Office worker goes insane

[pixeldust]

http://www.break.com/index/office-wo...ly-insane.html

http://www.break.com/index/office-wo...ond-angle.html

I'm calling fake/viral on this. It's already doing the rounds, and there are a few things which strike me as wrong.

1) The numerous CRT monitors in what looks like the office of a largeish company. I don't know any companies who are not using LCD's now. CRT monitors obviously make a bigger impact. They also do not appear to be plugged in as he lifts and throws them with little difficulty.
2) The fact that no one runs off, instead they just stand there, including the woman who got a CRT to the face
3) No one tries to stop him
4) That a second video exists, it's just too perfect
5) Some of the acting looks forced to me, especially when viewed on the second video

[sarahmonkey]

Originally Posted by pixeldust

http://www.break.com/index/office-wo...ly-insane.html

http://www.break.com/index/office-wo...ond-angle.html

I'm calling fake/viral on this. It's already doing the rounds, and there are a few things which strike me as wrong.

1) The numerous CRT monitors in what looks like the office of a largeish company. I don't know any companies who are not using LCD's now. CRT monitors obviously make a bigger impact. They also do not appear to be plugged in as he lifts and throws them with little difficulty.

I work for a quite largeish company and there are still plenty of CRT monitors around. If our office equipment hasn't fully depreciated and still functions, it doesn't get replaced regardless of how outdated it seems.

Which isn't to say I think the videos are real -- just that your first point alone doesn't carry that much weight with me.

[Troberg]

It's also a bit wierd that all the windows are covered.

[Floater]

I would also go insane if I had to work in an environment like that.

[BluesScale]

None of the monitors appears to be connected to anything. Call me a cynic but that makes me less convinced

Blues

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by pixeldust

1) The numerous CRT monitors in what looks like the office of a largeish company. I don't know any companies who are not using LCD's now. CRT monitors obviously make a bigger impact. They also do not appear to be plugged in as he lifts and throws them with little difficulty.

I'll have to wait till I get home to view the links, but I'm in a large company and it's mainly CRT monitors here. They are being replaced with the rolling out of upgraded PCs (though people have an option to keep their old monitors e.g. if they currently have a large-screen CRT since the standard flatscreen will be smaller)

[jw]

Originally Posted by pixeldust

1) The numerous CRT monitors in what looks like the office of a largeish company. I don't know any companies who are not using LCD's now. CRT monitors obviously make a bigger impact. They also do not appear to be plugged in as he lifts and throws them with little difficulty.

I still see CRT monitors in some offices here. They're not speaking in English. Does anyone recognise the language?(can be heard in the second video)

2) The fact that no one runs off, instead they just stand there, including the woman who got a CRT to the face

The woman beside her quickly came over to her attend her. I suppose if he was a regular work colleague, you might just be intrigued?

3) No one tries to stop him

All things considered, I wouldn't have either. The security guard with some help from office workers eventually did. Did the security guy use a taser?

4) That a second video exists, it's just too perfect

Others, and what looks the guy who was taking the papers from his drawers took out camera phones or hand held cameras. Office rubber neckers, or taking evidence?

5) Some of the acting looks forced to me, especially when viewed on the second video

I couldn't tell.

[jw]

Originally Posted by BluesScale

None of the monitors appears to be connected to anything. Call me a cynic but that makes me less convinced

Blues

The two monitors on the left can be seen working.

[Floater]

Originally Posted by jw

They're not speaking in English. Does anyone recognise the language?(can be heard in the second video)

Unfortunately I don't have sound on my computer so I can't hear anything they're saying, but the date inserted in the first film is noted American style.

[Cyrano]

I also can't understand the language (it's not French, Italian or German either).

Although it seems real to me (it would be difficult to stage it with so many people involved), I somewhat expected the scene to end with the slogan:

JUST DO IT.

It looks real to me.

In movies, when things go bad, people unite as one to stop evildoers. In reality, when someone goes nuts, people just watch and hope not to get hurt.

[jw]

Originally Posted by Cyrano

I also can't understand the language (it's not French, Italian or German either).

My first impression was that it was some version of Russian, but I recall making a previous guess about a language here at snopes and got it wrong quite a few times...

Originally Posted by Floater

Unfortunately I don't have sound on my computer so I can't hear anything they're saying, but the date inserted in the first film is noted American style.

Yes. Don't they use that system in Asia and Eastern Europe too?

[Buckle Up]

I thought it looked plausible to me, but the only weird thing is that no one picks up a phone to call for help. With that many people, surely someone would have called security or police, especially after many minutes pass.

[Horse Chestnut]

Sounds vaguely like Russian, or some other Slavic language.

[mags]

The only thing that really read false about it to me the first viewing is that the dude seems to go from being perfectly normal to a raging lunatic with no setting off. However, I went back to watch, and there are signs before he really gets going. The man he attacks with the keyboard had knocked something off the lunatic's desk accidently with his butt. Lunatic starts looking a bit abnormal, way more upset about it than any normal person would be. He apparently says something to the other guy about picking it up, and as the guy is picking it up, the lunatic starts to rock as though he is only barely containing his rage. Then he picks up his keyboard and sets off.

IMHO, it looks very much like someone who is unstable due to the influence of drugs. Less likely is mental illness, because most mental illnesses don't cause violence, and if he was mentally ill in a way that caused violence, he probably wouldn't be working.

ETA: probably russian or a related language, because there is a very clear "Nyet!" on the cell phone vid around the 20 second mark. There are several other less clear nyets at other points.

ETA again: I don't think I would pick up a phone to call for help in that situation, either. I would not be willing to take my eyes off that man long enough to do so. I would, however, have circled as best I could to the door rather than hanging out to watch, tho, I think. Who knows until you're in the situation though.

[Joostik]

It's Russian indeed. FWIW it looks pretty real to me.

[Teknigram]

This was in Russia.

[Miss Cellaneous]

Originally Posted by Buckle Up

I thought it looked plausible to me, but the only weird thing is that no one picks up a phone to call for help. With that many people, surely someone would have called security or police, especially after many minutes pass.

In the second video, the man who grabbed the raging man's legs and pulled him off the desk appears to have been security. He later comes toward the people filming with camera phones, waving them off.

[TuFurg]

Originally Posted by Teknigram

This was in Russia.

Well there goes my theory. I thought it may have been a case of "angry German kid all growed up".

As far as the second video- had it captured the entire incident I would have considered it a bit too convenient but IMO it just looks like someone decided to get what they could on video.

[pixeldust]

Hmm, all valid and interesting points, but I'm still skeptical. I guess if it IS viral we'll find out soon enough!

ETA:
One thing I find interesting is that the first appearance of the second angle video was on Break (the 2nd linked video above), but the person who posted it is asking for more information about it, so appearing as someone who was not there IYKWIM?

"More footage of what is seriously the best office worker meltdown in history. This time from another employee's cell cam. What happened to this guy??? We need to know more."

ETA2: I think this is the original of the security angle as it's not watermarked Break:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTqz6a-PA5U