[mrjonathanr]

Well you've picked two extremes there. In Schettino's case I'd expect it's a lot easier to keep your composure and do the right thing if you don't believe you've just wilfully caused disaster.

What we know so far looks very bad, but I would add that we don't know all the facts and the ones we do are being leaked which is hardl;y an objective portrayal of events.

[SA Chris]

I seem to remember the greek captain doing similar when the Oceanos sank

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTS_Oceanos

The "entertainment crew" included Moss and Tracy (mentioned in the text) who I used to know. They were also on the Achille Lauro when it was hijacked. I think they stuck with land based entertainment from then on.

[Oldmanmatt]

Not leaked, not exactly.
I've heard about 30min of other tapes (not in the public domain) and seen the voyage data recordings from the vessel.
I've had 23 years at sea in various types of vessel and I've been a surveyor for the last five.
The evidence against him is very, very damming.
He is not being made a scape goat.
To compare, Smith caused the accident that took the Titanic. Fiction aside, his subsequent actions meant that it was the first disaster, so far from land, in which so many SURVIVED!
He then choose to stay with the vessel. All the actual evidence (and, trust me, all mariners study this disaster to death, for every course/exam we ever take), show the crew to have acted calmly a clearly throughout. The basic reason for the high loss of life, was poor design and insufficient equipment. (The film is complete bollocks).
Others will have to share the blame, each officer who was aware of the Captains intentions, was fully empowered by law and custom to prevent his actions and they did not.
This is not the 19th century.
He was not Ahab.
He did pull off a great manoeuvre and prevented much higher loss of life by bring the ship back into the shallows after the impact.
On the other hand...
He was able to control his actions and carry out a difficult task under great pressure (if he'd turned the other way, the vessel would have capsized in deeper water and "the other way" was the more intuitive route to the shallows).
It is a fair point, to say you never know how you will react when the shit comes down.
But, you cannot get to that position (not in a western nation), without being tested and tried in a way that few other professions can claim.
Too early to judge?
No.
He should not have taken that vessel into those waters.
Everything else is window dressing.

[mrjonathanr]

Ahab may differ in his total control but his is a story of hubris madness and disaster.

[Jaspersharpe]

Thanks for the not leaked info Matt. Really interesting.

[duncan]

Interesting reading Matt.  I did wonder to what extent the Captain was being set up as the fall guy (still do).  It does though sound like the tapes have the nautical equivalent of "hold my beer and watch this..."

[mrjonathanr]

I did wonder to what extent the Captain was being set up as the fall guy (still do). 

Surely the tapes are sub-judice? Or is it trial by media? My point is that whether it's a no-brainer (or not) what happened, it should be the subject of a fair trial.

[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

I did wonder to what extent the Captain was being set up as the fall guy (still do). 

Surely the tapes are sub-judice? Or is it trial by media? My point is that whether it's a no-brainer (or not) what happened, it should be the subject of a fair trial.

Aaaah. Bless!

[Oldmanmatt]

I did wonder to what extent the Captain was being set up as the fall guy (still do). 

Surely the tapes are sub-judice? Or is it trial by media? My point is that whether it's a no-brainer (or not) what happened, it should be the subject of a fair trial.

You're right, they should be.
They're not.
And, I hope he gets a fair trial.

[Jaspersharpe]

I did wonder to what extent the Captain was being set up as the fall guy (still do). 

Surely the tapes are sub-judice? Or is it trial by media? My point is that whether it's a no-brainer (or not) what happened, it should be the subject of a fair trial.

Yes a fair Italian trial. Just like that Amanda Knox got.

Ahem.

[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

Spamspamspamspamspamspamspamspam

Wonderful Spam, Luvverly Spam


One more for you all to sign


https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5646

[slackline]

Where's the Lansley, Cameron & Osborne equivalents?

[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

Oh dear. How sad. What a pity. Never mind.

http://johannhari.com/

[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

Are All Coppers Bastards?

Or just their children?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/20/undercover-police-children-activists?CMP=twt_gu

[Oldmanmatt]

Are All Coppers Bastards?

Or just their children?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/20/undercover-police-children-activists?CMP=twt_gu

No.

Ta very much.

Some of them are, though.

[lagerstarfish]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/robber_confesses_after_bad_karma_1_4169806

[Jaspersharpe]

[lagerstarfish]

Quite frankly you had got away with it and there was no way you would ever have been prosecuted. All the evidence had been disposed of.

brilliant

[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

One for the Holocaust deniers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16657363

[robertostallioni]

One for the Holocaust deniers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16657363

[slackline]

"There's a war going on, and people on drugs are winning it! Well what does that tell you about drugs? Some smart, creative motherfuckers on that side" - Bill Hicks

 

Never one to miss a beat opportunity to make money


In other news, go Maus!!!



 

[aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB]

Eee.

There's more going on than you know about, isn't there?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/weird/gordon-ramsays-dwarf-pr0n-double-found-dead-in-a-badger-den-in-wales/story-e6frev20-1226137951576

[Jaspersharpe]

 

[dave]

Eee.

There's more going on than you know about, isn't there?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/weird/gordon-ramsays-dwarf-pr0n-double-found-dead-in-a-badger-den-in-wales/story-e6frev20-1226137951576

That's gotta be a windup, straight out of The Day Today. 'Sacked chimneysweep pumps boss full of mayonaise'.

[SA Chris]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16700983

OMG I'm going to drown. Help LOL.