Have you read about the 33 Chilean miners that are trapped deep underground after a cave-in? Apparently they're stuck in a relatively small compartment and it's constantly very hot and humid down there. The authorities are able to communicate with them through a two inch wide shaft and have informed them that they likely won't be able to dig them out until friggin Christmas. In the meantime they're sending down food, water, medical supplies and various items that are small enough to fit through the shaft.

I do wonder how they'll make it for several months down there though.

What if someone gets seriously ill and needs more than just the pills they can send down there?

What if a fight breaks out and they start beating each other up (which should be likely after several weeks and months down there!)?

How do they handle bathroom visits?

There's no mention in the reports that they're able to send down blankets so how will their bodies feel after sleeping on solid rock for all this time?

How do you stay sane?

There are millions of questions that could be asked...

How would you handle a situation like that? What items would you ask for? Would you keep to yourself or try to organize the group? What rules would you try to introduce and how would you enforce them? How would you deal with the psychological challenges?

Just curious.

why can't they dig them out till Christmas?

crazydoctor said:

why can't they dig them out till Christmas?

I guess they're so deep down and there are huge masses of solid rock that need to be cleared away. It takes time.

i'd ask them to stick a gun barrel down the shaft and blow my brains out.

i'm horribly claustrophobic. just reading this thread makes my skin crawl. i wouldn't make it 15 minutes like that.

whistle said:

i'd ask them to stick a gun barrel down the shaft and blow my brains out.

i'm horribly claustrophobic. just reading this thread makes my skin crawl. i wouldn't make it 15 minutes like that.

I hear ya. I'm also claustrophobic and can barely imagine going down a mine shaft just for a visit, let alone live there under excruciating circumstances for several months. I think I'd have to ask for a book (a few pages at a time if it doesn't fit through the tube) and an iPod and then just pretend as hard as I could that I wasn't even there. I don't think I could interact with the others or even look around me because then I'd just panic.

Are they all in the dark? That would freak me out more than anything, I think. Darkness for months on end...

Other than that, I'd like to think I'd make a game out of it. Make jokes, sing songs, whatever it took to keep myself in good spirits.

On the flip side, I might just try to find a place off by myself and sleep for 20 hours a day.

I'd be happy I'm not in America where you just bury them alive and wash your hands of it.

CarrieMpls said:

Are they all in the dark? That would freak me out more than anything, I think. Darkness for months on end...

Other than that, I'd like to think I'd make a game out of it. Make jokes, sing songs, whatever it took to keep myself in good spirits.

On the flip side, I might just try to find a place off by myself and sleep for 20 hours a day.

I think I read that they have flashlights that have been sent down the shaft but they don't really provide a good overall light. I saw some grainy footage from the space where they're stuck and it looks both dark and packed with people, so to find your own space would probably be hard.

The singing and making jokes sounds fine as long as you're not crazy claustrophobic like I am and as long as you're in a mood for it. Can you imagine how easily someone could get annoyed with you for almost any reason though (especially something like singing) and the kinds of fierce fights that might arise from that? And what if someone feels like you got a bigger food ration than them? You could probably get killed for that, considering how high strung they must be after months in that hot, damp tomb. Ugh.

In the end, meditation and sleep and other introverted stuff probably helps the most. Even then though you must watch out so you don't go all loopy.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I'd be happy I'm not in America where you just bury them alive and wash your hands of it.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I'd be happy I'm not in America where you just bury them alive and wash your hands of it.

Yeah. Because that's totally what happens in America every time anything goes wrong. Don't believe the hype. America makes mistakes and has definitely made it's fair share in the recent past. But there still isn't anyplace else I'd rather live. Something you might want to ask all the people from around the world who continue to immigrate about.

Personally, I would be fine. I don't mind small places, the dark, sleeping on the ground, etc. But if a lot of people got stressed at one time and things got hectic there isn't much you could do about it. That and poop would be my main concern. Hopefully they're removing as much waste as possible.

We took a group of kids from my old school on a field trip to an old mine in NW New Jersey. It was dark, cold and damp. We were dressed for late fall/early winter on a hot as hell July day.

I couldn't wait until it was over.

It was fascinating for a little while, and I had to keep focusing on the kids, but after a while I started thinking about the "What ifs".

I would not do well if I was in a situation like those poor Chilean workers. I hope everything works out for them...

weused2luvhim said:

Cerebus said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I'd be happy I'm not in America where you just bury them alive and wash your hands of it.

Yeah. Because that's totally what happens in America every time anything goes wrong. Don't believe the hype. America makes mistakes and has definitely made it's fair share in the recent past. But there still isn't anyplace else I'd rather live. Something you might want to ask all the people from around the world who continue to immigrate about.

The question wasn't whether or not I wanted to live somewhere else, just what I'd do (think) if I was a chilean mine worker

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Cerebus said:

Yeah. Because that's totally what happens in America every time anything goes wrong. Don't believe the hype. America makes mistakes and has definitely made it's fair share in the recent past. But there still isn't anyplace else I'd rather live. Something you might want to ask all the people from around the world who continue to immigrate about.

The question wasn't whether or not I wanted to live somewhere else, just what I'd do (think) if I was a chilean mine worker

And your response to me makes as much sense as your original comment. Which is to say, none.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I'd be happy I'm not in America where you just bury them alive and wash your hands of it.

Oh Yeah. This sort of thing is actually really common here in the good ol coal region.

I saw a segment on the news about their situation and could not even imagine how horrible it must be.

I was amazed that they made it to the survival chamber and that the chamber is working as it should, but to be down there for MONTHS.

Cerebus said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

The question wasn't whether or not I wanted to live somewhere else, just what I'd do (think) if I was a chilean mine worker

And your response to me makes as much sense as your original comment. Which is to say, none.

I don't know why you're getting so defensive but take it from Miss Pennsylvania

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Cerebus said:

And your response to me makes as much sense as your original comment. Which is to say, none.

I don't know why you're getting so defensive but take it from Miss Pennsylvania

Because you original comment was nonsensical, unfunny, insulting and completely off topic.

Cerebus said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I don't know why you're getting so defensive but take it from Miss Pennsylvania

Because you original comment was nonsensical, unfunny, insulting and completely off topic.

it obviously struck some nerve. We live in a fucked up country where people literally get buried alive and nobody pays any kind of price except the workers and their families. Again, I have no idea why you're so defensive but whatever

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Cerebus said:

Because you original comment was nonsensical, unfunny, insulting and completely off topic.

it obviously struck some nerve. We live in a fucked up country where people literally get buried alive and nobody pays any kind of price except the workers and their families. Again, I have no idea why you're so defensive but whatever

And I have no idea how you could read my last comment and not understand how I feel about your point of view regarding this subject. You keep saying you've struck a nerve like you're proud of it or something. Trust me, you haven't. That's why there's no bold or all caps words followed by an exclamation point. Your flippant, lazy and dismissive appraisal of our country is actually the cause of the very problem you describe, imo. I just happen to completely disagree with you and still think our country is great. It's the people (us) that make this country what it is, not the government. But I'm not stressed, and my nerves are all fine. I'm sittin' here drinkin' a nice cup of coffee, checkin' my usual websites, watching some women's tennis and petting my cats.

Cerebus said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

it obviously struck some nerve. We live in a fucked up country where people literally get buried alive and nobody pays any kind of price except the workers and their families. Again, I have no idea why you're so defensive but whatever

And I have no idea how you could read my last comment and not understand how I feel about your point of view regarding this subject. You keep saying you've struck a nerve like you're proud of it or something. Trust me, you haven't. That's why there's no bold or all caps words followed by an exclamation point. Your flippant, lazy and dismissive appraisal of our country is actually the cause of the very problem you describe, imo. I just happen to completely disagree with you and still think our country is great. It's the people (us) that make this country what it is, not the government. But I'm not stressed, and my nerves are all fine. I'm sittin' here drinkin' a nice cup of coffee, checkin' my usual websites, watching some women's tennis and petting my cats.

and i'm drinking my soda and enjoying Big Brother. enjoy expending your energy on posts you deem as unworthy

whistle said:

i'd ask them to stick a gun barrel down the shaft and blow my brains out.

i'm horribly claustrophobic. just reading this thread makes my skin crawl. i wouldn't make it 15 minutes like that.

yeah that is some horrible stuff they must be going through

I think like you, but I wonder how it changes when you are actually in the situation. You probably want to survive

I bet some of them will not survive, though, which will make it worse for the others

NDRU said:

whistle said:

i'd ask them to stick a gun barrel down the shaft and blow my brains out.

i'm horribly claustrophobic. just reading this thread makes my skin crawl. i wouldn't make it 15 minutes like that.

yeah that is some horrible stuff they must be going through

I think like you, but I wonder how it changes when you are actually in the situation. You probably want to survive

I bet some of them will not survive, though, which will make it worse for the others

Yeah, even if they can get some kind of thin body bag down there, all the others would still have to see the wrapped up body every day. How's that for morale booster?

I wonder what happens when somebody freaks out and starts screaming and they can't shut him up? Or what if he starts attacking the others? Maybe there are Big Brother style alliances forming and power struggles and mind games. It could get very nasty very quickly.

Apparently NASA is being consulted about issues concerning isolation and confinement to a small space. Hopefully they'll be able to offer some useful advice.

Cerebus said:

Personally, I would be fine. I don't mind small places, the dark, sleeping on the ground, etc. But if a lot of people got stressed at one time and things got hectic there isn't much you could do about it. That and poop would be my main concern. Hopefully they're removing as much waste as possible.

It's easy to say that while typing on your computer with either a nice confy couch or bed just a few feet away, but I highly doubt you'd be able to maintain that outlook if actually faced with that scenario.

They have contact with the outside world daily, right? They are probably getting a portapotty type arrangement send down and back for them to use as a toilet. Dry clothes, tarps, food, light(?) books, ipods - I'm sure they are doing their best to keep these guys OK, since the whole world is looking on!

IF one dies, that is going to be a problem it's not like they could be expected to cut him up to have him taken out

I would ask for paper to keep a diary. Would be a best seller fo sho

MISTERHANDS said:

I would ask for paper to keep a diary. Would be a best seller fo sho

yes - good thinking 99

I'd ask for all 7 Harry Potter books and maybe LOTR. iPad full of songs and videos we could all watch. Cell phone to keep constant contact with family. Lights.