VIDEO: British cave explorer Vern Unsworth considers legal action against Elon Musk

[JLCrab]

"I'm not going to make any further comment about (Musk)," Unsworth continued. "But I think people realize what sort of guy he is."

"Would you consider taking legal action against him?" a reporter asked, again.

"Yes," Unsworth said instantly. "Yes, it's not finished."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/15/elon-musk-insisting-he-helped-in-thai-cave-rescue-calls-actual-rescuer-a-pedo

[lamyai3]

12 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I have no idea what's going on with this, and am not inclined to take the time to figure it out.

 

But it seemed to me, in the original thread on this, there was an assertion that "pedo" is some kind of common term/slang used among divers as in torpedo man.

 

Can anyone with diving experience chime in on whether "pedo" has a different/alternate slang meaning among that particular group?

 

I made the torpedo-guy comment, joking that he might be looking for a way to backpedal furiously after realising he'd made such an ill-judged tweet. Pedo (or paedo) is an outrageous slur on another man's character, and completely unambiguous in meaning.

 

Oddly though, torpedo-guy actually does sound vaguely plausible as a nickname he might use for one of his engineering team. 

[metisdead]

Offensive and off topic posts have been removed as well as the replies. 

[JLCrab]

I have no idea what Musk will do but as Mr. Unsworth has noted that he will be seeking legal advice upon his return to UK and "This is not over," if Musk is contrite and offers apologies and possible remuneration it will look like "Oh please don't sue me" which I don't know is in his make-up.

Edited July 16, 2018 by JLCrab

[canopy]

11 hours ago, Happy enough said:

sub had no chance.

Elon is going to run it through the cave route. Better have your excuses ready when he proves you wrong.

 

[anon789561]

Just now, canopy said:

Elon is going to run it through the cave route. Better have your excuses ready when he proves you wrong.

 

wouldn't get me in the thing that's for sure. let him do what he wants. the kids are out

[canopy]

 

8 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

wouldn't get me in the thing that's for sure

Oh, so you'd rather have kids dragged through underwater rock outcroppings like rag dolls in this contraption I presume? Rescuers were terrified in the near zero visibility water that the masks on the kids could become displaced and they would have no way of knowing it, thus unknowingly transporting a corpse. Visibility was so bad rescuers found themselves bumping into rocks before even seeing them. Just imagine for a moment if Elon suggested this contraption as his great idea. All the thaivisa people would get on his side, tell him what a great person he is, and support elon right? Wrong. They'd say no chance of working, just a pr stunt, stupid guy, blah blah blah. This is a great example of BIAS.

 

[AYJAYDEE]

25 minutes ago, canopy said:

 

Oh, so you'd rather have kids dragged through underwater rock outcroppings like rag dolls in this contraption I presume? Rescuers were terrified in the near zero visibility water that the masks on the kids could become displaced and they would have no way of knowing it, thus unknowingly transporting a corpse. Visibility was so bad rescuers found themselves bumping into rocks before even seeing them. Just imagine for a moment if Elon suggested this contraption as his great idea. All the thaivisa people would get on his side, tell him what a great person he is, and support elon right? Wrong. They'd say no chance of working, just a pr stunt, stupid guy, blah blah blah. This is a great example of BIAS.

 

seems to have worked pretty well

[Matthew2027]

Go for it.

 

[GAZZPA]

16 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Very sad that this story that was so full of joy has degenerated like this. Musk should apologise immediately and hope Mr. Unsworth will let the matter lie. I wonder if he has any idea how nasty the Thai defamation laws are?

Completely agree, its ridiculous what he said. His ego got bruised and he lashed out with senseless comments. Best thing he can do is apologise publicly, say he was just trying to help with his submarine idea and leave it at that. If this goes on and on the press will make a real meal of it and the repercussions on Elon Musk could be very serious, not just the legal ramifications but also the public turning away from him which could effect his business severely.

 

As this Brit cave diver is considered a hero for his role in the saving of the boys and their coach Elon Musk can not win this even with his money, he will just keep digging a hole for himself as he is doing now.

 

Really stupid thing he is doing.

 

Anyway, the boys and coach are saved, alive and well,, thats the main thing and what this story should always be remembered for, the bravery of the rescuers and the sad loss of one of the divers who gave his life for others. 

[canopy]

17 minutes ago, AYJAYDEE said:

seems to have worked pretty well

And thank goodness for that and good work to all the brave heroes and Vern that made this happen. There is no denying however the risks of this approach were high and a 100% survival rate could not be guaranteed and everyone was fully aware of this. Even the aussie doctors who came to sedate the kids pre-arranged diplomatic immunity in case things went wrong. It is also worth noting they say if the operation started just one day later it would have had to been called off on the last group probably for 4 months due to weather. The window would be gone. Had things not behaved just enough (like pump failing earlier or earlier rains) the sub might well have found a very useful role. Leaving the kids in the cave for 4 months was already ruled out as a death sentence. There had to be another way to get them out: surface drilling, sub, something. Elon understood this and offered his full support of everything from all of his companies that might help get the kids out safely.

 

Edited July 17, 2018 by canopy

[GAZZPA]

16 hours ago, Shroud said:

Musk could easily win this case since Vern started the rant. Everyone tried to offer help in this severe situation so to blame Elon for his mini-sub and call it a PR-stunt isn't something that has valid points. In the beginning, it was the thai authorities that pleaded for international help and they got it, including Vern Unsworth. 

I'm not siding with Elon, but Vern went too far with his remarks on CNN.

Completely disagree. I suspect that the public will be siding with Vern. Public opinion weighs heavy in society. Also, Vern did not publicly assault Elon Musk, he said what most people were thinking at the time, including me. I read how the spaces in parts of the caves were barely big enough to fit a man so how could a submarine possible have worked? He should have consulted with the experts on its viability before plonking it down in Thailand looking for the trumpets to announce his heroic arrival. Stinks of publicity stunt.

 

But this does not matter. I think Elon Musk should close this matter as quickly as possible because dragging it on will just hurt him more and more in the publics eyes and I suspect in court if it ever gets that far. As far as everyone is concerned the Brit and all the other divers are heroes, that will not change,,, ever.

[RadKiter]

Vern Unsworth Sue his ass off!! There are lots of well-qualified attorneys who would love to take your case on a contingency basis. He needs to be taught a lesson as do a lot of other people like him.

[AYJAYDEE]

3 minutes ago, canopy said:

And thank goodness for that and good work to all the brave heroes and Vern that made this happen. There is no denying however the risks of this approach were high and a 100% survival rate could not be guaranteed and everyone was fully aware of this. Even the aussie doctors who came to sedate the kids pre-arranged diplomatic immunity in case things went wrong. It is also worth noting they say if the operation started just one day later it would have had to been called off on the last group probably for 4 months due to weather. The window would be gone. Had things not behaved just enough (like pump failing earlier or earlier rains) the sub might well have found a very useful role. Leaving the kids in the cave for 4 months was already ruled out as a death sentence. There had to be another way to get them out: surface drilling, sub, something. Elon understood this and offered his full support of everything from all of his companies that might help get the kids out safely.

 

even if the sub could have been made to work, there wasnt time to get everything set up and working. O2 was depleting and rains were coming. he just became a nuisance and a distraction no matter what his intentions

 

[Destiny1990]

Its just over the top and childish behavior from both sides.

[peperobi]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

British cave explorer Vern Unsworth says he hasn’t ruled out taking legal action against Elon Musk after the tech billionaire called him a pedophile.

What's wrong with you guys? The one that got a really good worldwide attention for his mini-submarine and calls the hero a pedo, absolutely inappropriate, the hero that is not able to stop, that are only words and you shut know what you are. Make an end of that very bad thing! 

[bristolgeoff]

he did not start it but the other chap mr musk did.i don,t blame him either,he is looking to earn a few quid of him now

[canopy]

1 minute ago, AYJAYDEE said:

there wasnt time to get everything set up and working  

You or I can't say whether there was time, but that is irrelevant because it was more a matter that the gears of rescue were already turning and the chosen method was locked in.

 

22 minutes ago, AYJAYDEE said:

he just became a nuisance and a distraction no matter what his intentions

You seem to miss the point so let me make it more clear. They finished the rescue just a hair before the pump failure caused a mass screaming exodus of rescuers evacuating from the cave. They finished the rescue just a hair before the unpredictable rains caused havoc and heavily turbulent waters. This was amazingly lucky and we can be thankful things held out just enough. But had things not worked out so perfectly make no mistake this rescue method would have been called off for good. Elon would have been called off the bench and perhaps played a significant role in what would have followed whether it be his ground radar for drilling, diving sub, etc. It's a shame you characterize someone who showed such great concern for these kids, offered everything he had, and cared enough to show up in person during the rescue in case there was any backup support he could give a nuisance. You can say in hindsight it all wasn't needed, but that is no reason to be critical of anything he did because clearly it could have turned out very differently.

 

[Muzarella]

16 hours ago, Eligius said:

Right, Bluespunk. For a man to be called a paedophile is just about the nastiest slur that could be cast on a man's character. It's not like saying something such as: 'Oh, that diver is a silly idiot'.

Calling him a paedophile constitutes a horrendous criminal charge.

 

16 hours ago, Brunolem said:

Actually, Vern Unsworth was among the firsts on site and HE convinced the Thai authorities to call for international help, not the other way round.

 

Yet nobody called for Musk and Tesla, who have nothing to do with the rescue business.

 

To top it all, Musk showed up on the last day of the rescue, when 8 boys were already out...obviously the rescuers were not going to change their successful modus operandi to please Mr Musk!

 

Having said that, I think that Mr Unsworth should let go, if only because Mr Musk has much deeper pockets than him and could unleash an army of nasty lawyers to make his life miserable...

 

I like this fight. Musk will build a suitable "flexible submaine" and he will make it work in any place and any situation just to show off and make clear to his "enemies" that he can do anything he wants..and very well...with enough time and reasearch. In few more years even his enemies will be driving a Tesla Solar Powered Car... Now everybody is bragging because thanks God no kid die in the rescue, but the Aussie diving team got inmunity from the Thai Government after they told Mr. Prayut that it had a big chance that few kids will die during the rescue. If that did happen, everyone will be asking now why the divers didn't wait few more days for Musk to finish his "flexible submarine". The BIG Hero here was the Aussie doctor taking the BIG risk to sedating the kids for hours without proper medical monitors, and exposing the kids bodies to debris and mask failure, but having luck getting all out well and alive. This is from his own statement yesterday in Australia. 

Edited July 17, 2018 by Muzarella

[Aupee]

17 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Not sure I could just forget what musk called him. 

No what he said about all of us according to Musk, we live here for child sex . Therefore he is inferring we are all paedophiles. No other reason to be here , so why was he trying to ingratiate himself with this country

[Muzarella]

I like this fight. Musk will build a suitable "submaine" and he will make it work in any place and any situation just to show off and make clear to his "enemies" that he can do anything he wants..and very well...with enough time and reasearch. In few more years even his enemies will be driving a Tesla Solar Powered Car... Now everybody is bragging because thanks God no kid die in the rescue, but the Aussie diving team got inmunity from the Thai Government after they told Mr. Prayut that it had a big chance that few kids will die during the rescue. If that did happen, everyone will be asking now why the divers didn't wait few more days for Musk to finish his "flexible submarine". The BIG Hero here was the Aussie doctor taking the BIG risk in sedating the kids for hours without proper medical monitors, and exposing the kids bodies to debris and mask failure, but getting lucky to take all out well and alive. This is from his own statement yesterday in Australia. 

Edited July 17, 2018 by Muzarella

[AYJAYDEE]

11 minutes ago, canopy said:

You or I can't say whether there was time, but that is irrelevant because it was more a matter that the gears of rescue were already turning and the chosen method was locked in.

 

You seem to miss the point so let me make it more clear. They finished the rescue just a hair before the pump failure caused a mass screaming exodus of rescuers evacuating from the cave. They finished the rescue just a hair before the unpredictable rains caused havoc and heavily turbulent waters. This was amazingly lucky and we can be thankful things held out just enough. But had things not worked out so perfectly make no mistake this rescue method would have been called off for good. Elon would have been called off the bench and perhaps played a significant role in what would have followed whether it be his ground radar for drilling, diving sub, etc. It's a shame you characterize someone who showed such great concern for these kids, offered everything he had, and cared enough to show up in person during the rescue in case there was any backup support he could give a nuisance. You can say in hindsight it all wasn't needed, but that is no reason to be critical of anything he did because clearly it could have turned out very differently.

 

he was showboating. period

[Aupee]

In some of his tweets he is calling the whole rescue operation a load of bull because in his opinion the water wasn' t deep

[M71]

Good luck suing Musk and his Khazarian Mafia backers/handlers - guess who would win whatever it takes.

[Shiver]

17 hours ago, Oziex1 said:

Musk has always struck me as kind of OK as far as billionaire entrepreneurs go, but in the end so many successful people are just a holes.

Very poor form to call someone a Pedo in a public slanging match.

Please guys:  Pedo does *not* mean Pedophile.

 

Reminds me of the time that in UK a Pediatrician had bricks through the windows of their house by the pitch fork mob because they didn't even know their own language. 

It's like the Crowd stupidity IQ thing (100 + 100 + 100) divided by 3 = 50

Edited July 17, 2018 by Shiver

[BestB]

17 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Very sad that this story that was so full of joy has degenerated like this. Musk should apologise immediately and hope Mr. Unsworth will let the matter lie. I wonder if he has any idea how nasty the Thai defamation laws are?

Only Musk does not live in Thailand , so thai laws have zero meaning .

 

 

[Muzarella]

2 minutes ago, Shiver said:

Please guys:  Pedo does *not* mean Pedophile.

 

Reminds me of the time that in UK a Pediatrician had bricks through the windows of their house by the pitch fork mob because they didn't even know their own language. 

It's like the Crowd stupidity IQ thing (100 + 100 + 100) divided by 3 = 50

"Pedo" in Spanish means "Fart"...... and probably Musk can probe that he was an illegal Mexican in the US.

[smudger1951]

Really, who started this ? When did Unsworth say stick the sub where it hurts also I read a PR stunt. I'm sure Musk had good intentions but was late in on this rescue mission. Lets call the whole thing off goes the song goes.

[Eligius]

14 minutes ago, Aupee said:

In some of his tweets he is calling the whole rescue operation a load of bull because in his opinion the water wasn' t deep

I don't believe Musk ever swam all the way to that ledge where the boys were trapped - so I don't think he knows just how deep the waters were or weren't.

I would prefer to listen to the words of brave divers than this self-publicist.

[Zack61]

Fault on both sides here. If Unsworth had not personalised his attack in the first instance and then perhaps Musk may not have responded as he did. 

Musk was responding to an unsubstantiated attack on his character by Unsworth. 

Mer may believe it was a PR stunt but are we sure? Accordingly we must be careful of such accusations. A more appropriate response to Musk’s offer may have been “Thanks but we’re not sure it will work” instead of the one offered. 

Not saying this justified being called a pedo but may have been the catalyst for it. Think before you speak is the lesson here. Anyhow I see at least someone coming out on top here. The lawyers.