Why women and children first? Why not every man for himself?

I honestly feel that these actions are simply a symptom of the modified and degenerate human spirit that we have been seeing everywhere else lately. It's just an extension of that horrible 'dog eats dog' scene that we see on the roads, on the streets and something that underpins the increasing greed that we see everywhere.

Perhaps their actions were generated by surreal fear, I don't know. Or are heroes only seen in the films nowadays?

Thank heavens for the feminist movement and sexual equality.

I've absolutely no problem with 'every man for himself' in the event of a disaster. If any women get left behind, they can blame the suffragettes!

Well, listening to and reading the first hand accounts of some of the survivors last night, it seems that many of the passengers made every effort to get the women and children off first. But, I agree that in these days of sexual equality, it should be children first, then the least able (whether male or female), then everyone else.

I can't imagine what it must have been like to suddenly find yourself in a luxury cruise ship probably eating your evening meal to then hear a warning and then to find the ship listing over. Your one thought must be get me out of here fast. It looked as if there was not much organisation and people were looking after themselves but fear does terrible things. I see a child is missing and many more besides but the Captain managed to get off pretty quickly !!!! I would hope that the children went first and then the people with disabilities.

On the same topic 14 month's ago I went on a cruise with a life long friend and the sea was so bad we were delayed getting out of Southampton for 24 hours. The Captain said in 30 year's it was the first time he hadn't sailed on time. When we finally got to sea and hit the Bay of Biscay we had a warning of the terrible conditions we would be facing. No one was allowed to go on the upper deck and it was all taped off. The wind was howling and the waves tremendous, everything was being thrown about, in bed at night you could hear things falling down and people shouting and crying. You could leave nothing out on the unit tops as it just slipped off and broke. Half the people on board were in bed with sea sickness and many had to have injections. When you were in bed you could see and feel the ship rolling from side to side it was terrifying. We missed stopping at two of the main ports which was very disappointing (The Canary Islands and Tenerife) so missed two of the hot places.

I personally don't think I would ever go on a cruise again but that is only my personal feelings as a lot of people thoroughly enjoy them.

Interesting and topical question Parchester. I for one feel yes it should be everyman for himself after all us women have fought for 'equal rights' since the days of Mrs Pankhurst.
I put the question to hubby and he remarked that he couldn't live with himself if he pushed his way forward in front of women and children and would have stayed behind and helped them leave first.
Perhaps that's the old school train of thought, a little outdated for some but I do admire him for it.

Exactly what my husband said Lillie. It is the rule of the sea faring world that any passengers, in an emergency, are evacuated first into life boats etc. All crews are trained in this procedure and it is an unwritten law of the sea that this is carried out especially the Captain and his Officers, they should take charge of any evacuation and be forceful, in necessary, that this procedure is carried out effectively. Only then should they look to themselves the Captain being the last man to leave his ship.

My husband having been in the Royal Navy as a submariner is well placed
to understand this principle and totally agrees with it.

When everyone is facing death in a capsized ship it is so much harder to practice the moral code of evacuating the ladies and children first.

I think that it's probably less to do with chivalry, but the fact that physically men are generally stronger and able to cope longer with more extreme conditions than women, so would be more likely to survive for longer while waiting to be rescued.

Of course there are always such as elderly/disabled etc who also need to help to evacuate quickly as they would not survive the elements while waiting to be rescued.

I do think it's a disgrace though that the crew and captain left ASAP without co-ordinating a proper evacuation - whoever they would have chosen to evacuate first! That's part of their jobs to get everyone (or as many people as possible) off the ship safely.

Interesting array of thoughts.

Studies (who survived and why)have shown that during any major incident those with the strongest survival instinct generally survived while those with shall we say manners, chivalry or following the don't panic rule were most likely to perish. A good example of this was the aircraft which caught fire on the ground at Manchester airport whereby some people near the emergency exits died while some of those furthest away made their escape. Statements made by some of the survivors backed up the study. One example being climbing over the seats to get to the exits instead of waiting behind others in the aisle (who died of smoke inhalation before reaching the exits).

You may not agree but there are similar examples all over.

Personally I could never leave my partner behind but, if alone... who wants to die... I don't.

I think what you have said is really what most of us would do. Survival of the fittest are the ones that get out. I really think they will have to look at their safety talks as it seems a lot of people hadn't a clue where to go and what to do. I must say when I was on my cruise we had to meet in a large area and it was all gone through thoroughly. A great shame for those who have lost their life through someone else's negligence as it would appear the Captain had taken the ship a different route than usual.

There is evidence that the Captain and his assistant left the ship very early on in the disaster and left the passengers to their own fate.

It has also been reported that many crew failed to arrive at designated escape areas and that a number of the younger men pushed their way to the front in order to save their own skin.

The safety talks and essential information whether on board a ship or an aeroplane are all given in an environment that is calm and stress free, the moment a situation arises and panic sets in, many don't adhere to what has been instructed but think only of themselves and perhaps their loved ones!

Clearly the Captain, in this instance, deserted the ship and the Master of the Port is heard telling him even shouting at him to go back on board, and assume responsibility, an order he refused!

The captain and crew were in a position of trust and there first concern should have been for the welfare of their passengers.This is part of a crews job description and the captain totaly disregarded his duty.