This is, of course, a huge topic on which every one of us who read and write blogs doubtless has an opinion. However this is a very narrow area where I see a lack of personal responsibility which has led to inconvenience for the many.
Like, JayCee, I live on an Island. Off the top of my head I can't think of any others of my readers who rely on seagoing ferries as part of daily life. We need to go to the Mainland and we are reliant of goods coming in on a daily basis for our fresh food etc. In the last year or two Covid has exacerbated the situation by depleting staff and requiring the ferry to get a new crew or to be thoroughly cleaned. The principal problem, however, is the weather.
Almost 50 years ago we had a ferry plying between Ullapool and Stornoway called MV Suilven. She was a boat originally built for use in areas with potential ice floes with which to contend. She was an incredible seaboat and all the Masters I knew sang her praises. She sailed in all weathers and, on occasion, the 3¾ hour crossing could take many more hours. She had been known to run down and hide behind the Shiants because she couldn't get into Stornoway Harbour. Everyone who sailed on her will have a tale to tell. I used to travel quite a lot and have many tales that would put you off ever coming here except in high summer.
Some years ago, I was told by a member of the ferry staff, that there had been a big outburst one day when the ferry sailed and it was very rough and people were sick and, apparently, afraid. I can understand that because I have been afraid on several occasions when the Good Ship Suilven plied the route.
However, it was always our choice as to whether, given the weather, we wanted to sail or go another day.
That choice is still available and anyone who lives on the Island knows the weather conditions and what to expect and, in any case, the ferry company used to post sea conditions at the passenger entrance.
The result of all the complaints received by frightened passengers with no sealegs was that the Masters decided that if the conditions were so adverse that complaints may be forthcoming then they wouldn't sail. It appears to have been thus ever since. So the many suffer because of the decisions of the few (to sail when they could have decided against it).
Isn't this mirrored in every area of life now? Personal responsibility has gone. The responsibility is always that of someone else - preferably of someone "in authority" and preferably someone who is employed by an organisation which can be sued for compensation.
Personal responsibility? What silly ideas you have, Graham. We are living in the age of "blame someone else." In fact, sometimes you can even sue for damages caused by your own lack of personal responsibility. There was a time, when I led bird walks, like-minded people got together to enjoy a common interest, and in the process they hoped to learn perhaps. It was a given that they came at their own risk. Not any more. I have to go through what is euphemistically termed "due diligence", explaining the nature of the terrain, whether there are washrooms or not, pointing out that I do not have a first-aid kit - and on and on. All of this as a possible deterrent to someone who might trip and fall on the walk, and sue me and/or the organization for who I am acting as outings leader. I can assure you that we never wrestle anyone to the ground and twist their arm behind their back to induce them to join us. One might be deluded into thinking that their personal welfare was their personal responsibility, but so often it appears not to be the case. It's very sad.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I am beyond sad disbelief. I used to walk the paths of the English Lake District and the North Wales hills. If I fell that was my fault and my problem and, hopefully, the local Mountain Rescue squad would be sympathetic. The paths have no been so badly eroded that squads of volunteers have had to rebuild the paths. i can just see a situation where now someone slips and blames poor path relaying workmanship and sues. I do hope that I am correct in saying that there is no liability but who knows. We live in a strange world.
Delete....for whom not for who
ReplyDeleteIt can sometimes go very wrong, though. One of my distant relatives was one of 128 people drowned when the ferry Princess Victoria foundered off the County Down coast on the 31st January, 1953. They really should not have sailed that day, but as first officer he was presumably involved in the decision to do so.
ReplyDeleteTasker, you have a good point there but I'm really referring to unpleasant rather than dangerous. I have been on a sailing which hit a freak storm in The Minch and for particular reasons that could have been deeply serious and unpleasant. Most of the time though boats are more than capable of dealing with heavy seas. Which is more than can be said for many stomachs.
DeleteNo one can really forecast the weather, or no one would ever go down in a storm... if the weather looks rough, best safety lies in fear (Hamlet). Shakespeare was a smart lad. Whose birthday was yesterday, btw.
DeleteThanks for the information. Marcheline.
DeleteLimiting lawsuits, liability, I think is in part about insurance companies too willing to pay, and companies unwilling to be bothered by hassles.
ReplyDeleteMaywyn, that is undoubtedly one of the results of this suing regime.
DeleteIt sounds as though your ferry crossings can be much more "interesting" than ours, even though the Irish Sea can be pretty wild at times. When we have gale or storm force winds forecast, our boats don't usually sail. If one did, I would not be on it.
ReplyDeleteJayCee our boats used to sail whenever they thought they could complete the crossing. There are still occasions when berthing can be difficult because the vessels are high-sided and winds here can be very strong. However those are fewer than the cancellations would appear to warrant.
DeleteI agree Graham but anyone today taking personal responsibility is attacked by those that prefer government to control all aspects of their life. The last two years are proof positive of this.
ReplyDeleteDoes the freight ferry still sail at night? I suspect that if it does then it is rarely cancelled and a ride could be begged on it.
Even the Clyde ferries are cancelled these days but that is mainly due to their inability to dock when strong winds affect either the departure dock or the destination dock. It can be a bit of a puzzler to dock high sided vessels with a silly amount of windage coupled with shallow draught. That's what tugs were for.
Adrian the freight ferry still sails at night and, given the constraints of passenger numbers and on-duty staff, they will take non-commercial vehicles. Our vessels have bow thrusters but they still seem to have windage problems.
DeleteProbably mid-ships and stern thrusters as well. I have had a few happy hours in the Minch when the wind is over the tide. It can be an inhospitable place.
DeleteThe unfortunate thing is that if you try to expect people to use their common sense, you will be sued. I honestly do believe that there are people who look for the opportunity to sue. Here we have lawyers who offer their services for free, and collect no money unless they collect money for you. There is no reason not to sue. This is why there are shirts with labels that say 'Remove before washing' and hairdryers that say, 'Do not use in bathtub'. It is not because people are stupider. It is because they are more litigious.
ReplyDeleteDebby, people are, without a doubt, more litigious and the points you've made are valid. It's still a sad state of affairs though.
DeleteAbsolutely.
DeleteAs an occasional watcher of daytime TV. I am familiar with the ads for the "ambulance chaser" brigade of no-win no-fee firms of solicitors. I don't know how we can put this genie back into the bottle and get back to some kind of sense.
ReplyDeleteWill, unfortunately, I have a feeling that the days of common sense and the non-suing culture are long gone.
DeleteIf every individual and corporation (including governments) shouldered personal responsibility, this world would be such a nicer place. Mxx
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I agree with you absolutely.
DeleteYes, you are correct, Graham.
ReplyDeleteToo many nowadays are not prepared to take responsibility for their own decisions and/or actions. The onus (or "anus" as one of my favourite characters in a favourite series said in a particular episode) is always on the other person.
Take good care. :)
Lee, I agree. The days of taking personal responsibility are long gone.
DeleteAnd my favorite ... those who do and say the most outrageous things one day and then apologize the next
ReplyDeleteday and all is forgiven.
Jill, I think the recent Will Smith episode seems to have shown that the days of forgiveness in those circumstances are over.
DeleteIf it wasn't an emergency, these people didn't have to sail. It's the same with flying. there are kinds of safety regulations. The pilot isn't going to fly when the risk is too high.
ReplyDeleteRed, your points are well made and full, as always, of your common sense.
DeleteI too live on an Island (although slightly bigger than yours) and often took the ferry to reach mainland Europe. Occasionally the weather was unbelievably rough, and we almost feared disaster. However, I was always comforted by the idea that the Captain wouldn't be sailing if it risked his own life.
ReplyDeleteI like your 'Island' point Cro. Yes, Captains do not generally risk their or anyone else's lives.
DeleteIt‘s been like that since Adam and Eve. When God approached them about their breaking the one and only rule He had set, Adam was quick to point out that it had been the woman who had given him the forbidden fruit. Eve in turn said it was all the sepent‘s idea.
ReplyDeleteMeike, you've taken it right back to the Biblical beginning. I'm not sure that I have anything else I can add.
DeleteWhen things go wrong these days, folk are always looking for someone else to blame. I hate those ads for solicitors who sniff around for compensation - often in relation to medical "mistakes". They seem like vultures to me.
ReplyDeleteYP, I think the whole suing and blame culture is absolutely over the top and has arisen because we won't take responsibility for our actions. We are weak.
DeleteI agree with Meike :) We probably all have a tendency to want to blame someone else rather than ourselves. (For my own part, I wouldn't choose to live on an island in the first place, though, because of my tendency to get seasick...)
ReplyDeleteMonica, our apparent need to blame other people is, as I have said, in my view, personal weakness.
DeleteYou certainly had a lot of good comments on this post, Graham, and there is little new I can add except to say that personal responsibility for many things doesn't seem to exist today. Hopefully the decision to forgo sailings based on the fear of complaining passengers will not inconvenience yourself and others.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beatrice. One never really knows but I'm fortunate never to have been going for a cancelled ferry. Of course I've often altered my ferry choice because of cancellations. I've been able to but not everyone always has that flexibility.
DeleteAn interesting topic. I agree these days it is blame someone , sue someone. Unfortunately some people are not responsible either. They climb through safety fences to the edge of cliffs and then fall off.
ReplyDeleteDiane, you last sentence is a metaphor for so many actions these days.
DeleteEverything is so politically correct these days, many people don't seem to understand being responsible for themselves, things have changed alot.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I don't think many children are brought up to be responsible these days.
DeleteThis whole conversation reminds me of a meme I've seen of late. It says something like "In 1956, a car manual gave instructions on adjusting the valves, these days it warns not to drink the battery acid"
ReplyDeleteKylie, that is a really good example of the way things are now. I was rather reminded of the lady who sued because there was nothing on the microwave instructions to say that she couldn't dry her chiwowa in it - she cooked it. Where is common sense these days?
DeleteI'm beginning to be concerned. Haven't heard from you in a couple of weeks, are you okay Graham?
ReplyDeleteHello, Jill. I'm okay thanks. Hopefully more later today. Thank you very much for your thought.
ReplyDelete