The Submarine, the Billionaire, and the Logitech Controller

The OceanGate Titan submersible disappeared on June 18, 2023, during a descent to the wreck of the Titanic, and for five days the world was glued to a rescue operation that was simultaneously terrifying, bizarre, and grimly fascinating. The sub carried five passengers, including OceanGate's CEO, who had dismissed safety concerns with the confidence of a man who had never been wrong and was about to be wrong for the last time. Details emerged that made the whole thing feel like satire: the vessel was steered with a modified Logitech game controller, the viewport was only rated to 1,300 meters (the Titanic sits at 3,800), and a former employee who raised safety concerns had been fired. The internet oscillated between genuine horror and dark comedy, a combination that felt distinctly 2020s. When the Coast Guard confirmed the sub had suffered a catastrophic implosion — likely killing everyone instantly — the narrative shifted to questions about hubris, wealth, and the particular kind of arrogance that makes a person look at the ocean and think the rules don't apply.