Two tragic examples of when trusting the experts is wrong

[NorthernRaider]

I was chatting on the old E mail group and someone pointed out the similarity between two tragedies some 50 years apart.

Last nights absolutely heart breaking tragedy off the coast of South Korea where it is now believed nearly 300 children have drowned on a sinking ferry is compounded by the release of news saying the authorities on the ship told the passengers to stay seated and inside the ship. Those who escaped in the main apparently decided for themselves to ignore the official line and took steps to save themselves.

It reminded us of a tragedy in South America some years ago where a railway had recently swapped its steam locomotives for diesel locos, but for some reason this particular train was not really up to the job of hauling the passenger cars up the mountains. The train stalled and wheel slipped to a halt inside a very long tunnel. The train staff radioed for another locomotive to come and help push the train up the mountain. The Guards on the train told the passengers to stay in their seats whilst they waited for the other helper loco. When it eventually arrived some of the passengers had actually left the train and were waiting outside the tunnel on the mountainside. Tragically many of those who had stayed about the train in coaches close to the loco had died from carbon monoxide poisoning during the hours they had waited for the relief loco.

A slightly similar event occurred on a passenger plane taxiing for take off when a fire broke out. The Cabin crew or Captain told the passengers to stay put and wait the fire trucks, but some folks chose to ignore the instructions and abandoned the plane. Those who stayed in their seats tragically once again perished and toxic fumes from the fire spread through the cabin before the fire could be put out. Those who ignored the orders and bailed out survived.

I think it is a reasonable assumption that in some cases it makes more sense and would be wiser to decide on a course of action for yourself rather than just take the word of the authority figure for granted.

I think this is also the case when a major event occurs that taking blind faith in government pledges to save or help you could be fatal and it re-enforces the survivalist mantra of " Don't Become a Refugee"

We need to at all time be aware of our surroundings and consider all options of response available to us, and not just the official line.

[Rush2112]

the airplane issue is more complicated. If your told to stay seated and bolt for the exit, you better be right otherwise you'll be facing all kinds of serious criminal charges. At least here in the US, once your on the plane you have no rights and are in effect a prisoner of the airline.

Agree with "We need to at all time be aware of our surroundings and consider all options of response available to us, and not just the official line." But sometimes its good to pay attention to the officials too. For example, on a cruise ship all passengers are instructed where to report and the procedures for boarding the life boats. Hardly anyone pays attention, they just want to have fun. Nothing bad will happen to them- that kind of thing happens to other people.

[Skean Dhude]

Authority figures are taught to make people calm and hold them in place as it is generally the thing to do. Most times it is the correct way to handle the issues.

However, in a very few situations it is not and then you end up with the examples shown.

[Jonas]

The grounding of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy is another one of those situations where deaths could have been averted has the ship's company immediately gotten the passengers into life vests and to their lifeboat stations.

Rule of thumb on a ship: if the ship hits something, get your life vest and get out on deck immediately!

[NorthernRaider]

Also those people in the twin towers who could have escaped but remained in place because the security people advised them to do so even though the stairs were still available to many of them. So sad, so very very sad.