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Comment by x86x87 | Hacker News Reader

[flagged]

> virtue signaling

The virtue of testing, certification, and solid design goes well beyond "signalling", when an expert in the field raises their concern.

"virtue signaling" is a mean-nothing phrase

Virtue signaling is hardly a “mean-nothing” phrase.

But most people confuse virtue signaling (attempting to fit in by saying the right things) with moral grandstanding (garnering attention)[0]. Which behavior Cameron is engaging here is for the reader to judge.

[0]: https://doi.org/10.1111/papa.12075

Right? What could someone that’s only been to the Titanic 33 times know about submarines? That’s not even three dozen.

Those two are othogonal. I've been to the Grand Canyon a couple dozen times in my life. Does that make me a geologist?

> Does that make me a geologist?

No, that makes you a tourist. If someone falls off an observation platform I'm sure you are qualified to offer some insight.

James Cameron is a legitimate submariner. He is in a more exclusive club than the astronauts who walked on the moon.

Right, who wants to hear the opinion of a leader in the field? Virtue signaling is whatever I want it to mean.

It's not about hearing from thr guy. It's about asking: what does this add?

Did you even watch the interviews? Cameron pointed out that the safety record for these kind of craft is perfect until today, that these subs are a known quanity, that he and others warned OceanGate against using carbon fiber because it's a laminate that delaminates and fails catastrophically with no warning, and that Cameron knew of the implosion the day it happened. All quite newsworthy.

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