Thursday 9 December 2010

Personal responsibility through the ages, Chapter 3: In times of snow.


16th March 1912: Captain Lawrence Oates. Afraid that his ill-health might endanger other members of The Scott Expedition, Captain Oates walked out alone into a blizzard, famously signing off with "I am just going outside and may be some time". His sacrifice is seen to epitomise taking responsibility for the welfare of others without thought for  the self.



9th December 2010. Captain Stewart Stevenson, responsible for not fucking up the snow-clearing duty on The Salmond Expedition. After fucking up the snow-clearing, Captain Stevenson bravely looked round for someone else to blame, famously telling other expedition members: "I'm going out to find someone else to blame and may be some time, because the roads are all icy and shit."
When finally forced to accept some measure of blame, the captain hid at the back of the tent bravely crying like a big girl while clinging on to the canvas. Finally, sick of the noise, members of The Salmond Expedition relocated the tent, leaving Captain Stevenson to meet his maker courtesy of a great big fuckin' polar bear that had escaped from Edinburgh Zoo and was looking for somewhere warmer.

1 comment:

Dr. John said...

Greater love hath no man than he give up his post for his boss ... sheesh.