Scene from episode 2 of HBO's Chernobyl in which an official who once ran a shoe factory is put in charge of a critical role. It shows how unqualified appointees end up in charge of technical matters.
Why Hacker News points people here: Used as an analogy whenever commenters criticize unqualified people placed in charge of expert fields.
“I can't help but think about this scene from Chernobyl”HN comment, 2019
“I can't help but think about this scene from Chernobyl”
Scene showing unqualified appointees running things, used as analogy.
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> Over the years, their numbers have included construction workers, insurance agents, pharmacists — even an underwear distributor. This is ironic for a conservative state because it's indistinguishable to me from Soviet communism. I can't help but think about this scene from Chernobyl ( this video ) which illustrates the true tragedy of this broken system. Emma Goldman wrote in "My Disillusionment in Russia" (1923): > Bourgeois dictatorship is replaced by the "dictatorship of the proletariat" — or by that of its "advance guard," the Communist Party. Lenin takes the seat of the Romanovs, the Imperial Cabinet is rechristened Soviet of People's Commissars, Trotsky is appointed Minister of War, and a labourer becomes the Military Governor General of Moscow. That is, in essence, the Bolshevik conception of revolution, as translated into actual practice.
Cites itsnake_plisskenJan 2021
“this scene from HBO's Chernobyl takes on a whole new dimension”
HBO scene of a former shoe factory worker put in charge.
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Kind of unrelated but when you mentioned Soviet shoe factories, this scene from HBO's Chernobyl takes on a whole new dimension: this video "I'm a nuclear physicist. Before you were deputy secretary, you worked in a shoe factory." "Yes, I worked in a shoe factory. And now I'm in charge. To the workers of the world."
Cites it_Algernon_Jul 2025
“Replace 'worked in a shoe factory' with 'were a reality TV star'”
Scene of unqualified official used to criticize current leadership.
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It's not apathy, it is weaponized incompetence. It was a contributing factor to Chernobyl. It is funny how the US is so opposed to communism, but copies the mistakes of the soviet union. Replace 'worked in a shoe factory' with 'were a reality TV star', 'was a fox news agitprop host', or similar for any of the current US leadership in the scene from Chernobyl and it fits like a glove. this video
JokeHopenHeyHiApr 2023
“You sound like the guy from the shoe factory”
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> I’d have to see your coworker’s post to really know if it was hate speech. You sound like the guy from the shoe factory: this video
