Tourist submersible missing on visit to Titanic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:one of the members of the 5 is a retired French navy diver. apparently tapping every 30 minutes is a navy call signal and not something random. I think they are or at least were still alive.

I kind of feel like that guy will kill the other adults to try to keep someone alive longer.

Probably using the CEO guy's severed head to bang against the wall right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have they tried UpUpDownDownABABStart?

I laughed. Then I felt old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A vehicle the size of a mini-van with a bottle and Ziploc bags for a toilet. Viewing portal tested to 1400 meters’ depth and they were going down 14,000 feet. Controller made from a GameBoy.

The level of delusion involved in boarding this craft is shocking. It’s hard not to see it as a form of suicide.

Hadn’t it made successful trips before? I agree that it was obviously taking on huge risk, but they probably saw it had been done safely before.

Also, in general we trust that something like this won't be allowed to operate without some sufficient oversight. We trust this every time we get on an airplane or buy a new car, or get on a ride at an amusement park. We trust it when we participate in anything that, of course, has risks - but aren't there guardrails in place to prevent some yahoo from simply taking $250k from whoever wants to pay it and sending them 12,500 feet down without some sort of oversight and inspection?

Of course there can always be an accident, something can always go wrong - but is the system built to go wrong? I guess it turns out it is - but I don't think it's crazy for the people who bought their seats on this doomed ride to have believed that this insane company wouldn't have been allowed to do this unless someone without a financial stake in the company thought it was safe. I know this is an extreme case - but I just don't think you can blame the people who participated for not knowing how unregulated this turned out to be. Or accuse them of wanting to die.

This is just so horrific.

And the migrant boat sinking is also horrific. It's sort of the opposite end of the same spectrum. Though I don't know anyone thinks the migrant boats are safe - it's just the people willing to take them are that desperate.

I think this is the huge difference in wrapping my mind around these two events. I understand the risk of the migrants because they are in a disadvantaged position where the gamble may be worth it. I can also envision how a boat sinks.

But with the submersible, my brain is just trying to fathom the extreme darkness and pressure that deep in the ocean. I don’t understand the risk of very well off people wanting to get on something not well regulated. And just to see the titanic on a video monitor anyway. What is the bonus of being that far below the sea, just to say you did it? Seems reckless without much upside.

Completely agree - but wanted to add there is a portal they can look through at one end of the vessel but its small. I saw a photo somewhere of an individual who had done this trip before and the photo was like a selfie with his face and the portal showing the titanic.

A selfie? So they died for social media clout?

the guy in the photo didn't die - his mission was last year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:one of the members of the 5 is a retired French navy diver. apparently tapping every 30 minutes is a navy call signal and not something random. I think they are or at least were still alive.

I kind of feel like that guy will kill the other adults to try to keep someone alive longer.

The dead bodies gases and decomp in the small space would ruin the already low oxygen supply. You need everyone alive.

[Anonymous]

Been thinking about how the Ancient Romans would have tried to pull up the sub. Probably would have used an elaborate series of ropes and pullies, but not sure how they would have accomplished this on the open ocean since they knew nothing about the Atlantic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A vehicle the size of a mini-van with a bottle and Ziploc bags for a toilet. Viewing portal tested to 1400 meters’ depth and they were going down 14,000 feet. Controller made from a GameBoy.

The level of delusion involved in boarding this craft is shocking. It’s hard not to see it as a form of suicide.

Hadn’t it made successful trips before? I agree that it was obviously taking on huge risk, but they probably saw it had been done safely before.

Also, in general we trust that something like this won't be allowed to operate without some sufficient oversight. We trust this every time we get on an airplane or buy a new car, or get on a ride at an amusement park. We trust it when we participate in anything that, of course, has risks - but aren't there guardrails in place to prevent some yahoo from simply taking $250k from whoever wants to pay it and sending them 12,500 feet down without some sort of oversight and inspection?

Of course there can always be an accident, something can always go wrong - but is the system built to go wrong? I guess it turns out it is - but I don't think it's crazy for the people who bought their seats on this doomed ride to have believed that this insane company wouldn't have been allowed to do this unless someone without a financial stake in the company thought it was safe. I know this is an extreme case - but I just don't think you can blame the people who participated for not knowing how unregulated this turned out to be. Or accuse them of wanting to die.

This is just so horrific.

And the migrant boat sinking is also horrific. It's sort of the opposite end of the same spectrum. Though I don't know anyone thinks the migrant boats are safe - it's just the people willing to take them are that desperate.

I think this is the huge difference in wrapping my mind around these two events. I understand the risk of the migrants because they are in a disadvantaged position where the gamble may be worth it. I can also envision how a boat sinks.

But with the submersible, my brain is just trying to fathom the extreme darkness and pressure that deep in the ocean. I don’t understand the risk of very well off people wanting to get on something not well regulated. And just to see the titanic on a video monitor anyway. What is the bonus of being that far below the sea, just to say you did it? Seems reckless without much upside.

Completely agree - but wanted to add there is a portal they can look through at one end of the vessel but its small. I saw a photo somewhere of an individual who had done this trip before and the photo was like a selfie with his face and the portal showing the titanic.

A selfie? So they died for social media clout?

the guy in the photo didn't die - his mission was last year?

but yes - there is some sort of bragging rights from doing this trip I guess.... and of course they would want to post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A vehicle the size of a mini-van with a bottle and Ziploc bags for a toilet. Viewing portal tested to 1400 meters’ depth and they were going down 14,000 feet. Controller made from a GameBoy.

The level of delusion involved in boarding this craft is shocking. It’s hard not to see it as a form of suicide.

Hadn’t it made successful trips before? I agree that it was obviously taking on huge risk, but they probably saw it had been done safely before.

Also, in general we trust that something like this won't be allowed to operate without some sufficient oversight. We trust this every time we get on an airplane or buy a new car, or get on a ride at an amusement park. We trust it when we participate in anything that, of course, has risks - but aren't there guardrails in place to prevent some yahoo from simply taking $250k from whoever wants to pay it and sending them 12,500 feet down without some sort of oversight and inspection?

Of course there can always be an accident, something can always go wrong - but is the system built to go wrong? I guess it turns out it is - but I don't think it's crazy for the people who bought their seats on this doomed ride to have believed that this insane company wouldn't have been allowed to do this unless someone without a financial stake in the company thought it was safe. I know this is an extreme case - but I just don't think you can blame the people who participated for not knowing how unregulated this turned out to be. Or accuse them of wanting to die.

This is just so horrific.

And the migrant boat sinking is also horrific. It's sort of the opposite end of the same spectrum. Though I don't know anyone thinks the migrant boats are safe - it's just the people willing to take them are that desperate.

I think this is the huge difference in wrapping my mind around these two events. I understand the risk of the migrants because they are in a disadvantaged position where the gamble may be worth it. I can also envision how a boat sinks.

But with the submersible, my brain is just trying to fathom the extreme darkness and pressure that deep in the ocean. I don’t understand the risk of very well off people wanting to get on something not well regulated. And just to see the titanic on a video monitor anyway. What is the bonus of being that far below the sea, just to say you did it? Seems reckless without much upside.

Completely agree - but wanted to add there is a portal they can look through at one end of the vessel but its small. I saw a photo somewhere of an individual who had done this trip before and the photo was like a selfie with his face and the portal showing the titanic.

A selfie? So they died for social media clout?

Of course! Why else? These aren’t qualified divers or submarine captains. No, they are rich people. There are smarter, safer and more effective ways to view the Titanic, but a selfie wouldn’t be possible. Sorry if that’s offensive to any selfie taking narcissists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They attach a really strong magnet to a really long rope and go trolling.

/s

This is actually the best idea I have heard, but is titanium even magnetic? Carbon isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The US and Canadian Coast Guards are racing against the clock to locate the stranded Titan exploration sub, but diners at this Panda Express in Coeur D'Aline have their doubts.

You have it backwards. The gullible, slack-jawed know-nothings at Panda Express say “but banging!” and “OMG there’s still hope!”

[Anonymous]

this kind of reminds me of Everest in way--if you fall victim to Everest, it's unlikely you'll be rescued and you're just left up there to die. Unless a sherpa comes along and bundles you up and carries you down the mountain like the recent rescue, but that is rare. so this is similar--you're stuck at the bottom of the ocean with no rescue option available. They knew this going in, just like Everest climbers assume the risk. At least on Everest your death is pretty quick and peaceful.

[Anonymous]

And there's something more peaceful to me about dying on an open mountain with the sky above me than in a freaking coffin in the dark depths of the ocean.

[Anonymous]

Imagine yourself in a minivan with four other adults in the deep depths of the ocean where you can’t see anything for days and probably are out of provisions and nowhere to use the toilet. You couldn’t pay me enough.

[Anonymous]

I mean, the vessel weighs 12 tons. It is overwhelmingly likely that it fell straight down and is sitting on the sea floor right next to the Titanic, where it was headed when they lost contact. If they know where the wreck of the Titanic is, they should be focusing the search there, not on 10,000 square miles of open water where it almost certainly is not.

Also, as an aside, whoever had the idea to paint this thing blue and white instead of seat orange /yellow / red is a f*ucking moron, bc if it is bobbing, they will never see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this kind of reminds me of Everest in way--if you fall victim to Everest, it's unlikely you'll be rescued and you're just left up there to die. Unless a sherpa comes along and bundles you up and carries you down the mountain like the recent rescue, but that is rare. so this is similar--you're stuck at the bottom of the ocean with no rescue option available. They knew this going in, just like Everest climbers assume the risk. At least on Everest your death is pretty quick and peaceful.

You are dramatically misstating what goes on on Everest—but you are more right than you know.

Sherpas don’t “come along” and help people out on Everest. Wealthy Westerners pay big bucks for guides and equipment-carrying (including bottled oxygen) that enables a lot of would-be summiteers to be in places their training and experience do not justify them being in.

They do not accept the risk, for the most part—they spend a lot of money trying to derisk an inherently risky environment. When it goes wrong, sherpas who are hired to work as part of the businesses supporting this risk their own lives to bail these folks out.

There are proposals by expert climbers to ban bottled oxygen on Everest to prevent this kind of nonsense (because none of these people could climb Everest without it), but the local economy depends so strongly on this setup that it’s a nonstarter.

It’s a small mercy that there is no undersea equivalent of this.

[Anonymous]

^safety orange