Poll: Poll: Would you resort to cannabalism if you had no choice?

[ALuckyChance]

Definitely.

Here's an interesting question. How many people who said they wouldn't resort to cannibalism would accept an organ donation if it would save their life? I would expect it to be most people, if not everyone.

Now explain to me how cannibalism in order to survive is any different. There is a dead person. They have a body part that they no longer need (organ/flesh). I need said body part or I will die.

When you break it down, these situations are identical, it is only the context that makes people so radically opposed to one and accepting of the other.

You're not factoring in the process of freaking digestion and the existance of an international culture that condemns cannibalism by principle.

Not to mention cannibalism apparently has links to Kuru, a disease that causes body tremors, inability to stand uncontrollable laughter, and death. It's widely accepted that it was transmitted by a tribe in New Guinea called the Fore Tribe. ([link]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuru_(disease)[/link]) Apparently, Kuru became an epidemic there in the late 50's.

So really, you either starve to death or go insane either way.

 

[Scrubiii]

Definitely.

Here's an interesting question. How many people who said they wouldn't resort to cannibalism would accept an organ donation if it would save their life? I would expect it to be most people, if not everyone.

Now explain to me how cannibalism in order to survive is any different. There is a dead person. They have a body part that they no longer need (organ/flesh). I need said body part or I will die.

When you break it down, these situations are identical, it is only the context that makes people so radically opposed to one and accepting of the other.

You're not factoring in the process of freaking digestion and the existance of an international culture that condemns cannibalism by principle.

Not to mention cannibalism apparently has links to Kuru, a disease that causes body tremors, inability to stand uncontrollable laughter, and death. It's widely accepted that it was transmitted by a tribe in New Guinea called the Fore Tribe. ([link]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuru_(disease)[/link]) Apparently, Kuru became an epidemic there in the late 50's.

So really, you either starve to death or go insane either way.

The fact that society condemns it was what I mean when I mentioned context.

Also, Kuru is only transmitted if you eat the brain of a deceased person, and the reason that it spread so fast among the Fore tribe was because part of their culture was to eat the brain of anyone who died. So one guy died, they ate his brain, then some of them got Kuru and died, so they ate their brains, transmitted the disease and even more of them got Kuru and died, so they ate their brains as well, until pretty much the whole tribe was dead and they realised that maybe it might be a good idea to stop eating brains.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

If they're already dead and I'm on the verge then hell yes I'd resort to cannibalism. Do you know what starving to death feels like, how long it takes? Fuck that!

If I was already dead I'd want someone to eat me before they died. Consider it a form of organ donation!

 

[CleverCover]

I'd eat the person.
I'll cry and apologize the entire way, but I'll eat the person.

Then, when I survive and get back to the States, the experience will lead to a book deal, a film, and possible a spot on every tv talk show on. And I'll always remember the person that got me there....

 

[Not-here-anymore]

Hmm. I'd wait until I actually needed the food (although I'd probably attempt to salt the body or otherwise preserve it in the mean-time), but yeah, sooner or later it's 'om nom nom person' time. Brings me one step closer to eating bits of everything in the animal kingdom too.

As for which bit to eat... I dunno. Yet.

 

[Liudeius]

Of course. Human meat is no different than any other animal. While I wouldn't kill a self-aware being for food, if they are already dead, then there is no reason to starve.

 

[ALuckyChance]

The fact that society condemns it was what I mean when I mentioned context.

Also, Kuru is only transmitted if you eat the brain of a deceased person, and the reason that it spread so fast among the Fore tribe was because part of their culture was to eat the brain of anyone who died. So one guy died, they ate his brain, then some of them got Kuru and died, so they ate their brains, transmitted the disease and even more of them got Kuru and died, so they ate their brains as well, until pretty much the whole tribe was dead and they realised that maybe it might be a good idea to stop eating brains.

Technically, the disease is caused by the transmission of prion particles, which simply happens to be much more concentrated in the brain. You could get the disease from eating any part of the body, there would just be a much reduced chance if the brain was not eaten.

At the very least the body would have to be cooked, and who knows whether there were any diseases carried by the person being eaten, and whether they can be transmissable. Then, you have to factor in how long the person was dead compared to how long it took to eat the corpse, etc. There's a lot of factors included in eating an animal that determines whether it's actually safe to eat or not, and I doubt humans are the exception.

 

[Nerfherder17]

Wouldn't just want to live alone on a desert island tho.

the other person is already dead.

I would eat them.

not what I meant. I don't mean not having someone on the Island with me, I mean I'd sooner die than not have human contact. Which means I'd starve rather than stay alive to not be rescued.

 

[Custard_Angel]

Nope.

I might just use a body to attract wild animals to kill however.

Or just starve. You know... Whatever comes first.

 

[Scrubiii]

The fact that society condemns it was what I mean when I mentioned context.

Also, Kuru is only transmitted if you eat the brain of a deceased person, and the reason that it spread so fast among the Fore tribe was because part of their culture was to eat the brain of anyone who died. So one guy died, they ate his brain, then some of them got Kuru and died, so they ate their brains, transmitted the disease and even more of them got Kuru and died, so they ate their brains as well, until pretty much the whole tribe was dead and they realised that maybe it might be a good idea to stop eating brains.

Technically, the disease is caused by the transmission of prion particles, which simply happens to be much more concentrated in the brain. You could get the disease from eating any part of the body, there would just be a much reduced chance if the brain was not eaten.

At the very least the body would have to be cooked, and who knows whether there were any diseases carried by the person being eaten, and whether they can be transmissable. Then, you have to factor in how long the person was dead compared to how long it took to eat the corpse, etc. There's a lot of factors included in eating an animal that determines whether it's actually safe to eat or not, and I doubt humans are the exception.

I never said that it would be safe, I just stated that it wasn't morally different from an organ transplant.

 

[Neverhoodian]

If I was desperate and there was no other food available, then definitely yes, cultural taboos be damned. I'd rather eat human flesh and survive to tell the experience than die slowly of starvation.

I wouldn't kill anyone though, I'd just eat people that recently died.

 

[barbzilla]

I would have no issues consuming another human being for sustenance. Once a person dies their body will start to decompose due to bacteria trying to live, the animals and insects around will feast on the body, as well as some forms of vegetation and fungi. So why would it be wrong for me to do the same (unless I intentionally killed said person with the express intent of consuming his flesh.)

I would probably start with the butt and thigh, as most of the normal animal meat I enjoy are from those regions.

 

[ALuckyChance]

I never said that it would be safe, I just stated that it wasn't morally different from an organ transplant.

I think when you're even regarding the idea of eating people, it becomes less a question of morals and more a question of practicality anyway.

 

[Scrubiii]

I never said that it would be safe, I just stated that it wasn't morally different from an organ transplant.

I think when you're even regarding the idea of eating people, it becomes less a question of morals and more a question of practicality anyway.

I think the implication the in the thread was that if you didn't eat them, you would definately die, so would you rather eat a person or starve. Personally, I'd take my chances.

 

[Ace of Spades]

I would not. Knowing me, I'd probably conclude that it was my only option if I want to survive, look at the body, and then reconsider.

 

[NormalityImpaired]

So, there's no fish or anything in the water around this island? Well, crap.
Having eaten pieces of my own flesh chunked off by accident (usually when playing with knives), i can say that i would just wait it out if there was actually help coming.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

In that situation, there seems little point in living.

 

[Phlakes]

Even if I wanted to I would be to squeamish. So no.

When you're about to starve to death, you won't care what you're eating.

OT: Sure. If I was the one that died and the other person decided not to eat me, I'd slap them real hard when I'd see them in the afterlife.

Having eaten pieces of my own flesh chunked off by accident (usually when playing with knives)

...the fuck?

 

[Auninteligentname]

If he is thinner than me, how did (s)he even live?

I would probably wait until my instincts kicked in, if my instincts even are that strong, before even trying to eat him/her.