"SOS": It's Not What You Think It Is

Not “Save Our Souls.” Not “Save Our Ship.” Just pure, cold, efficient distress.

Hello, Useless Knowledge Junkies—

There’s a lot of poetic nonsense floating around about what “SOS” stands for. Ask the average person at a bar—maybe after their third whiskey—and they’ll confidently tell you it means “Save Our Souls.” Or “Save Our Ship.” Sounds noble. Sounds cinematic. Sounds like something scribbled on parchment and stuffed into a bott…