Sinking ship, women and children first, agree/disagree?

[.Fenris]

Let's do like a bunch of socialists! Rich people last, poor people first, so they get to work it off the rest of their peasant lives!

I'd ask for volunteers (to not get off) first, then (To get off) families, couples, etc.

 

[Guy]

Children first seems like a priority in a situation like this. Compared to an adult with more life experience and knowledge, a child won't know how to handle themselves in the middle of something so traumatic nor would they have the strength to get through other people. Therefore, if it were a free-for-all case, more than a majority of the children may be left behind or actually die in the process of others trying to get to a secure life boat for themselves. And while they do have more life for them to live, they're also the future adults of tomorrow, so to speak.

The goal is for everyone to survive. That idea usually gets forgotten in these disaster scenarios. It's important to have this as the goal regardless of what actually happens. You wouldn't want to be in a situation where the captain says: "Everyone stay calm there are enough... what's that? Not enough life boats? Free-for-all folks! Outta my way!" That's why you need to have rules and stick to them.

This is also a good reason as to why standard procedure (whatever it may be) would be a better call over every person for themselves. The situation at hand would be even more chaotic and dangerous than what it would need to be. Plus, safe boats would turn out overcrowded because people wouldn't care about limits as long as they're on one. You need some sort of rules in case disaster strikes and that's why they do exist today for any sort of emergency; not just a sinking ship.

As for how I would order it: Children + family, elderly, and then other adults (no gender division). But honestly, before a ship sets sail, they should have more than the necessary amount of life boats available.

 

[Bela]

You're all wrong!

As demonstrated by the St. Anne's captain, the first to board a lifeboat is the captain!

"Just thought I'd try one of them out!"

 

[Weeaboo Name]

Children and parents first then first come first served IMO.

 

[Numbers]

This is so hard to decide. Maybe women with babies first, then children, then... Nah maybe just as families, that seems to be the best option.

 

[Cirrus]

Pshaw. Who needs boats?

On a more serious note, I'd have to say that children would be necessarily given preference ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES (because it would be MORONICALLY STUPID if the child was left without anyone to raise him/her - sure there would be relatives but ... parents; plus the child would be traumatized).

Basically what quite a few people have said so far.

I'm not sure where seniors lie on the chain. On the one hand the age argument (for the children) would place them at the end but on the other hand that would leave them with a very low chance of survival.