me think there’s one terribly upset person sitting behind over 9000 proxies all trying to rail home their point…

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537895 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537895 Reminds me of "The Boston Molasses Disaster" (look it up on wikipedia). Boy, this guy GHOSTPOINT sounds like a real hoot, the life of the party. I particularly like this line: <blockquote>Maybe it is because I wouldn't even find it funny if a fictional oompah-loompah died.</blockquote> Yeesh. It must suck not being able to go to an action/thriller movie where the fictional hero kills the fictional villain while heaping on insults and puns, a la James Bond or Spiderman (or maybe he just stands up during the movie with a protest sign and shouts "you people are SICK!!") Reminds me of “The Boston Molasses Disaster” (look it up on wikipedia).

Boy, this guy GHOSTPOINT sounds like a real hoot, the life of the party. I particularly like this line:

Maybe it is because I wouldn’t even find it funny if a fictional oompah-loompah died.

Yeesh. It must suck not being able to go to an action/thriller movie where the fictional hero kills the fictional villain while heaping on insults and puns, a la James Bond or Spiderman (or maybe he just stands up during the movie with a protest sign and shouts “you people are SICK!!”)

]]> By: omnivore http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537650 omnivore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537650 "Hope someone at the scene had the presence of mind to question the oompah-loompahs. " Hahahahahaha. And that's just one of 5400 industrial death reasons to laugh every year. So funny when a 29 year old dies in industrial accident, and a hipster blogger reduces it to puerile reference to children's novel he fetishises. Anyone here had a factory job? Disgusting. “Hope someone at the scene had the presence of mind to question the oompah-loompahs. ”

Hahahahahaha. And that’s just one of 5400 industrial death reasons to laugh every year.

So funny when a 29 year old dies in industrial accident, and a hipster blogger reduces it to puerile reference to children’s novel he fetishises. Anyone here had a factory job?

Disgusting.

]]> By: Cpt. Tim http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537908 Cpt. Tim Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537908 people joke about death, its part of being human. death in a vat of chocolate was just waiting for some witty hilarious jokes. that being said though... i'm still waiting. people joke about death, its part of being human. death in a vat of chocolate was just waiting for some witty hilarious jokes.

that being said though… i’m still waiting.

]]> By: hanna0251 http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537910 hanna0251 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537910 You guys really should not make fun of this story, it is so sad. <!-- I made a post about this to, check it out! http://yovia.com/blogs/hanna/2009/07/09/chocolate-isnt-always-nice/ --> thanks! (: You guys really should not make fun of this story, it is so sad.
thanks! (:

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537656 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537656 oh bite me, omnivore. Xeni's got real world cred for doings, what about you? oh bite me, omnivore. Xeni’s got real world cred for doings, what about you?

]]> By: AnoniMouse http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537657 AnoniMouse Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537657 Yeah, let's all have a good laugh at the blue collar folks bustin' their asses in dangerous jobs with no health insurance. Agree with Omnivore @5. I heart Boing Boing. But this is in bad taste. Yeah, let’s all have a good laugh at the blue collar folks bustin’ their asses in dangerous jobs with no health insurance.

Agree with Omnivore @5.

I heart Boing Boing. But this is in bad taste.

]]> By: stas59 http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537662 stas59 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537662 This kind of cold hearted 'humour' really compromises the whole 'Directory of Wonderful Things' subheading, don't you think? I am with Omnivore: a young factory worker loses his life in an accident that was no doubt completely avoidable and that's supposed to be funny? This kind of cold hearted ‘humour’ really compromises the whole ‘Directory of Wonderful Things’ subheading, don’t you think?

I am with Omnivore: a young factory worker loses his life in an accident that was no doubt completely avoidable and that’s supposed to be funny?

]]> By: omnivore http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537663 omnivore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537663 "Xeni's got real world cred for doings" is not an argument, or even English. "Oh bite me" does not merit comment. “Xeni’s got real world cred for doings” is not an argument, or even English.

“Oh bite me” does not merit comment.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537665 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537665 If you're looking for good taste, you've taken a tragic wrong turn somewhere. This is the blog that made goatse a household word. I think that Ladies Home Journal and Readers Digest would probably be safe bets for completely inoffensive webotainment. If you’re looking for good taste, you’ve taken a tragic wrong turn somewhere. This is the blog that made goatse a household word. I think that Ladies Home Journal and Readers Digest would probably be safe bets for completely inoffensive webotainment.

]]> By: 2129 http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537667 2129 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537667 For reals. A man died here. May be an unusual death but the oompah loompah joke is weak. For reals. A man died here. May be an unusual death but the oompah loompah joke is weak.

]]> By: Rick Fletcher http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537668 Rick Fletcher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537668 <blockquote>I heart Boing Boing. But this is in bad taste.</blockquote> Same. Hope Xeni was just having a bad day or something and has the sense to edit and apologize.

I heart Boing Boing. But this is in bad taste.

Same. Hope Xeni was just having a bad day or something and has the sense to edit and apologize.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537670 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537670 bite me twice, ankle biters. "Concern troll" is too high a label for you. bite me twice, ankle biters. “Concern troll” is too high a label for you.

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537671 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537671 <i>This kind of cold hearted 'humour' really compromises the whole 'Directory of Wonderful Things' subheading, don't you think?</i> no, but the bountiful concern trolling might. This kind of cold hearted ‘humour’ really compromises the whole ‘Directory of Wonderful Things’ subheading, don’t you think?

no, but the bountiful concern trolling might.

]]> By: Rick Fletcher http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537672 Rick Fletcher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537672 BTW, here's a better article from a local source: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090708_Worker_falls_into_chocolate_vat__dies.html BTW, here’s a better article from a local source: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090708_Worker_falls_into_chocolate_vat__dies.html

]]> By: Piers W http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537933 Piers W Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537933 He fell into the 8-foot vat and his co-worker tried to pull him out but he was hit and killed by the agitator which is the part of the vat which mixes the cocolate. this is such a sad story! :( As Oscar Wilde said: "It would take a heart of stone" ... He fell into the 8-foot vat and his co-worker tried to pull him out but he was hit and killed by the agitator which is the part of the vat which mixes the cocolate.
this is such a sad story! :(

As Oscar Wilde said: “It would take a heart of stone” …

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/07/08/death-by-chocolate-n.html#comment-537679 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-537679 even less funny for a now two-post wonder to try to jump salty in my face. Hope you have lots of yarn for when that sock-puppet head gets pinched off. even less funny for a now two-post wonder to try to jump salty in my face. Hope you have lots of yarn for when that sock-puppet head gets pinched off.

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