Quote:
Originally Posted by TTBRAHWTMG  Heinlein seems to believe, or repeatedly assert, that in high stress, dynamic, and dangerous situations (which I was probably incorrectly referring to as Life Boat situations) there needs to be a single and clear voice of authority, and that there are certain characteristics that this voice requires. Democracy may work, or be a logical choice for organization of the whole on a regular basis, but it can’t work in times of dire emergency. Military organization, for example, can’t be based on democratic principles. The same applies for humanity when under siege by the Titans. |
no, you were correct in referring to that situation as a Life Boat Situation.
in a life boat someone has to take charge and be obeyed without question or everyone will die.
coincidentally I saw an episode of Ray Meer's Survival the other day and he recounted the story of a crew who were in 2 life boats tethered together.
the first mate was in one and the captain was in the other.
the first mate kept everyone in his boat busy while the captain in the other boat didn't enforce any discipline and let everyone just sit there and wait to die or be rescued.
despite both boats having the same supplies of rations, when they were rescued, the crew in the captain's boat needed to be lifted aboard the recue vessel while those in the first mate's boat were all able to board unassisted.
sadly the captain died a few days after the rescue.
the moral, in a life boat, someone has to take charge and be obeyed.
strangely enough, the one thing that almost garantees survival is that the leader believes that survival or rescue is a certainty and doesn't allow despondancy to set in among the others