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mrbogey January 19 2012, 19:47:50 UTC
What's mysterious or unsafe?

The captain turned off the guidance and flagrantly endangered the lives of everyone on board.

Being on a cruise ship is still extremely safe. Don't mistake flagrant disregard for safety with inherent risk.

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ddstory January 19 2012, 19:52:42 UTC
It's safe, yes. Meanwhile, hundreds of lives still depend on whether a captain and his two assistants would display flagrant disregard for safety or they'd follow the instructions for navigation when approaching a port. One'd think all that technology would prevent any shit from happening, but nope, it wouldn't. And that's the whole point.

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mrbogey January 19 2012, 20:12:39 UTC
The most technologically advanced item can be busted if put in stupid hands.

You can't make something safe beyond the ability for an idiot to break it.

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ddstory January 19 2012, 20:32:28 UTC
Then we have an agreement.

And you didn't mention government, yay!

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htpcl January 19 2012, 21:14:42 UTC
DQ.

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peristaltor January 20 2012, 23:33:26 UTC
One'd think all that technology would prevent any shit from happening. . . .

Funny story. An engineer friend and a few boat buddies were hefting pints one night. He asked why the ferry system in this state (largest fleet in the country) didn't automate the docking systems. After all, the technology for such automation has been around for years.

I realized he thought too much like an engineer. I asked a simple hypothetical question: When the automated ship rams a dock and kills - again, this is never an if question, but when - who loses his license? The captain who was not in control and was forced to just watch the carnage? After all, the captain is still required by law to be aboard. The manufacturer? Do that, and no progress in control and guidance technology would ever happen again.

The captain shouldn't have needed the fancy gadgets in the pilot house. The only thing he needs is found between his ears. It comes with being, you know, the captain.

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