Fight or flight?

I've just been watching The Angels of Edgware Road on Channel 4:

"The Angels of Edgware Road is the second of two documentary films commemorating the third anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings. Two trains stand motionless next to each other in a tunnel just outside the Edgware Road tube station. A bomb has just exploded on one of them and the air is thick with smoke and the terrible screams of injured and dieing commuters."

It is hard to picture I know, but if you were in a situation - any situation, not necessarily a bomb on a train - would you get out as quickly as possible, or would you stay and try to help?

I was in a club in Spain one year, and there was a loud bang and all of a sudden the club was filled with smoke and I couldn't breathe. My flight instinct just took over and I actually pushed past people to escape with no thought to anyone but myself. All I could think about was surviving by breathing again. After I'd got outside I then thought about others... but unfortunately in an emergency situation my flight instinct took over. I wish I could have said I was selfless (which I thought I was) but I'm not.

I'd imagine everyone would like to think they'd stop to help. But if it actually happened, who knows? You can't tell 'til it happens IMO.

I have no idea.
When I set my kitchen on fire (Well I thought I had, it was actually just a fireball thingy, no damage at all afterwards.) I f**ked off out of the house, running next door.
So that was very much, a flight situation.

I think I'd help as in, grabbing people on my way out.
But I don't think I'd stay and try and figure out how to fix things.

I have the unhealthy instinct to go in rather than run away. Especially when there's a fight. Don't know about the explosion and smoke scenario, though.
I think it is best to get out of immediate danger and then try to assess the situation in order to help. But I don't think that in such situations reason is always the dominant guide for one's actions. I wouldn't blame anyone for running.

Quote: zooo @ July 13 2008, 8:09 PM BST

fireball thingy

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Wow, are you just really unlucky zooo (with the garden too an' all that)?

Yes. Yes I am.

All I did was grill a pizza with the grill door closed instead of open!
Is that really so wrong?

Quote: zooo @ July 13 2008, 8:13 PM BST

Yes. Yes I am.

All I did was grill a pizza with the grill door closed instead of open!
Is that really so wrong?

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Jeez, I'll never closed the door on my grill again.

Was it a 'fiery' meatfeast pizza? (sorry)

Quote: zooo @ July 13 2008, 8:09 PM BST

When I set my kitchen on fire (Well I thought I had, it was actually just a fireball thingy, no damage at all afterwards.)

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It covered the WHOLE ceiling! Fire! All over the ceiling!
But didn't even leave a mark.
Bloody drama queen that fireball was.

Quote: EllieJP @ July 13 2008, 8:02 PM BST

I was in a club in Spain one year, and there was a loud bang and all of a sudden the club was filled with smoke

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Blimey. What was it?

Someone set off a load of fire extinguishers I think.

Quote: zooo @ July 13 2008, 8:26 PM BST

It covered the WHOLE ceiling! Fire! All over the ceiling!
But didn't even leave a mark.
Bloody drama queen that fireball was.

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You were veeeery lucky! Those can be awful. I saw something about them a couple of months ago. It's something to do with the extreme difference in heat between the ball and the surface (ceiling), I think.

Sounds bloody cool though.

Quote: Aaron @ July 13 2008, 7:57 PM BST

It is hard to picture I know, but if you were in a situation - any situation, not necessarily a bomb on a train - would you get out as quickly as possible, or would you stay and try to help?

View original

Probably a combination of the two - seek safety until the source of the danger was identified followed by wanting to rip the bombers apart with my bare hands.

My daughter and I stayed at the Hilton on Edgware Road in 2004 and I remember thinking that the televised scenes of the aftermath looked familiar. I guess they turned the lobby into a triage area after the bombing.