So while everybody is busy caring about the oil in the gulf of mexico.

MadMan118 · #1 07-21-2010, 10:20 AM

11 families had to bury somebody they loved. I understand that the whole oil spill is bad for the environment, its sad that we would skip right over the deaths of people so we can argue semantics about the same thing again and again. Next time you think your so worldly and you know so much about something try telling somebody their husband/wife/brother/sister or who ever is dead.

Gard · #2 07-21-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMan118

11 families had to bury somebody they loved. I understand that the whole oil spill is bad for the environment, its sad that we would skip right over the deaths of people so we can argue semantics about the same thing again and again. Next time you think your so worldly and you know so much about something try telling somebody their husband/wife/brother/sister or who ever is dead.

Exactly true.

These can be laid at BP's door as well, by the way, and should be.

cassanova · #3 07-21-2010, 10:38 AM

I agree with you on this Gard,

People knew about the safety violations but were afraid to say anything for fear of losing their jobs. Their selfishness, not only ruined our ecosystem for many years, it did something much worse, it got people killed. Moral of the story, do the right thing even if it costs you something like a job because your selfishness can have serious impacts on other people lives.

My 2 cents, if you knew about the violations you should be sitting in a cell for negligent homicide. Will anyone ever see criminal charges? I'm guessing that they won't. If, for some reason I'm wrong about that, it'll probably be lower ranking employees that worked on the rig.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 07-21-2010, 10:43 AM

True... but like my man Jerry Seinfeld said, "Once you're dead, you're dead." It is a tragedy that those men lost their lives and their families have my deepest sympathy (losing a loved one is unbearably hard), but dwelling on that and discussing it won't bring them back. We did, however, have time to come together to contain the spill, plug the leak, and get down to business before millions of other people's lives were destroyed as well; but instead everyone stood around with their thumbs up their butts, refused to take responsibility, and now 90 days later we've only just been able to plug the leak. Maybe it makes me cold-hearted, but I'd much rather fix the massive problem on hand first and then try to help the families. In the end, this catastrophe never should of happened to begin with, the leak never should of occurred, and those men should still be with their families.

Philbiker · #5 07-23-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMan118

11 families had to bury somebody they loved. I understand that the whole oil spill is bad for the environment, its sad that we would skip right over the deaths of people so we can argue semantics about the same thing again and again. Next time you think your so worldly and you know so much about something try telling somebody their husband/wife/brother/sister or who ever is dead.

I'm not sure what the point of this rant is. The deaths of these people that happened on the day of the initial explosion was tragic of course. I don't think anyone has "skipped right over" them. The ensuing environmental catastrophe is tragic also.

Do you know how many deaths happen per year in industrial accidents or gas/oil industry related accidents? If you think these 11 deaths are some kind of extraordinary event, I think you are mistaken. And perhaps you should have a little more appreciation of the very real dangers faced by energy workers over the entire spectrum.

If you have genuine concern about the bodily danger of energy sector jobs, I suggest that you do some research into the dangers of coal mining, particularly on a global scale.

* While you're at it - look up the numbers for nuclear energy.....

- had to put that plug in there......

MatticusMania · #6 07-23-2010, 11:10 AM

While it's certainly sad that 11 workers lost their lives in this tragedy, it just doesnt have as much bearing on the rest of us. We're all self involved to some degree. I stop at the point where people I dont know die, because it happens every day in a number of tragic ways. Its not that I dont care, just personally it doesnt have any affect on me. Now the disaster that caused these lives to be taken prematurely, that does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

* While you're at it - look up the numbers for nuclear energy.....

- had to put that plug in there......

Chernobyl! Youre sounding like Gard (from Stephen King's The Tommyknockers, not the one on TB).

StyleOverShow · #7 07-23-2010, 11:20 AM

Caught the interview with the survivors on 60 minutes about 3 weeks after the event, they were all shaken, some vowing to never return to the platform life again.

They discussed the damage to the annular rubber gasket through which the drill pipe passed, chunks of it came up to the surface. They claimed that the pressure reading were inaccurate due to the damaged gasket and suggested putting three cement plugs in place, with BP arguing and winning for placing two which proved insufficient to hold back the oil and gas pressure.

chondro776 · #8 07-23-2010, 11:47 AM

The damage to the ecosystem is far more tragic than the deaths of any individual animals (regardless of species). People aren't the most important animal on the planet despite what many think...we are ONE species that lives on this planet. The planet is not ours to do with as we wish, we live in a community of life forms.
Like it or not....

It IS horrible that 11 people died. It is WORSE that millions of other animals are and will be dieing.

cassanova · #9 07-23-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

If you have genuine concern about the bodily danger of energy sector jobs, I suggest that you do some research into the dangers of coal mining, particularly on a global scale.

You make a very good point there. It seems cave in's are anything but a rarity. My exfiance's now exhusband works in the mines up in Virginia and I've heard about other dangers besides cave ins. All the machinery involved and what not, and how many minors have lost hands, fingers, etc while on the jobs.

MJ5150 · #10 07-23-2010, 01:05 PM

For a large contingent of people, the loss of 11 human lives is noting compared to the masses of animals suffering.

-Mike

MadMan118 · #11 07-23-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I'm not sure what the point of this rant is. The deaths of these people that happened on the day of the initial explosion was tragic of course. I don't think anyone has "skipped right over" them. The ensuing environmental catastrophe is tragic also.

Do you know how many deaths happen per year in industrial accidents or gas/oil industry related accidents? If you think these 11 deaths are some kind of extraordinary event, I think you are mistaken. And perhaps you should have a little more appreciation of the very real dangers faced by energy workers over the entire spectrum.

If you have genuine concern about the bodily danger of energy sector jobs, I suggest that you do some research into the dangers of coal mining, particularly on a global scale.

* While you're at it - look up the numbers for nuclear energy.....

- had to put that plug in there......

Yes I know the gulf incident is a HUGE disaster. Not trying to downplay that at all. My father was a platform worker on the north slope for many years, and i know its dangerous work.I also am aware that coal mining has a high rate of injuries and deaths. Its just sad that people are too busy pointing fingers and spewing bull**** then actually doing something. Screw it this threads better off being closed I can see it getting real ugly real fast.

kesslari · #12 07-23-2010, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMan118

Yes I know the gulf incident is a HUGE disaster. Not trying to downplay that at all. My father was a platform worker on the north slope for many years, and i know its dangerous work.I also am aware that coal mining has a high rate of injuries and deaths. Its just sad that people are too busy pointing fingers and spewing bull**** then actually doing something. Screw it this threads better off being closed I can see it getting real ugly real fast.

You're probably right in that it will likely get ugly, and your point in your initial post that for those affected, the loss of one life is catastrophic, is a good one.

OTOH, it's easy to say "well then, it's not a big deal because thousands of people died in tragedy X" or whatever. Which is wrong.

There is no "universal pain scale" by which one can say "your pain is not so great, mine is greater". Only one by which one can say "I cannot imagine your pain".

Add to that the global, national and regional impacts - not just "the cute animals" but the ecosystem as a whole, the fishing industry, the industries that are supported by a healthy regional economy, etc etc etc. We can't survive as a species if we utterly deplete and destroy the planet - protecting the environment from massive degradation and destruction is a very, very self-interested thing for us humans to do.

MatticusMania · #13 07-23-2010, 01:32 PM

I'd say that this thread has, to this point anyways, remained relatively calm. A storm could be a comin, but maybe it'll just turn out to be a nice breeze.

Gard · #14 07-23-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

For a large contingent of people, the loss of 11 human lives is noting compared to the masses of animals suffering.

-Mike

Whoa!

I hope you're not aiming that statement at me...

...and my general attitude about this is based on the damage done to the HUMANS in the area, the ones that rely on the animals in the gulf to make a living.

It all fits together, starting with the 11 lives lost on the first day.

MadMan118 · #15 07-23-2010, 01:37 PM

IMO I find that the "I don't care" prevails until its your loved ones that die.

MatticusMania · #16 07-23-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMan118

IMO I find that the "I don't care" prevails until its your loved ones that die.

FWIW, I dont think anyone is saying "I don't care". It is certainly tragic that 11 people lost their lives. I think the general attitude is more along the lines of 'thats only one small tragedy in the grand scheme of thing'.

But your point is also pretty correct, the death of others is notmally not of great concern to the masses until that other is someone you know.

Deepak · #17 07-23-2010, 02:21 PM

A hair under 1.5 million children died of hunger during the approximate 90 days of the BP spill. Where was that news report?

http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y7352e/y7352e03.htm

MJ5150 · #18 07-23-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

I hope you're not aiming that statement at me....

Nope. You're not that bad.

-Mike

Unrepresented · #19 07-23-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chondro776

The damage to the ecosystem is far more tragic than the deaths of any individual animals (regardless of species). People aren't the most important animal on the planet despite what many think...we are ONE species that lives on this planet. The planet is not ours to do with as we wish, we live in a community of life forms.
Like it or not....

It IS horrible that 11 people died. It is WORSE that millions of other animals are and will be dieing.

+1