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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.[/quote]

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.[/quote]

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.[/quote]

I completely disagree with everything about assuming it’s safe. At some point an individual has to take responsibility for their own safety, assess the risks and determine whether to go or not. The waiver clearly states the sub wasn’t approved by any official for safety.

It’s tragic, but those passengers assumed 100% of the risk when they got on the sub. [/quote]

I don't mean to wave the flag for big government here - but that's why we have oversight and regulations. Because none of us is equipped to really gauge the safety of most things that are for sale for us to use. It's why we have the FDA - because I have no freaking idea how to determine whether a given drug is safe and effective. I am counting on experts and regulators to determine that for me. I don't know why airplanes work - in my mind, they should be crashing every day (gd forbid). Thank goodness for the FAA, full of engineers who can provide expertise where I only have imagination.

Is there really no comparable regulatory body for something like this submarine? Can any jokel off the street sell tickets to a duct taped soup can, and anyone who wants to buy them just should have known? Did they not have to get any kind if inspection or license? Like can it really be the case that you can't sell lemonade on the street without a license - but anyone can offer to take people down 12,500 feet with no oversight whatsoever?

And again - there can always be accidents. I'm sure everyone on this doomed vessel signed a waiver. But - as an American, used to our complex regulatory system, don't you sort of assume that SOMEONE gave the green light to this? It's not just some lunatic on the street, like, yelling that they'll do your surgery in their basement?

I would. I do try to exercise discretion. Like I wouldn't go on rides at a traveling carnival, because I don't think they're inspected very well. Maybe this is the submarine equivalent of a traveling carnival - but even in that case, there are inspectors at the carnival! [/quote]

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