Now why would you go and say something like that?

I'm closing comments. Maybe you should click on over to the YouTube videos where there might be peer commentators who will be more receptive to your analyses.

"I suppose the lesson is that human brains are flawed and cannot be trusted"

Aw... Don't be so hard on yourself! :)

It's incredible that a video can be interpreted in so many ways. I suppose the lesson is that human brains are flawed and cannot be trusted (which we already know from psychology).

The video you posted clearly shows the incident started with Ady Gil overtaking Shonan Maru. Under international rules of the nautical road the overtaking vessel has an absolute obligation to remain clear of the overtaken vessel. No subsequent maneuvering changes Ady Gil's status under the rules. The overtaken vessel is supposed to maintain course unless it determines action by both vessels is needed to avoid a collision. A last minute turn to starboard to attempt to pass astern of Ady Gil, expecting Ady Gil to speed ahead (the most effective choice), could be justified. Take the Japanese to court but don't be surprised if it results in a bill for repainting the bow of Shonan Maru.

I'm not saying the Ady Gil WANTED to get hit (although I certainly don't rule that out!). But I am saying that they didn't NOT want to get hit. If they REALLY wanted to avoid getting hit, they wouldn't have ever gotten in front of the whaler to begin with, much less cut their engines.

I was once sailing in the San Diego Harbor when an aircraft carrier came in. It was huge and fast, and you know what we did? We got the hell out of dodge. But that's not the game that the Ady Gil was playing.

"When the Shonan Maru approaches, it seems that they aren’t able to react in time." And here is the crux of it. This is why I say they knowingly entered into a game of chicken. They stopped their engines somewhere in the front 45 degrees of a fast, oncoming vessel. That's either stupid or calculated.

Once you're put yourself in that situation, you can no longer claim innocence, in my opinion, and hence the "self-righteous" comment (not directed at you, specifically).

A couple things should go without saying... this is nothing personal against you, obviously. I was just frustrated and unable to resist commenting (unfortunately... :) I also don't endorse killing whales.

Thanks for the link Eric -

Bloody Hell!

HOLY COW .. i had a completely different mentality over this incident until watching this. I was all for it, but convinced the Ady Gil crew apt could have gotten out of the way.

BUT SHIT .. the whaling vessel completely did this on purpose with no intention of slowing down.

It also looks like the 'research vessel' isn't the best in the water and little turns get emphasised b the waves.

If I was capt of the Ady Gil .. i would have done the same, and the speed they came at a boat floating in the water .. anyway .. enough said.

the way I see it the Japanese vessel is using the lrad and shooting their water cannons, not only is the ady gils engines off but I am sure the lrad is affecting the crew of the ady gil and also with the water canon going on the japanese vessel it is very difficult to tell how close they are coming so I think that the crew of the ady gil did not have a chance. It is very clear on all the videos that I saw that the japanese deliberately turned towards the ady gil at the last moment. I think that the japanese should be charged with attempted murder. If we dont do anything now god knows what they will do to us next. They must be brought to justice now!

Adam -- So you're telling me that you think they DECIDED to get cut in half in -2 degree water by an enormous boat? Have you ever been in freezing water? That's a death wish.

Here's how I saw it:

The driver of that boat sits INSIDE. The Shonan Maru can do over 20 knots -- it's a fast boat. You can see the timing in the video. The driver is told to shut off engines, so it's clear that they are at a stand-still. When the Shonan Maru approaches, it seems that they aren't able to react in time. Probably, they weren't expecting the big boat to come barreling directly at them while they were at a stand still. I'm sure that they COULD have moved away, had they been expecting it -- just as a driver that was rear-ended in a car COULD have moved away if they had known it was going to happen. I'll bet visibility is limited from inside the cockpit, too. Someone on top would have had to tell the pilot what to do.

Each side is always going to claim the other side rammed them. The truth is that neither one of us were there, so we're both just speculating. But you're right that everyone is talking about it, and that is a good thing.

By the way, are you calling me self-righteous? I'll wait until you answer that before I write anything more.

Is anyone really going to claim that the Ady Gil did NOT want to get hit?

If so, they sure did a crap job of getting out of the way of the BIG BOAT HEADED VERY CLOSE TO THEM. I mean, they're in a highly maneuverable speedboat, and they still managed to get run over? Either they need a new captain, or they knew exactly what they were doing.

Let's call a spade a spade... they knowingly entered into a game of chicken and lost. Upon losing, they claim they were the victims, just minding their own and rammed for no good reason, and turn it into a big publicity stink.

At least when PETA pulls shit like this to garner attention to their cause, there is a certain self-indulgent sense of humor to it.

They've done their job, though. News headlines all over the world are educating people about Japanese whaling. But please... spare me the self-righteousness.

Yes I'm pissed, and yes I'm sitting on my couch. :)

Wow.