11–20 of 34 posts
I never understood how this guy didn't look more emaciated when he was found. Can you really catch enough birds and turtles to last 14 months and look reasonably fit?
If the recent picture is what he looked like prior to the whole thing, he lost a lot of weight on that boat.
I never understood how this guy didn't look more emaciated when he was found. Can you really catch enough birds and turtles to last 14 months and look reasonably fit?
The pictures of him are after receiving both food and fluids. The article discusses the edema he experienced. That’s probably why his face looks so full. His hands and forearms still look awfully skinny to me. If the recent picture is what he looked like prior to the whole thing, he lost a lot of weight on that boat.
It flies in the face of our mental models of our world. On top of that, it is an extraordinary personal experience that is fascinating for that aspect. So many of us struggle hugely to cope even with the support of modern civilized life. I can't imagine figuring out the logistics of coping practically with such a situation. Coping psychologically is even more unimaginable to me.
This story does add up. Likely fake / staged, with just enough facts to make it feel and sound credible. > Why is he so plump? > Where's the sun tan? > Could he really drift 8,000 miles across the ocean in 13 months? > Do urine and turtle blood add up to a credible alternative to fresh water? > How did he survive and his crewmate did not? Source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/458050/Is-the-castaway-s...
Just that photo of him, standing in his shorts, should be sufficient. His hands are decidedly not pudgy, and his ankles are completely swollen.
I think this fascinates people in part because we sort of think it can't happen anymore. With 7 billion people, GPS, satellites, airplanes, cell phones, we think you can't get lost like this, you can't be so extremely alone. We think space is the only frontier left. It flies in the face of our mental models of our world. On top of that, it is an extraordinary personal experience that is fascinating for that aspect. S…
I think this fascinates people in part because we sort of think it can't happen anymore. With 7 billion people, GPS, satellites, airplanes, cell phones, we think you can't get lost like this, you can't be so extremely alone. We think space is the only frontier left. It flies in the face of our mental models of our world. On top of that, it is an extraordinary personal experience that is fascinating for that aspect. S…
People who hike the Appalachian Trail & co get lost and die every year. Doesn't take much. Now that is a tiny patch compared to the pacific ocean which is basically half the globe. Even if you can get a distress signal out by the time help arrives you might be in a different position or already dead, not to mention that the question remains if help ever comes. Helicopters can't fly very far, ships take days if not we…
I think a lot of people feel trapped, like prisoners of their lives. The idea that you could go for a boat ride or show up at your regular job and be just swept away contains both an element of horror and an element of tantalizing possibility. People often long to start their lives over, to walk away from their troubles. They read stuff like this and perhaps feel a mix of hope that it might actually be possible and validation that the cost is very high. It may make them feel both more at peace with not yet having escaped and hopeful for a better future for themselves.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
People who hike the Appalachian Trail & co get lost and die every year. Doesn't take much. Now that is a tiny patch compared to the pacific ocean which is basically half the globe. Even if you can get a distress signal out by the time help arrives you might be in a different position or already dead, not to mention that the question remains if help ever comes. Helicopters can't fly very far, ships take days if not we…
I am not suggesting these mental models are accurate. But it does seem to be harder to intentionally disappear these days. I think our fascination with such stories is similar to or related to our fascination with prison escapes and people who successfully disappeared on purpose. I think a lot of people feel trapped, like prisoners of their lives. The idea that you could go for a boat ride or show up at your regular…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evi_Nemeth
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objecti...
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5958974
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/30/unix_luminary_among_...
I think this fascinates people in part because we sort of think it can't happen anymore. With 7 billion people, GPS, satellites, airplanes, cell phones, we think you can't get lost like this, you can't be so extremely alone. We think space is the only frontier left. It flies in the face of our mental models of our world. On top of that, it is an extraordinary personal experience that is fascinating for that aspect. S…
People who hike the Appalachian Trail & co get lost and die every year. Doesn't take much. Now that is a tiny patch compared to the pacific ocean which is basically half the globe. Even if you can get a distress signal out by the time help arrives you might be in a different position or already dead, not to mention that the question remains if help ever comes. Helicopters can't fly very far, ships take days if not we…