Comments on: I wonder if it is tempting fate? https://habitablezone.com/2012/04/10/i-wonder-if-it-is-tempting-fate/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:41:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2012/04/10/i-wonder-if-it-is-tempting-fate/#comment-13506 ER Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:16:32 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=12797#comment-13506 Believe me, there are radar-assisted collisions and GPS-assisted groundings all the time. And no mechanical malfunctions are required. I mean, how well equipped was that Italian cruise liner? Believe me, there are radar-assisted collisions and GPS-assisted groundings all the time.

And no mechanical malfunctions are required. I mean, how well equipped was that Italian cruise liner?

]]> By: Jeff-Wash https://habitablezone.com/2012/04/10/i-wonder-if-it-is-tempting-fate/#comment-13503 Jeff-Wash Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:34:30 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=12797#comment-13503 Since this reply page is a better medium to type on, I will ask you here, is it tempting fate to send two cruise ships, loaded with twice as many passengers as Titanic had, both now attempting to go to the same spot in the Atlantic, at the same time, in the same night, in a part of the Atlantic which has a reputation for some of the worst weather on Earth? I'm going to preempt TB's reply, by replying to a (possible) predictable response of his by ME saying that, yes! Radar, GPS, computerized navigation equipment, improved steering systems, are all fine and dandy, but! but! BUT! all the engineering skills and technology available to ships today are worthless if human blunders, stupidity, miscalculations, misjudgements, combined with bad luck (unexpected power outages at the worst possible time, mechanical failures, or other MURPHY'S LAW circumstances; I can think of a few more) happen in the worst possible combination. Since this reply page is a better medium to type on, I will ask you here, is it tempting fate to send two cruise ships, loaded with twice as many passengers as Titanic had, both now attempting to go to the same spot in the Atlantic, at the same time, in the same night, in a part of the Atlantic which has a reputation for some of the worst weather on Earth?

I’m going to preempt TB’s reply, by replying to a (possible) predictable response of his by ME saying that, yes! Radar, GPS, computerized navigation equipment, improved steering systems, are all fine and dandy, but! but! BUT! all the engineering skills and technology available to ships today are worthless if human blunders, stupidity, miscalculations, misjudgements, combined with bad luck
(unexpected power outages at the worst possible time, mechanical failures, or other MURPHY’S LAW circumstances;
I can think of a few more) happen in the worst possible combination.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2012/04/10/i-wonder-if-it-is-tempting-fate/#comment-13502 ER Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:20:54 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=12797#comment-13502 <p>Let me guess...(spoiler alert)</p> ...the Titanic Memorial Cruise ran into trouble? Let me guess…(spoiler alert)

…the Titanic Memorial Cruise ran into trouble?

]]>