Figure 1: Above is an example picture of a boat taken by Vietnamese boat people. From PBS, courtesy: UNCHR, P. Delcohe
After choosing your personal possession, you are given out to sea.
Forty one people share this small boat you are in. Your shoulders push against theirs while your back pushes against rusted metal cans holding hold diesel fuel. Supplies are short and are scattered on the floor.
A commotion is heard above. The boatmaster is arguing with his subordinates on whether to stay towards the land or stay out towards open sea. If they keep towards the land, the ship may be attacked by Thai pirates, but if they keep towards the sea, the ship could be hit by a typhoon. Upon seeing you come up to the deck, the boatmaster asks for your opinion.
What do you choose?