General Chat

During much discussion to day with regards the cruise liner. It was someone scorned upon by a couple of mature colleagues that it has been reported that, a couple of male passages refused to leave their wife and children. One colleague claimed it was a “ rule of the sea women and children first” maybe it was in 1912, I said it was out dated rule or expression. I personally wouldn’t go anywhere in that position with out my OH. One young male colleague claims he would be with his children come what May and no self-respecting parent would let them go without him. So what ever happened to the age of equality? We as women expect to be accepted as equals, however faced in a life and death situation suddenly become the damsel in distressed? In my opinion it has to work both ways.

based on the fact men are usually better swimmers
i think the woman and children first is aceptable
unless the woman decided to stay with their man
the choice is hers in that case

as a rubbish swimmer i would be first in the life boats

Would you expect to be given the choice first Joy as a women?

I can't swim :( but I think families off together first, then ( and it is very subjective) women, then men...and men last only because I think that men do have more physical strength over all.

But if I was part of a couple, I wouldn't go without him lol...I can't stand 'Titanic' because of that silly woman clinging to her piece of wood , which was plenty big enough to support Leo' as well , and even if it wasn't she might have let him have a turn out of the icy water :-|

All though now on cruise liners they dont have classes sections like they did on Titantic, how would you feel if you was stood there with your child to board a life boat and was told you had to let the passagers with a up graded cabin on before you, " sorry love she has a suite and a balcony shes before you, there would be outrage.

yes hayley


i would be shouting my replyback from the lifeboat lol

Male or female wouldn't come into it for me.

Children and the infirm first........then it's a free for all as far as i'm concerned lol x

If I was in that situation (not likely cos cruising isn't for me!) and I was on my own, I would expect families with children to get first priority, also elderly/infirm people (both sexes). If I was with OH, I would stick with him :-). Would not expect preferential treatment because of my gender, even though I can't swim, lol!

I'm not up on Maritime Law, so don't know if 'woman and children first' still applies.
I have never learned to swim, although I have done plenty of sailing on the periphery of thr Atlantic.
These days, I would come under 'aged and infirm first'. Does this count .LOLOL

Julia in Derbyshire

passes julia one of my arm bands we will share hun

Thanks Joy.
Well, it says on our buses that 'These seats are reserved for the elderly and disabled'. Now, if I am old enough to have a free bus pass. then one of them seats has got me name on it, and then me b*m. LOLOL
Awf for me dinner

Speaks Tomorrow

Julia in Derbyshire

If the men let the women & children go first make sure that you dont let them have the credit cards !!

if your on a plane its policey to leave the diabled till last
if they get stuck in the way

you could save a number of people in the time it takes
to ease then to the exit

makes sense in a way but shame for the disabled

Joy is right. Infirm passengers get in the way so are not assisted to the detriment of others - a sad but true fact of life, and there's no other way to do things. Anyone not fully mobile is not allowed to sit in a seat adjacent to an emergency exit.

In any mass panic situation, it always, without exception, turns into the survival of the fittest. There will be isolated cases of men - and women - standing back, or cases of self sacrifice, but it will be the exception rather than the rule. Most people today have never been confronted with a life threatening situation and once panic sets in all control is lost. I've seen it. It's impossible to direct people who are panic stricken and panic is infectious. So - the natural instinct is to protect your family or nearest and dearest and that is exactly what will happen.

if someone tried to tell me on a sinking ship my son wasnt getting in the lifeboat coz we were not first class, would find them self without a double, overboard! lol,


i think defo children first, with there mother f she is there if not there dad,

then each for themselves lol,

my friends air steward and he told me
its discrimanation to be honest
but also good sense if you think about it

i think the same would apply on a boat like planes florence
they just dont tell you about it if your disabled

I do agree with that Children and infirm first.....so 2 yr old twins 1 is clinging to mum the other dad, you just wouldnt rip that scared child from thieir dad no way...

hayley you might save half a dozen kids
in the time it takes a disabled person to get in the lifeboat
time is of the essence

it would be save the kids in my book

nor defo not, it would obviously be a common sence thing

The classic case is the Oceanos in the Indian Ocean in 1991 when 2 British entertainers organised the rescue of the passengers after the Greek captain and his entire crew legged it in the lifeboats! There is some amazing amateur footage in this youtube clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VNZSO_XEP4&feature=endscreen&NR=1