Comments on: Massey Energy: “If you attend the funeral of your co-workers, you’re fired” https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/ Sat, 01 May 2010 09:48:53 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: Duae Quartunciae https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517140 Sat, 01 May 2010 09:48:53 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517140 And a followup from the same writer: Update: A Massey spokesman responds, â??We know of no instances when miners were denied a request to attend a funeral.â?

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517139 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:57:47 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517139 Well, there you go. Looks like they are total assholes after all.

]]> By: Stephanie Z https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517138 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:52:40 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517138 Additional reporting on the topic: http://washingtonindependent.com/82941/in-coal-county-a-culture-of-fear

]]> By: Mike Crichton https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517137 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:14:17 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517137 Plausible as this sounds, I’d like to see moire corroboration before believing it wholeheartedly. OTOH, I will feel no surprise whatsoever if it turns out to be true.

]]> By: Chris Ho-Stuart https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517136 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:00:48 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517136

I suppose it is good to be skeptical of a report like this as it is so outrageous and over the top.

Say no more. I’m not being an apologist for the mining company here. I’ve tried to find some independent confirmation of this, and have failed. My guess, therefore, is that the story is false, or at best has grown in the telling from something quite different.

I might be wrong, but that’s where I’m leaning. It’s a sufficiently huge story, if at all true, that some independent confirmation would be forthcoming, if it has some factual basis.

So far… nothing, other than references back to the “World Socialist Web Site” story. Frankly, I don’t think they are sufficiently great shakes in intelligence — or at least in common sense — themselves; and it looks so far like the spreading of the rumour from this one source is a consequence of a LACK of rational skepticism. A plague on all their houses and wake me up when someone more credible has an independent confirmation of the story — or when there is an explicit denial of the story. I expect one or the other will surface fairly soon.

Finding OTHER examples of stupidity or greed doesn’t do a thing to confirm THIS example.

In the meantime, I’ll base my low opinion of Massey on stuff that seems better grounded.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517135 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:04:04 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517135 Rob, sorry to insult you.

Yes, I’ve been there. Yes, I know about their criteria.

I don’t think you should be telling me to not complain about West Virginia. I think you should be telling me something else.

]]> By: Rob https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517134 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:24:24 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517134 “As to stupidity … Have you been to Wester Virginia?”

I don’t know Greg, have you ever lived there and met the people? Can you classify an entire state as stupid? Maybe uneducated according to your criteria, but certainly not by theirs. I believe they manage just fine, as far as I can see, and I live there part-time.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517133 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:38:40 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517133 I suppose it is good to be skeptical of a report like this as it is so outrageous and over the top. But if you now much about the history of these mining companies it isn’t really surprising at al. They are heartless, and perhaps have to be. They are sending men and women miles into the earth into a very dangerous situation every day. Do you know how many nasty accidents happen in coal mines on a regular basis? After the incident I linked to above I went through several years of mine reports (I’m interested in occupational risk for various reasons). Let’s just say a lot.

As to stupidity … Have you been to Wester Virginia?

Well, anyway, there is more reporting on this, feel free to bring in what you find.

This is interesting:

http://www.dailymail.com/News/201004140951

This does not speak to the issue at hand, but if you want to know the, shall we say, level we are working at here, you can certainly pick it up.

]]> By: Rob https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517132 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 08:21:15 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517132 The how come Massey has agreed to shut down its mines after Gov. Manchin’s request for a day of mourning?

]]> By: Cain https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517131 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:56:01 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/04/14/massey-energy-if-you-attend-th/#comment-517131 I’m sorry but I’m skeptical. If this is true it is a comic book level of evil. Anyone able to make a PR move this stupid is too dumb to ever make it to a job site; they would spend their days bumping in to their bedroom door and shitting themselves.

The criminal negligence they have already shown is not the same as the legendary stupidity this move would require.

]]>