British good manners cost lives on Titanic

[KrispyKoala]

Good manners cost lives as Titanic sank
January 29, 2009 - 8:26 AM

Well behaved British gentlemen were less likely to survive the sinking of the Titanic than pushy American passengers, according to Swiss and Australian research.
The statistical review of survivors and fatalities from the famous 1912 shipping disaster concludes that many people observe social norms rather than panic even when their lives are at risk.

The supposedly unsinkable Titanic ocean liner lost 1,517 passengers and crew when it hit an iceberg and went down on its maiden voyage to New York in 1912. The 2,223 passengers and crew on board were mainly of British, United States, Irish and Scandinavian origin.

Bruno Frey, a professor from Zurich University, together with David Savage from the Queensland University of Technology demonstrated that British passengers had a ten per cent lower chance of staying alive than passengers from other countries.

www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Good_manners_cost_lives_as_Titanic_sank.html?siteSect=105&sid=10251491&cKey=1233213994000&ty=st

[KrispyKoala]

Interesting documentary on Aussie SBS TV the other night found that good manners almost certainly cost British men their lives while the unsinkable ship sank.

There was photographic evidence that British gentlemen actually went back to their cabins to change into appropriate attire,for men, uniforms, evening jackets etc. For the ladies, formal attire and jewellery etc.

There were many written accounts of American 'gentlemen' crowding into life boats well ahead of their British female and even child conterparts.

[Brittles]

G'day Krispy, I've just posted my obituary on another thread but seeing this - I thought I'd just say that my wife pestered my son to wire up the only remaining video recorder (VCR to you Aussie chappie) to the big telly in our house today so she could watch Titanic tonght on a surving VHS tape we have(the Friday night schedule being shite like) I was out for a while and coming home I just came in on time to see poor Jack Dawson disappear below the water.

It happend a long time ago, my dad was 8 years old.

[justmyopinion]

"There were many written accounts of American 'gentlemen' crowding into life boats well ahead of their British female and even child conterparts. "

Wasn't there one who dressed up as a woman as well?

[justmyopinion]

Courtesy of WIKI

Women and children first

The practice arose from the chivalrous actions of soldiers during sinking of HMS Birkenhead in 1852, though the phrase itself was not coined until 1860.[1] Although never part of international maritime law, the phrase was popularized in its usage on the RMS Titanic,[2] where, as a consequence of this practice, 74% of women on board were saved, 52% of children - but only 20% of men.[3]

Unfortunately, some officers on the Titanic misinterpreted this order from Captain Smith to actually prevent men from boarding lifeboats. It was intended that women and children would board first, and any remaining free spaces would then be allocated to men. Because so few men were saved on Titanic, the men who did survive were in danger of being branded as cowards.[4]

Even today, some people still consider it a man's duty to allow women and children to evacuate first in a disaster. An example is US Airways Flight 1549, which ditched into the Hudson river in 2009. Some passengers were reported to have requested that women and children debark first. [5]

[tarrant]

Feb 2, 2009 5:54:42 GMT justmyopinion said:

Even today, some people still consider it a man's duty to allow women and children to evacuate first in a disaster.

It is.

[Beachcomber]

If you're a true gentleman the lady always comes first.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Well if the old "offering your seat" rule as observed on the tube is any guide, pregnant women might be ok to get out but it will be women and foreigners standing back as the men stampede through.

[mids]

Feb 2, 2009 11:43:10 GMT VikingHumpingWitch said:

Well if the old "offering your seat" rule as observed on the tube is any guide, pregnant women might be ok to get out but it will be women and foreigners standing back as the men stampede through.

That's Londoners for you.

[flatandy]

If it's anything like the tube, and men wanted to get off, first, to let women and children on, they wouldn't have a chance because as soon as the door would open women and foreigners would barge straight on, trapping the blokes who wanted to get off.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Feb 2, 2009 11:59:02 GMT flatandy said:

If it's anything like the tube, and men wanted to get off, first, to let women and children on, they wouldn't have a chance because as soon as the door would open women and foreigners would barge straight on, trapping the blokes who wanted to get off.

Now funnily enough, you're the second person who says London has a problem with people barging on to the tube before others get off. I have never noticed it and my Swedish friend who recently visited London mentioned to me how amazing it was to see everyone stand back until the people get off. I think it may be a South London phenomenon.

[vania]

I'm with Lardy on people trying to get on when you need to get off.

And then they have the nerve to appear shocked that you didn't politely ask them to move out of the f*cking way and instead barge off the tube.

[flatandy]

And it's always people from out of town, and girls of clubbing age, who are the ones who barge on unthinkingly.

[vania]

Nah I got into an argument with a really wide Londoner the other day about it. I think he was very surprised by the fact that this female bites back.

But yep I have noted a trend towards non-Londoners doing that. And youngsters.