Steve Watson

Knowing Himself

The captain of the Costa Concordia is accused of cowardice and dereliction of duty in the aftermath of the ship’s sinking. In the Guardian (where no behavior is too appalling to find a defender) Bruce Hood, therefore steps up to his defence with the too-usual line:

“Schettino will undoubtedly be vilified for his actions – but how many of us can say that we would not have done the same thing?”

This is excuse-making dressed as humility. I can only say that, in so far as I cannot know the future, I cannot know what I might do; but in so far as I know myself, I know that I would not do that.