'Polite' Britons died on Titanic

[Notebook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7843154.stm

Sometimes you can be too polite...

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7843154.stm

Sometimes you can be too polite...

N.

Is a nice hypothesis, but it does not explain the evidence, that the life boats had not even been full at all. This is better explained by the hypothesis, that the few lifeboats had been released into the water almost empty in panic.

 

[Pilot7893]

Anyone else find it kind of ironic that his name is Mr. Savage, and it's a topic about being polite?

 

[EJ316]

I don't think it's polite exactly. Letting women and children and people go before you demonstrates bravery, not just politeness. Also, as it says in the article, in the Edwardian period it was considered to be of the utmost importance to be a gentleman. I wish society today was more like this.

 

[Pilot7893]

Especially considering some of the kids in my school. All gangsta wannabes

 

[FordPrefect]

I don't think it's polite exactly. Letting women and children and people go before you demonstrates bravery, not just politeness. Also, as it says in the article, in the Edwardian period it was considered to be of the utmost importance to be a gentleman. I wish society today was more like this.

I never understood the sense or morality of this unwritten rule or behaviour. Are male and adult humans less worthy to be saved? This rule is nothing but discriminating.

 

[tl8]

I never understood the sense or morality of this unwritten rule or behaviour. Are male and adult humans less worthy to be saved? This rule is nothing but discriminating.

I understand it perfectly. By letting women and children first, you are helping the lesser skilled/strength/experienced members of the group.

I think it is just as discriminating as Women only gyms etc.

 

[FordPrefect]

I understand it perfectly. By letting women and children first, you are helping the lesser skilled/strength/experienced members of the group.

I think it is just as discriminating as Women only gyms etc.

Well, I am not putting my life to risk by not getting access to women only gyms.

Seriously, I know what you mean. Though I think it depends on the situation. If it is "run for your life" I believe I wouldn't adhere to that rule anylonger. Just a guess, luckily I've never been there yet.

 

[tblaxland]

I've always seen it as a survival instinct. With regards to the children, you make the children safe because they have longer to live and make more babies. With regard to women, one man and five women can make more babies than one woman and five men.

That may not be particularly relevant in an over-populated world, though.

 

[Urwumpe]

I've always seen it as a survival instinct. With regards to the children, you make the children safe because they have longer to live and make more babies. With regard to women, one man and five women can make more babies than one woman and five men.

That may not be particularly relevant in an over-populated world, though.

 

[Usquanigo]

I've always seen it as a survival instinct. With regards to the children, you make the children safe because they have longer to live and make more babies. With regard to women, one man and five women can make more babies than one woman and five men.

That may not be particularly relevant in an over-populated world, though.

Yeah, we are in for a REAL world of hurt here very soon due to overpopulation (no matter what the carefree want to say, from water to food to energy, it's a global problem).

However, that aside. There might be something to that idea, but I always saw it as more a matter of society, something that went along with a sense of honor and duty, and willingness to stand up and protect that honor (even at the risk of death).

It's a matter of selflessness, which when everyone practices it to at least a certain extent, it actually works. And with cooperation it tends to demand and foster, it can actually lead to fewer loses overall (with the exception of those who take it too far and essentially choose to sacrifice themselves). It also keeps people calmer which in itself helps things move more smoothly.

Actually, this is a case where I'm finger-tied. A lot going on and I can't quite fully articulate it. lol

 

[mjessick]

We must remember that the character "Ford Prefect" wandered off leaving all but one of the Earth's population to die. So you may have to explain it again

 

[Andy44]

I forget who it was who said words to the effect that the feminist movement is a great thing for men; we don't have to be polite to them anymore!

Of course, while good for a laugh, the reality is a bit harsher, involving getting slapped in the face and so forth.

 

[Urwumpe]

The feminist movement is a gift. Instead of having to deal with women, who are good at being women, you are in competition with women who attempt to be the better men.

In the past, women had to be able to cook like your mother, now it is expected from them to drink like your father.

 

[EJ316]

I never understood the sense or morality of this unwritten rule or behaviour. Are male and adult humans less worthy to be saved? This rule is nothing but discriminating.

Is it not more likely that it is because the children are children, and therefore the future generation, and that women can have more children, therefore producing the next generation. I always though of it more along those lines.

 

[jedidia]

Is it not more likely that it is because the children are children, and therefore the future generation, and that women can have more children, therefore producing the next generation. I always though of it more along those lines.

Maybe the ideal has its origin somewhere in that concept, however the moral imperative behind it is "the strong protect the weak". In that sense, the Man has allways be look upon as the protector of the family, which implies the duty to, in the extreme, lay down his life to save his family. The concept of the swiss milita army was founded on the same principle in its origins, until General Guisan came along...

 

[FordPrefect]

Well, if that rule is so self explanatory to all (men), how comes I see many of the grown men drive the big, fat and heavy automobiles (at least where I live).
They should give their cars to the (their) young people (as soon as they can have a drivers license) and to all the women, because that way, they would have the best protection in possible car crashes. Let the old male farts have the hindsight in a cheap car, it's better the young and female survive.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, if that rule is so self explanatory to all (men), how comes I see many of the grown men drive the big, fat and heavy automobiles (at least where I live).
They should give their cars to the (their) young people (as soon as they can have a drivers license) and to all the women, because that way, they would have the best protection in possible car crashes. Let the old male farts have the hindsight in a cheap car, it's better the young and female survive.

:rofl:

Good idea. Would maybe have been a bit expensive for a friend of mine. She not only lacked a sixth sense for animals crossing the road, she had some kind of curse on her, attracting such accidents. Destroyed two cars that way without a chance to do anything at all.

 

[Notebook]

Re: Lifeboats, got this from the FAQ here:-

http://www.titanic-online.com/

Were only women and children allowed in the lifeboats?
Traditionally, first seats in lifeboats are given to women and children, with men filling up the late leaving lifeboats; however, given the Titanic’s lifeboat shortage, this tradition meant that the casualty list was more heavily male. On the port side of the Titanic, the lifeboat launchings were supervised by Officer Lightoller, who took this order literally, preventing any men except the boat crews from embarking. Early in the sinking, women were naturally reluctant to abandon a ship that did not seem at all to be in trouble, and as a result, many of these boats were sent away only partially full.
On the starboard side, Officer Murdoch interpreted the order to mean "women and children first on deck" – and only after all the seats had been offered to women, could any men on hand, who wished to evacuate, do so.

I wonder how many knew that there were not enough lifeboats for all. Presumably the crew, and not many passengers.
Looks like it was chance wether you were on Port or Starboard, as to how good your survival was. If you were an adult male.

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yeah, sheer luck. Also, the Titanic had as many lifeboats as it was standard in the UK at that time. There had been many design problems which came from the thought that the Titanic was almost unsinkable.