If the Titanic Were Sinking Today, Who Should Have First Access to the Lifeboats?

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In an Emergency Situation, People Should be Saved in This Order:

  • 1. Children; 2. Women; 3. Men. (For all votes, please state your thoughts as to why in your post.)

    Votes: 10 43.5%
  • 1. Children; 2. Men; 3. Women

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 1. Children; 2. Women OR Men (each gender should have an equal right to be saved.)

    Votes: 4 17.4%
  • 1. Women; 2. Children; 3. Men.

    Votes: 1 4.3%
  • 1. Men OR Women (equal rights); 2. Children.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other--I have another opinion I would like to share in my post.

    Votes: 10 43.5%

  • Total voters
    23
K

kenthomas27

Guest
#21
MissCris says:
I chose 'other', because I can't decide.

Children should always ways be given the chance to live over those of us who have a fair amount of years behind us, right? But then...how do you allow a family to be separated? Save the child's mother and leave the father behind, and that is just as devastating to the family as if the mother is lost.

So...entire family units first? But what about the couples who have no children but are hoping to? What about single women and men who may have a parent, sibling, grandparent who relies on them? What about a lonely old man who has no family left but volunteers all of his time to helping the homeless? What about the lonely old woman who has no family and shuts herself in her house most of the time?
(pulls on MissCris shirt sleeve)... "uh, MissCriss, uh, if you look down at your feet there...

How does anyone even begin to look at a mixed group of human beings and assign higher value to some over others? I understand that it's got to be done in emergency situations, and it's better to save some than none, regardless of age, gender, race, or background.

What if the mixed group of people are police and convicts of both genders?
What if the mixed group is all children but half are rich, half are poor?
What if the mixed group is all women, half from the streets, half nurses or teachers or celebrities?
....."water's a really pouring in. maybe I think we oughta....."


Now that I've completely over-analyzed this and still not landed on an answer, all I can say is that I hope I never find myself in the position of having to decide who to leave behind. I suppose I could over-simplify it and say God chooses who lives or dies...but that doesn't answer the question.

(10 minutes later)

I tried thinking about this Without the life or death aspect, you know, just as Who are the most important or deserving people...still hung up on the same types of questions.

"...yes mam'm, and I hear what you're sayin' and all, it's just that I think we need to get on a boat here and...."


Kim, I apologize for doing a lot of thinking "out loud" in your very thought provoking thread without actually getting anywhere with it......

Now, Ken. What is you're saying?



Ken?

 
M

MissCris

Guest
#22
MissCris says:

(pulls on MissCris shirt sleeve)... "uh, MissCriss, uh, if you look down at your feet there...



....."water's a really pouring in. maybe I think we oughta....."




"...yes mam'm, and I hear what you're sayin' and all, it's just that I think we need to get on a boat here and...."





This is why nobody calls me in an emergency, isn't it? :p
 

CatHerder

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
79
48
#23
I think a big part of the question ties back in with leadership. In almost any situation, a leader is responsible for the welfare of the people he leads. So the "male heads of households" should make sure their family is taken care of before they fend for themselves, and the captain should make sure everyone else on board is taken care of and be last off of the ship. Etc. etc.

I can see it now...

"Lord, thank you that that argumentative, contentious woman finally recognized me as the head of the household and got in the lifeboat, for once doing something I asked without arguing.

Even as I stay on this ship, sacrificing myself...wait, what? oh, crud..."




*snicker*
 

kodiak

Senior Member
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
83
#24
I don't know if this is true...but I have been told by people that someone said that God couldn't even sink the Titanic and that an event that is extremely rare is what caused the iceburg to move to an unusual location. Never get on a ship that has people saying that God can't even sink it.

I would attempt to save everyone...not just a certain group first....I would be spending my time trying to Macgyver up a way to save as many as possible.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,440
5,387
113
#25
I don't know if this is true...but I have been told by people that someone said that God couldn't even sink the Titanic and that an event that is extremely rare is what caused the iceburg to move to an unusual location. Never get on a ship that has people saying that God can't even sink it.

I would attempt to save everyone...not just a certain group first....I would be spending my time trying to Macgyver up a way to save as many as possible.
Personally, I've always seen the Titanic as the second Tower of Babel.

For some reasons, we humans keep forgetting it's a really bad idea to challenge God.
 

kodiak

Senior Member
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
83
#26
Personally, I've always seen the Titanic as the second Tower of Babel.

For some reasons, we humans keep forgetting it's a really bad idea to challenge God.
yeah, people are trying to prove that they are better than God.
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#27
Personally, I've always seen the Titanic as the second Tower of Babel.

For some reasons, we humans keep forgetting it's a really bad idea to challenge God.

I dont know,Ive questioned that line of thinking. A young pastors daughter said to me once "God sank the Titanic". I replied " you do know there were missionaries on the ship right?" We are living under grace. Im not sure God is in the smiting business these days. The Titanic happened where I lived, the Atlantic in Eastern Canada.My mother heard a missionary once who survived the sinking but lost her husband that night.Don't mean to derail but just had to add that thought.
 
S

Siberian_Khatru

Guest
#28
I dont know,Ive questioned that line of thinking. A young pastors daughter said to me once "God sank the Titanic". I replied " you do know there were missionaries on the ship right?" We are living under grace. Im not sure God is in the smiting business these days. The Titanic happened where I lived, the Atlantic in Eastern Canada.My mother heard a missionary once who survived the sinking but lost her husband that night.Don't mean to derail but just had to add that thought.
That's a very valid point. God is frequently accused of being either morally irresponsible or epitomizing goodness, but perhaps we should reflect more on our own moral biases.
 

Roh_Chris

Senior Member
Jun 15, 2014
4,728
58
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#29
This is a delicate question, so I am going to answer this as a response to the question "What would I have done if I had been on the Titanic?"

If I was a man
I would let the children and the women board the lifeboats. The children first, because - they are the future. They have a lot of potential and their best years are before them. The women second, because - it is the females who are responsible for the survival of a species. I am not only talking about the biological aspect alone, but I am also talking about the notion that mothers are the first teachers for the children. Even a post-menopausal woman can bring up a child with her motherly love and care.

Would I save myself if they allowed the men to board on the remaining lifeboats? I would if there will be something worth coming home to. Else, I would stay back and fight the fire or help the others escape and prepare myself to die a noble death.

If I was a post-menopausal woman
I know I don't have a shot at helping the survival of our species, so I may not insist on getting on the lifeboats. But, if there is a single father who isn't allowed to board the lifeboat, I promise him that I will take care of his child. Then I will fight to the get on the lifeboat.

If I was a chronically infirmed person, irrespective of age or gender
I would make my peace to meet my Saviour.

---

I would appreciate if people spoke highly about those who sacrificed their lives so that the others can survive because it takes a lot of courage to face death in the eye, without flinching.

Edit: On a side note, I think I know what my death song will be. It will be "Nearer, My God, to thee."
 
Last edited:

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,440
5,387
113
#30
I was thinking about this tonight at work as well.

It really does get messy because the whole inspiration of the thread was the question of whether or not men should automatically be sacrificed for the sake of women and children.

I have to be honest in that I'd be bitter about my Dad having to die for the sake of others ("Why does my Dad have to die but your mother gets to live?"), because I know that's what he would choose. He would say, "How could I meet God and tell Him I didn't do everything I could to protect the family He put under my stewardship?"

I hope I would have the courage to stay behind with him. I couldn't live the rest of my life knowing I'd abandoned my father to die alone.

That would just be more than I could bear.
 

Roh_Chris

Senior Member
Jun 15, 2014
4,728
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#31
Gah, this topic is painful. I hope none of us are forced into a situation where we have to make such choices! :(

Kim, since you started this thread, you have to start another thread to cheer us up. :p
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,440
5,387
113
#32
Gah, this topic is painful. I hope none of us are forced into a situation where we have to make such choices! :(

Kim, since you started this thread, you have to start another thread to cheer us up. :p
At this point, I'm sure that if I wrote a thread entitled, "I Promise Not to Write Any Threads for At Least 24 Hours," that would probably lighten the mood of the entire forum! :eek:
 

Roh_Chris

Senior Member
Jun 15, 2014
4,728
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#33
At this point, I'm sure that if I wrote a thread entitled, "I Promise Not to Write Any Threads for At Least 24 Hours," that would probably lighten the mood of the entire forum! :eek:
Either you do that or CatHerder and I will host an intervention for you. :p

P.S. I have heard that a couple of anonymous regulars have offered to pay us to host it.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,440
5,387
113
#34
Either you do that or CatHerder and I will host an intervention for you. :p

P.S. I have heard that a couple of anonymous regulars have offered to pay us to host it.
*snorts*

"Anonymous", my foot...

(I've been under A LOT of stress lately, and when that happens... My mind starts to wander and ask questions as an escape, and it usually spills out into writing.)

On second thought, if this "intervention" involves you and Cat providing food for me and waiting on me hand and foot, I'd like to sign up for about 6 months of full rehab.
 
Dec 18, 2013
6,733
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0
#35
Either you do that or CatHerder and I will host an intervention for you. :p

P.S. I have heard that a couple of anonymous regulars have offered to pay us to host it.
Say what? I like to read lady seoul's threads even though I don't always comment upon them...... crap, does that make me her enabler?
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,440
5,387
113
#36
Say what? I like to read lady seoul's threads even though I don't always comment upon them...... crap, does that make me her enabler?
This literally made me laugh out loud.

Thank you, GIS!!!!

I totally needed that. :D
 

Roh_Chris

Senior Member
Jun 15, 2014
4,728
58
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#37
This literally made me laugh out loud.

Thank you, GIS!!!!

I totally needed that. :D
GIS, you had one job. One job!! :p

Jus' kiddin'... let's not further derail the already derailed thread..
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
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#38
Order of survival is simple

Children are most vulnerable and least able to take survival decisions
Women are weaker physically and often are most directly involved in looking after the children
Men are the strongest and often can make quick decisions and have the strength to put them into action

No matter the society these principles are very biological and founded on general behaviour.
In the emergency situations though often selfishness takes over which simply costs lives.
 

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
Aug 2, 2009
24,644
4,305
113
#39
If I were on a sinking ship, I would hope to be like the man who help save others without a thought for himself.. I don't have much left to live for anyway...

Women and children first! Any man who says he deserves to go in the lifeboat before women and children is not a man!
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,157
113
#40
Women and children first! Any man who says he deserves to go in the lifeboat before women and children is not a man!
Well said Zero... Woman and children first..

on a side note I think men are using this whole equality thing to shirk their duties.