Brad.Scott@p0.f256.n120.z1.fidonet.org (Brad Scott) (06/28/91)
Index Number: 16585
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Well it's me and I've bit my tongue for long enough, time to put my two
cents in. I'm referring to the "exit row" issue, the one everybody has
been debating for years. Well over the years we've heard it argued
passionately, emotionally, subjectively and firmly. But we have yet to
hear about it logically. That's right, pure unadulterated logic. For
the airlines, the "exit row" issue isn't an issue at all, it's like a
chess game and they have to make the best possible move. In other words
"the best person for the job". And you can't blame them for thinking
that way because we use the same logic in our own decisions. Here's an
example.
Lets say you need to pick a doctor and initially had two possible
choices. One doctor's office was twenty miles from home and the other
only three. Naturally you would pick the office closest to you. Now
inside the office there were two types of doctors; general practitioners
and specialist in your particular ailment. Naturally you would pick the
specialist. Now, one specialist was a woman doctor and the other was
a man. Well this one is not so easy but depending on your personal
feelings, the one you picked would be the best for you. You just took
a logical approach in making the best choice. Like a game of chess.
Well the airlines are doing the same thing. Believe it or not, they
don't want to lose lives, dying in a plane crash is certainly one of the
most horrifying ways to die. I'm going to play devils advocate now and
make choices using logic.
If I had a choice between a blind person or a drunk to sit in the exit
row seat, obviously I would choose the blind person (most efficient tool
for the job, cold, I know). If I had my choice between a teenager and
an adult, logically I would pick the adult. If I had my choice between
a sighted adult and a sighted adult navy seal, well you guessed it, best
tool for the job. And if I had my choice between a blind person and a
sighted one, well guess what, sorry folks, but I want the sighted
person. Logical.
All of the previous choices were logical, they made the best sense.
Everyone was capable of something, but the choices were based on who
would most likely have the fewer difficulties during that type of
crisis. If the door ever has to opened, I want the door manufacturer
there, and if he or she can't be there I want a pilot, and if not a
pilot then a flight attendant, and on and on.
The airlines really don't have a choice.
I guess what bothers me most about this issue is that no matter what
opinion you have, someone sticks a label on you as well. Your either
pro this or anti that. I have the feeling we've debated it long enough
and we (society as a whole) need to move on to more important things.
We are destroying our earth, poluting our air and water, and half the
world is either starving or killing each other.
Let me climb down off of my soap box now, oh boy I'm getting old, my
knees are creaking.
Brad
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