Here Here Mac G! Good to hear from you. Yes! I do remember that debate we had! Over the Marconi operators or something?

I started this controvercial question for basically two reasons.

1. To spur some great debate and get away from all the spamming.


2. I feel that Ismay has no defense, that his actions are oversimplified by the media and cinema, and, since he is now unable to defend himself, he needs a little from some of us Titanic enthusiests (or at least, get away from just labeling him a "jerk"). I mean, the guy was not Stalin or Manson. He simply made a bad judgement, (like countless other people in Titanic's story). But, he is forever stigmatized by history far worse than anyone else.

I feel for the people who are blamed in this epic story such as Ismay and Stanley Lord. They are victims too. Ismay, whether it was a cowardly decision, or simply instict, knew what he did as soon as he rowed away from Titanic.

He turned away and could not watch that ship go beneath the waves. Can you imagine what type of guilt he had at that very moment? (I think of that scene where he turns away and breaks down in ANTR).

And to be shunned the rest of his life by many of his friends and to basically become a recluse until he died. That is a tragedy in itself that anyone has to live like that.


I think that when people judge Ismay and have something bad to say about him, that they need to take a moment and remember that everyone in their lives makes mistakes and bad judgement. Every single one of us.

We have all acted during one time or another in a way that we wish we could take back.