BBC Breakfast News this morning. All about the Titanic.

[B Huey]

Why?

It's 100 hundred years since it sank, but this is overkill.

Ludicrous.

[Derek Smith]

Please ask the mods to put **SPOILER** in the heading.

[Eric Mc]

Hmm, not often we get 100th anniversaries of such dramatic events.

[rohrl]

What's all this? Another passenger ship in trouble so soon after the Costa ones?

Best wishes to Captain Smith, his crew and passengers and hope everyone's okay. At least we can be confident that such a well-designed and constructed ship won't sink.

[Jasandjules]

Can anyone explain to my WHY there is so much fascination with this ship? I mean, other ships have sunk with significantly higher loss of life?!?

[BigBen]

Jasandjules said:

Can anyone explain to my WHY there is so much fascination with this ship? I mean, other ships have sunk with significantly higher loss of life?!?

Whilst that is undoubtedly true it had a few unique points, firstly it was said to be 'unsinkable' and secondly it was its maiden voyage. Thirdly there was quite a successful film about it a few years back which re-sparked interest.

Ben

[jmorgan]

Memorable, yes. But not the overboard TV ism that has gone on. Its the Diana effect I think. Thankfully I have a channel select button.

[Zaxxon]

It is a key historic event but the BBC has gone totally overboard on this. The BBC really is st on most levels.

It's a taster of what the Olymipcs coverage will be like.

[williamp]

Eric Mc said:

Hmm, not often we get 100th anniversaries of such dramatic events.

give it 2 years and you'll see...

[MiniMan64]

OP, you should probably avoid Belfast. If you think the BBC have embraced this anniversary you ain't seen nothing yet!

[Eric Mc]

williamp said:

Eric Mc said:

Hmm, not often we get 100th anniversaries of such dramatic events.

give it 2 years and you'll see...

I wonder.

TV loves anniversaries so we may see a bit of erxtra programming on WW1.

Titanic is pretty unique in many ways. It wasn't just any old ship sinking. It was the nature of the ship and who was on it. It also falls into a moment in British history just before WW1 where society was on the verge of massive changes - so the sinking has the added poignancy of the "end of an era" about it - that chimes with British sentiment.

Also, this year, the commemorations have more significance for Northern Ireland than at any time since the 1920s as it is looked on as part of the rehabilitation and mending process of that part of the UK. I don't begrudge Belfast's attempts to make the most of the anniversary.

[rohrl]

We're getting into the age of the centenary of events which were filmed.

Just wait until the centenary of the Hindenberg disaster.

[Pesty]

Eric Mc said:

Hmm, not often we get 100th anniversaries of such dramatic events.

That is true but they have been banging on about it all week. Over kill as usual.

[Crafty_]

Derek Smith said:

Please ask the mods to put **SPOILER** in the heading.

[Engineer1]

Because the Titanic was a massively important event, it was a Modern disaster that has lead to rules changing and safety rules for transport being tightened massively. If the TV specials are to be believed then the Titanic sinking brought in the SOLAS rules meaning that no further ships would sail with 1000 passengers and lifeboats for 500 etc.

[B Huey]

The BBC news dedicated an entire hour to the Titanic story this morning. It's not like anyone doesn't know the story.

[jurbie]

I live in Stoke on Trent which is Captain Smiths home town and no one has said a word about it. Normally you celebrate an individuals achievements and surely there is no greater achievement then sinking an unsinkable ship?

[TheHeretic]

jurbie said:

I live in Stoke on Trent which is Captain Smiths home town and no one has said a word about it. Normally you celebrate an individuals achievements and surely there is no greater achievement then sinking an unsinkable ship?

It is a bit like Luke Skywalker blowing up an unblowupable Death Star, but in the early 20th century, and not in a galaxy far, far away, and some time ago.

[B Huey]

There's a statue of Captain Smith in Lichfield.

[TheHeretic]

B Huey said:

There's a statue of Captain Smith in Lichfield.

"In commemoration of Captain Smith, who crashed his boat and killed many"