told you so

  Investigations have been launched, testimony collected, social media scoured for someone to blame. The CEO of Ocean Gate was killed in that accident so it isn't sufficient to blame him, others must be held accountable. The uproar was loud but is already dying down somewhat. Ocean Gate the company has suspended all operations, for now. Presumed human remains have been recovered from the ocean floor. 

 Now this was a tragic event no doubt about that, but everyone involved was well aware of the risk. I'm certain there were those that expressed concern before this happened. But like a fortune teller they usually only gain attention when they are shown to be right, after the fact. Yes, after the fact experts are plentiful. I have been accused of being one of those myself on occasion. That's when I use one of my favorite phrases, told you so. Call it a vice if you will, but I do find it oddly satisfying when I can say that. There isn't much someone can say in return, is there? Yeah, I told you so. I get it. It comes off as smug or self-righteous, but it does feel good. 

 I don't spend nearly the time on Facebook as I did in the past and that's a good thing, but I still check in with regularity. The conversations are few these days mostly simple salutations, a picture or two and some memes. All the experts are still there, however. There are experts for every field, every conceivable situation, and many with "degrees" they proclaim they earned in institutions of higher learning. With the latest tragic event all the structural engineers and submarine experts have appeared. A good number of them assure us they knew this was likely to happen. Then the moral ethicists chime in with, how could a benevolent government have allowed this to happen? The government should have intervened to prevent anything like this from taking place. All the experts knew it was dangerous! Why was there no warning label on that thing! It's okay as long as there is a disclaimer and a warning label. 

 I'm sitting here writing this little piece complaining about the I told you so's. I have admitted I belong in that group on occasion. And like all the others I do believe I knew what would happen beforehand. I just didn't know this was even taking place. What I mean is, I wasn't aware of Ocean Gate and any sub rides to the Titanic at a cost of 250,000 dollars. I must have skipped over that page in the Neiman Marcus catalogue. I didn't know the sub was made from carbon fiber and titanium. I didn't know it wasn't required to be approved by the government. I didn't know much of anything. I did know that a submarine can implode in deep water. I was in the Navy and worked on submarine antennas at one time. To test those antennas for watertightness at the depth's submarines operate they were placed in a tank, The cover was closed on that tank, air pressure was applied until "depth" was reached. You could put other things in there, like a Styrofoam cup and see how it got crushed to thimble size by that pressure. So, yeah, I knew that could happen. I just didn't know it would happen. No matter though, told you so.

 Three times Ocean Gate sent that sub to the Titanic. Three times it went without incident. I hadn't heard anything about any of that. I suspect not many in the general public had. I doubt that many had any concerns if they did know. Perhaps the ones close to the operation did, employees often express their concerns for one reason or another. Perhaps there are some competitors that voiced concern. No problems until there is one. Isn't that always the way it is? We all cheered the space shuttle until it tragically exploded. Then there were concerns. We had forgotten about the three astronauts killed on the launch pad in 1967. They were conducting some testing at that time. Three died in that event. Seven were killed in 1986. Then in 2003 Columbia exploded upon reentry. The fact is two out of five space shuttles blew up! A nearly 50% failure rate. Even with all the government intervention it's a dangerous undertaking. Things go wrong. Who is to blame? I think we just concentrate on what went wrong and leave it at that. We have lost 17 astronauts so far in our space exploration efforts. I'm certain there will be more. I am as equally certain there will be more tragic events in the future. I have thought I would have "told you so" written on my tombstone. It is going to happen one day, told you so.