Chapter 1: The Incident

Recently, a shocking reminder of society's moral decay surfaced. If you’ve been following social media, you likely heard about the disappearance of OceanGate’s Titan submersible, which went missing on June 23rd, coinciding with Father’s Day.

According to OceanGate's website, their Titan submersible employs a combination of cutting-edge engineering and readily available technology, which provides it with a distinct advantage over other deep-sea exploration vehicles. Constructed from carbon fiber and titanium, the vessel can reach depths of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet). OceanGate operates three submersibles for purposes like research, film production, and “exploration travel,” which includes tours of the Titanic wreck site more than 13,000 feet below the ocean's surface. A ticket for this eight-day journey costs a staggering $250,000 per person, as reported by CNN.

As news of the incident broke on Monday morning, media coverage quickly highlighted the CEO, Rush Stockton, whose passion for extreme adventures often overshadowed safety protocols. Meanwhile, social media exploded with memes, humorous videos, GIFs, and various opinions, predominantly ridiculing the missing passengers.

Among the five individuals on board was OceanGate’s CEO. The New York Times published an in-depth report indicating that Rush ignored safety alerts regarding further assessments from marine operations director David Lochridge.

Regardless of whether this information had emerged, it seems public comments would have remained derogatory. This behavior is disheartening.

Five lives are at stake, yet the narrative focuses on how the Titanic continues to have repercussions over a century later. Since when did we accept victim shaming? I thought we had evolved beyond this as a society.

The insensitive remarks ranged from mocking the passengers for essentially paying for their demise to suggesting they were simply bored with their lives. I’ll share some of the most callous tweets that surfaced during the search for the submersible.

Even after it was confirmed that the submersible had imploded and all passengers were deceased, criticism persisted. Some even suggested this incident was a distraction from other significant tragedies around the globe. I often reiterate that no life is more valuable than another.

The loss of any individual is a profoundly painful experience that impacts countless lives connected to that person. Amidst this, the BBC at least took the time to write an article honoring the victims, reminding us that these were real people who cherished life, had families, and excelled in their fields.

Attempting to comprehend the mindset behind such mockery and disdain leaves me feeling perplexed. It’s truly disheartening.

There is no justification for these cruel remarks, regardless of whether safety protocols were violated, which we can’t even confirm was known to all passengers. My condolences go out to those who lost loved ones in this tragic event, and may their souls find peace.

“Everyone is going to be dead one day, just give them time.” — Neil Gaiman

You can read my previous story about workplace safety issues here:

Health and Safety In The Workplace — The Case of Alec Baldwin and Halyna Hutchins

Procedures overlooked. An unnecessary death

Chapter 2: Understanding Victim Blaming

In the context of this tragedy, victim blaming has resurfaced as a troubling societal issue.

The first video, "Victim Shaming Hurts Victims Even More," delves into the psychological impact of victim shaming on both individuals and society.

The second video, "Victim Blaming is Not Okay -- Even if That Victim is You," explores the harmful effects of blaming victims, regardless of the circumstances.