Go to From The Observation Deck
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- Go to When it comes to a simple matter of 'survival,' I say, go with the odds!
Re:
I'm sorry, Justi. Just like with Kabu, I never meant to make anyone paranoid or nervous, or feel jinxed. Believe me, there are risks as soon as you walk out of the house! I know we can't live our lives in fear! All I was saying was that, in the worst case scenario . . . well . . . you read the piece! Think of it as just discussing a scientific theory. Nothing is going to happen to anybody! Go ahead and make those plans . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on February 2, 2014 at 10:43 AM
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Well Jimmy this was a lovely set up for making choices on my arriving at Blogit on a Saturday. LOLL It has been effective in my making my vacation plans. I am staying home.
posted by
Justi
on February 1, 2014 at 12:26 PM
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Re:
The 'lone dissenter,' huh, Utah? Don't worry, I see your point. But, considering this as the 'worst case scenario,' I think most people would rather see to it that they can find a way to survive! And I feel that the odds are still in your favor for survivng a sinking ship than a crashing plane.
And I do recall the tale of that sinking WW II ship ( I believe it was the U.S.S. Connecticut ) who was actually on her way back from delivering the atomic bomb to be dropped on Japan in 1945 ( Robert Shaw's character in the movie Jaws was supposed to be based on one of the survivors ). However, the difference between that ship and today's modern ships is the ample supply of lifeboats, something that just was not the norm on WW II battleships! Thanks for playing . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:46 AM
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Re:
I've read of those too, Against. Yes, the negative press may have hurt the cruiseline industry a bit, but everyone on board those ships were still saved! They may have been ill and/or upset, but they 'walked away' from those disasters . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:34 AM
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Re: JimmyA
Everywhere, Sir Wiley? How do those people in the restaurants feel when they see you coming in dragging that thing behind you? Well, you can always tell them that you have an inate fear of drowning, no matter where you are! That'll work . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:32 AM
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Re:
Thanks, FSI. Again, I was merely concentrating on the 'worst case scenario.' Apparently, more people die each year in car crashes than they do in plane crashes or sinking ships! There's risks in any form of travel. Sometimes you can control the odds, and sometimes you can't . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:21 AM
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Re:
I am so, so sorry, Kabu. Believe me, I was not trying to make you ( or anyone ) paranoid or feel jinxed. I was just focusing on the worst case scenario, which, believe it or not, is still quite rare, for the planes or the ships! Your flight may be long and somewhat arduous, but I've no doubts that it will be 'incident-free!' Nothing's going to 'break up,' believe me! Still friends . . . ? 
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:19 AM
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Re: All I can say is those lifeboats had better have been
True enough, Rumor. And everyone boarding those ships assumes the same thing! But due to various saftey regulations ( and possible lawsuits ) I'm quite certain those lifeboats are well-maintained and properly counted. At least, I hope they are . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:12 AM
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Re:
Thanks, Dr JPT. Don't worry. I wasn't really trying to 'force' anyone into answering. All I'm saying is, given the 'worst case scenario,' it's obvious ( at least to me ) that you'd have a better chance of survivng a sinking ship than a crashing plane! Even traveling by car has it's risks. But that's what I would rather do too, and read about the disasters later . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:10 AM
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Re:
There ya go, lustor! As far as 'worst case scenarios' go, it doesn't get much safer than that! The odds are still in everyone's favor as far as anything happening at all. But if I did have a choice . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:06 AM
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Re: Jimmy
I see your point, Naut, and yes, I'm well aware of your fondness of the sea and all things ship-related. But these 'floating hotels' are well-equipped to handle any just about any disaster, as slow as they might be. I was just looking at the worst case scenario as far as traveling by either plane or boat, and I still say I'd rather be on a sinking ship than a crashing plane . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on February 1, 2014 at 6:02 AM
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But if the water is cold and hypothermia sets in? Not to mention sharks (I think of that navel ship that went down in WWII when almost all of the men got off and into the water with life-vests on only to be eaten by sharks) and if by chance no rescue comes, the slow death of thirst. Na, I rather get it over with and go back home to the good Lord...I'll take the plane.
posted by
UtahJay
on January 31, 2014 at 10:35 PM
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Nonetheless, there has been negative press in the past couple a years pertaining to cruise ships. When the one went down off the coast of Italy, the captain fled from it and bailed on helping his passengers. Then, of course, there was the vomit ship.
posted by
Against4WindsOn2Flam
on January 31, 2014 at 10:15 PM
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JimmyA
I'd rather be in my rubber dinghy that comes everywhere with me.
posted by
WileyJohn
on January 31, 2014 at 8:29 PM
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The way you have analyzed the odds makes sense to me.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on January 31, 2014 at 6:15 PM
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Oh Thank you so much my used to be friend. Funny how quickly one can go off some one ....LOL....so what's her problem you ask? I am booked on a plane soon to go across that Pacific Ocean all the way down under to Sydney is why! Sigh!! Yep one of those miserable folks in cattle clash squashed into a seat for first 5 hours to Vancouver, and then 15 hours to Sydney... Well if it breaks up in the sky I do hope it's quick!!
posted by
Kabu
on January 31, 2014 at 1:29 PM
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All I can say is those lifeboats had better have been
properly maintained and counted properly....
posted by
Rumor
on January 31, 2014 at 10:26 AM
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I will take the scenic route in my car and read about the adventures and disasters. I have never been good at forced choice questions. Good post.
posted by
Dr_JPT
on January 31, 2014 at 7:00 AM
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hmm think I will stay home
posted by
Lanetay
on January 31, 2014 at 6:54 AM
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Jimmy
As you probably know if you’ve been reading my posts for a while, I love the sea and ships, so for me the choice is simple.
There’s one problem: say I want to travel between specific destinations, e.g. N.Y. to Cherbourg, France. That trip took less than 5 days once – time many people can afford – but there no longer are any fast ships that will take me there – so I’ve got to fly.
And these damn cruise ships aren’t ships; they’re just hotels for geriatrics, floating around aimlessly...
posted by
Nautikos
on January 31, 2014 at 6:53 AM
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