A near-miss - he was almost on the now-missing sub...

[Dien Rice]

I don't know if you read this story...

One guy - Chris Brown - was booked to go down to see the Titanic wreckage, on the now-missing small submarine, called the "Titan"...

But - he got uncomfortable. He felt the company was "cutting too many corners"... and pulled out of the trip, after he had already paid the deposit.

Very close call...

I'm hoping they'll find the sub, and be able to rescue the people (if they're still alive). It must be an absolutely terrible place to be...

I've never been in any kind of similar situation. Gordon was on a submarine back in his Navy days... But this submarine is extremely tiny - it has only 8 feet of space... with 5 adults crammed into that space...

Scary stuff...

Here's the story about Chris Brown's near-miss...

SUB SAFETY FEARS: I signed up to go on missing Titanic submarine but pulled out after questioning if crew were ‘cutting too many corners’
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/227575...ed-out-safety/

In some of the descriptions you read, it sounds like the Titan is held together by Scotch tape and string...

SUICIDE DIVE: I went on creaky Titanic sub – it felt like suicide mission with vessel held together by zip-ties and blighted by faults
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/227611...sion-zip-ties/

Hopefully they can get these people out alive...

Best wishes,

Dien

[GordonJ]

Rich folk having adventures. Signing agreements to not hold anyone responsible if something bad happens.

In the meantime, thousands are lost at sea every year...mostly refugees fleeing war torn countries.

The effort to get the ADVENTURERS, who spent more than a dozen refugees make in a year, is admirable. I think time has run out for them. Which is sad.

But I have to wonder why such a massive INTERNATIONAL response and rescue is being made...millions of dollars in time, equipment and labor to save "these" lives?

The media is already losing interest, and in a week, nothing will be reported.

The good news is COUNTRIES can work together on these type of expeditions and maybe that lays the groundwork for bigger initiatives. Maybe the loss of a few rich folk will somehow make the world a better place.

Gordon

[trevord92]

Everday stuff doesn't get reported much because it's common.

Outlandish stuff gets reported.

Maybe it's also a bit of the adventurer in us, wishing we'd been on the cutting edge of exploration, although personally the idea of being in a cramped space looking through murky waters at a wreck doesn't appeal.

But (callously?) there's probably a marketing lesson hiding behind the sad headlines.

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by trevord92

Everday stuff doesn't get reported much because it's common.
Outlandish stuff gets reported.
Maybe it's also a bit of the adventurer in us, wishing we'd been on the cutting edge of exploration, although personally the idea of being in a cramped space looking through murky waters at a wreck doesn't appeal.
But (callously?) there's probably a marketing lesson hiding behind the sad headlines.

And, it is a GRAVEYARD, 1500 people. I think these RICH FOLK adventures, such as going into space too, is just another of those, BECAUSE I CAN. What are they really exploring? More ego than anything.

Hey, people can spend THEIR money anyway they want...but consider the tax dollars of U.S. citizens, Canadians, U.K., France, and the others. WE're paying for this rescue and recovery. I think that makes a difference.

If the rich want to explore, be it the depths of the oceans or the outer space, let them do so on their own dime. Speaking of callous, um, me?

Sure, if it bleeds it leads. Old news mantra. Any disaster gains attention.

And it often hides the news we should be aware of.

We like to sell the cure, not prevention...but before we do, we must UNVEIL the dragon, then reveal the Prince with the magic sword.

I'm not distracted by much these days, I don't believe much, and always ask why this now, if it isn't a current happening. Like the whistle blowers today of UFO's, why now? Are the messengers just shills?

Anyhow, you are right, pretty standard fare these days...hey, we need one of your ROYAL scandals, maybe the King's wife having the affair with the son, the red haired one, not the bald one. That would be FUN news, no?

Gordon

[trevord92]

Originally Posted by GordonJ

hey, we need one of your ROYAL scandals, maybe the King's wife having the affair with the son, the red haired one, not the bald one. That would be FUN news, no?

Gordon

That would be interesting - at the moment, he's in court trying to prove the tabloids misbehaved (a given that they did but proving it is less easy)

Agree that the rescue money could almost certainly be better spent elsewhere but exploring weird and wonderful places seems to get us further ahead over time.

UFO's (or whatever they're called this week) - seem to remember a movie where they said that the true info on them was reported by National Enquirer because they knew no-one would take it seriously

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by trevord92

That would be interesting - at the moment, he's in court trying to prove the tabloids misbehaved (a given that they did but proving it is less easy)
Agree that the rescue money could almost certainly be better spent elsewhere but exploring weird and wonderful places seems to get us further ahead over time.
UFO's (or whatever they're called this week) - seem to remember a movie where they said that the true info on them was reported by National Enquirer because they knew no-one would take it seriously

They're gone, an apparent implosion, the hull gave in. It is sad, and my issue isn't for exploring the wonderful places, and exploration does get us ahead, but the Titanic has been explored to death. This was TOURIST excursion, at 250k a head, and my wanking is about this...

I say the Rich, but the wealthy pay the least taxes have the biggest fits about entitlements, giving food to the poor or medicaid, etc...anything spent on the poor...but when speaking of ENTITLEMENT, to have all those entities in play, to rescue these TOURISTS, NOT EXPLORERS...just saying...why wasn't /isn't rescue in play from the beginning.

On our nuclear subs we have redundancy, and training, and skilled professionals and gear checks, system reports...we know now, this vessel wasn't good enough for at least one passenger who said NO THANKS.

I am all for exploring and discovery, not so big on rubber necking cemeteries without at least laying a wreath somewhere. I guess they laid their bodies and souls on top of the Titanic.

[trevord92]

Sounds like there were some (major) design problems but obviously the CEO had faith in it or he wouldn't have been on board.

Hindsight in this kind of thing is always interesting - lots of what ifs, how could we have predicted, etc.

Taxes are never fair - it's not that long ago that Apple made most of its profits off this planet for tax purposes, not sure if they still do (and of course there was the guy in HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy who spent a year dead for tax reasons). But on the flipside they provide income/employment for lots of people. Never an easy equation.

The subs you were on probably cost more in training and other things than the $250k per person trip fee.

Agree that rubber necking what's basically a graveyard isn't ideal.

[Dien Rice]

Hi Trevor and Gordon,

I agree, it is sad we pay so much attention to this, and not to the deaths of hundreds of refugees fleeing oppression…

But - it’s that old saying…

Dog bites man - that’s not newsworthy… But
Man bites dog - that’s NEWS!

Refugees are dying every year, maybe every day…

But billionaires spending a quarter of a million each to see the Titanic… Who go missing… You don’t see that every day…

I look at it from a dopamine point of view…

Novelty stimulates dopamine… And we love the stimulation… (It’s human nature…)

We are always attracted to the NOVEL and the NEW…

I keep a file of such “unusual news” just to dip into every now and then…

Back to the sub…

It sounds like it was an immediate death. A rescue, of course, is better… But at least there was probably little to no suffering…

Dien

Originally Posted by trevord92

Everday stuff doesn't get reported much because it's common.

Outlandish stuff gets reported.

Maybe it's also a bit of the adventurer in us, wishing we'd been on the cutting edge of exploration, although personally the idea of being in a cramped space looking through murky waters at a wreck doesn't appeal.

But (callously?) there's probably a marketing lesson hiding behind the sad headlines.

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Hi Trevor and Gordon,
I agree, it is sad we pay so much attention to this, and not to the deaths of hundreds of refugees fleeing oppression…
But - it’s that old saying…
Dog bites man - that’s not newsworthy… But
Man bites dog - that’s NEWS!
Refugees are dying every year, maybe every day…
But billionaires spending a quarter of a million each to see the Titanic… Who go missing… You don’t see that every day…
I look at it from a dopamine point of view…
Novelty stimulates dopamine… And we love the stimulation… (It’s human nature…)
We are always attracted to the NOVEL and the NEW…

I keep a file of such “unusual news” just to dip into every now and then
Back to the sub…It sounds like it was an immediate death. A rescue, of course, is better… But at least there was probably little to no suffering…

Dien

Dopamine. Explains the outrageous success Glenn Osborn has with his big red nose, lottery tickets, ice cubes, etc., etc.

And TIK TOK. There are now studies that show younger generations are addicted to this sort of stimulation, being exposed to it at an increasingly younger age.

HOURS spent on social media, reels, YouTube, TIK Tok, and why WORK, and marketing gets less and less engagement.

When exploring PREOCUPPATIONAL INTERRUPTERS (PI's) if you can create the NOVELTY, and get a release, actually of several different chemicals...you have a brief moment to capture and hold that attention.

It is why one must KNOW and understand what your target is preoccupied with on a deeper, life level, and not just in the moment of a "high" from cute kittens, silly dancers or puppies and ducklings being all friendly (how do I know this??)...ha...

After the rock hits them in the head, or their window on the world shatters, you must have a relevant message.

Like when Joe throws a brick through the window, and it has a big discount coupon for window replacement; CALL JOES WINDOW REPAIR TODAY, OR JUST LOOK OUTSIDE.

Getting attention is the daily struggle for news competitors, which is why if it bleeds it leads, or man bites dog is now the standard media headline.

The sub story will quickly fade away, as the next BAD thing happens, the Civil War in Russia could have a world wide impact, and may soon capture our undivided attention.

In marketing and selling, once you get their attention, you have to keep it, and in social media it is what separates those influencers from the pack...is their message resonant enough to hold their follower's attention.

One example of this STARTLE, shock and awe, or N O V E L T Y, was the Rich Jerk's original ad. This in your face, you don't deserve it, is used by some of the best known IMers.

What has to happen to convert this "novelty" attention into real sustained interest is...what follows the PI, has to have a depth that gets to the primary and fundamental preoccupation AT THE TIME OF THE INTERSECTION.

This is old news for you Dien, but for some of our newer readers, maybe the first time they've heard it.

Topical PI's can work, IF, there is temporal permeance, that is, if it matters to them in their lives for a long period of time.

Gordon

[GordonJ]

A friend of the forum, and someone with a very good weekly newsletter, wrote today:

Performance improves as arousal or stimulation of any kind is increased. But only up to a point. After a certain point, performance starts dropping as arousal increases. The whole thing can be charted as a bell curve. Too much stimulation will hinder performance. But no stimulation will hinder performance too.

Finding the balance is the secret sauce when selling, marketing, or any persuasion/influence and ATTENTION getting.

Gordon

https://geniusbiographies.com/ Ankesh's site.

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Hi Trevor and Gordon,

I agree, it is sad we pay so much attention to this, and not to the deaths of hundreds of refugees fleeing oppression…

But - it’s that old saying…

Dog bites man - that’s not newsworthy… But
Man bites dog - that’s NEWS!

Refugees are dying every year, maybe every day…

But billionaires spending a quarter of a million each to see the Titanic… Who go missing… You don’t see that every day…

I look at it from a dopamine point of view…

Novelty stimulates dopamine… And we love the stimulation… (It’s human nature…)

We are always attracted to the NOVEL and the NEW…

I keep a file of such “unusual news” just to dip into every now and then…

Back to the sub…

It sounds like it was an immediate death. A rescue, of course, is better… But at least there was probably little to no suffering…

Dien