Fuck Marcus Licinius Crassus.
Comment on American cops think they're what American firemen ARE.
JoshuaFalken@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Once upon a time fire brigades were private entities operated by insurance companies. When they heard of a fire nearby, they’d roll up and only take action if the plaque on the building had their company name on it. Domestic authorities these days certainly resemble that behaviour.
grue@lemmy.world 2 days ago
hateisreality@lemmy.world 2 days ago
You don’t think that’s what the rich want back?
teft@piefed.social 2 days ago
That’s a myth. The Crassus story is true though. In modern times it wouldn’t have made sense to ignore a fire in a city since fires spread.
JoshuaFalken@lemmy.world 2 days ago
To my surprise, you’re right. Brigades letting buildings burn didn’t happen - at least not by company decree.
The most I’d ever looked into it was to see what those plaques looked like. I appreciate you countering the idea, it led me to an interesting read of this correction article that seems a great summary of what really occurred.
Primarily it seems they all just worked together for reasons that, after reading them, are painfully obvious and I can’t believe I hadn’t considered even the first one.
The article by Paul J Sillitoe is worth the read, but here are some highlights for anyone interested:
More recent writers have more firmly rebutted the notion of letting uninsured buildings burn. In 1996, an insurance company history referenced, in 1702, “the first of many recorded examples” of insurance fire brigades working together to fight fires. The insuring fire office recompensated the other offices whose men who had assisted. The “erroneous myth”, is said to have originated only in the 1920s. Originally writing in 1692-3, Daniel Defoe noted that the firemen were “very active and diligent” in helping to put out fires, “whether in houses insured or not insured”. Only two occasions have been reported (in 1871 & 1895), though, where insurance companies threatened the authorities that they would cease attending fires in uninsured properties. With no reward, no water, and no insurance interest in a burning building, it is not difficult to envisage firemen standing back on occasion, jeering and generally interfering with rival brigades fighting a fire in which they did have an interest. Or, alternatively, simply packing up and going home. Arguably, therefore, the legend of insurance fire brigades letting uninsured buildings burn originated in the first half of the 18th century.
danieljoeblack@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
Hell ya, not only taking a correction well, but coming back with extra information to correct the original misconception. You seem like a cool person, thanks for that!
teft@piefed.social 2 days ago
Glad I could correct some misinformation. :)