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You seem to be second guessing the people who jumped, assuming they're cowards for not fighting hard enough to get out alive. I consider your comments disrespectful to the victims and their families.

Then you do not understand what I am saying. There is nothing cowardly about being afraid of being burned, that is a natural and normal reaction and it is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is still a fear. Nor do I paint anyone who didn't get out as a coward who didn't fight 'hard enough' to save their life.

It is an undeniable fact however that everyone who decided to jump decided to STOP fighting for their life (I didn't see any makeshift parachutes or gliders and I don't think any of them expected to fly). They gave up all hope of surviving and picked the death that was most acceptable to them, AND IT IS THAT TOTAL GIVING UP OF ALL HOPE THAT I CAN NOT RELATE TO. They were without sufficient faith in themselves/God/chance to try any longer and I can't see myself every getting to that point. Daniel didn't kill himself to avoid being eaten alive by lions.

I know full well that if I was in their place it would have taken a miracle to suvive, and that miracles like that do not happen often, but I would not deny the chance for such a miracle by jumping, especialy if the fire wasn't even on my floor yet. My life will not end with my cooperation (unless it is to save the life of another), and if you are offended that I state I would make a different choice, too bad for you.

With all due respect, unless you've been in a very similar situation, you have no idea whatsoever as to what you'd actually do.

Those poor people weren't just waiting for the fire to reach their floor -- the floor was literally burning their feet and the toxic smoke (jet fuel) was filling their offices. Death was going to happen, but I guess some at least wanted a say in how they went out of this world. They had to know that there were no miracles coming to save them. The fire was ferocious, worse than any I've ever seen, and there was no way to hope for a miracle. It was massive. TV and photos can't begin to capture the immensity and intensity of it. I can't imagine how any firefighters could have gotten past the floors of impact and to those stranded above.

Emotions can certainly run high in discussions such as these. I understand much better where you're coming from, Grig. Thank you for taking time to explain.

There is nothing cowardly about being afraid of being burned, that is a natural and normal reaction and it is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is still a fear.

How long can you hold your hand over a candle?