Having just returned from seeing Land of the Dead, I've had something of a revelation.
Previously, my primary belief for Zs was that the brain deteriorated over time and the virus controlling them was unable to activate any more nodes than was needed. Then I realised, the virus would gradually take over and reactivate the rest of the brain, and the activity would prevent it from decaying. In other words, given time a Z can learn to think and feel emotion.
In the film, (Which I'm sure most of you will have seen) a Z known only as Big Daddy on the web leads the other Zs to attack the human city in revenge for them mistreating them and killing them without reason. After he killed the leader of the city, the Zs all stopped attacking the living of the city and instead just ate the already dead or moved on looking for somewhere to stay. In numerous points in the film Big Daddy also showed reasoning and the ability to learn and teach others.
So, given that Zs will eventually learn to be as intelligent as (I can only assume) a 9 year old, what rights would they have? Would it be possible to use diplomacy on them in this case?
if they seek peace and a co-existing society, certainly. i'd go even as far as saying, i wouldnt mind giving the uncurably dying and allready dead away as food.
if they seek revenge (as you put it, i havent seen land of the dead) for their bretheren that we killed while they were getting food, fuck them all
if they are like the virus, help me kill more humans and i might not kill you, then the zombie can suck the unfirendly half of my shotgun... :twisted:
I mean the right amount of intelligence to have basic emotions like remorse, anger, hatred, , loyalty, and friendship, and to be able to reason rationally and reasonably well.
As eloquently as Lizard put it, I really don't believe that self-aware zombies are really much of a possilbility (Granted, zombies aren't much of a possibility, but let's stay consistent). However, for the sake of this discussion, I will put in my two cents.
I would have to agree with Cyberdemon's point in that, if they are (or seem to be) seeking some sort of peaceful coexistance, I would give them the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of my trust. That's not to say that once one zombie attacks all bets are off, but more that if they substantially digress from any previously shown civil behavior, they will lose that trust.
I honestly don't see myself ever going out on a zombie-killing spree, as it is one of the most completely impractical ideas I have ever heard. Once this 'truce' is broken, I would not sway from this behavior, going around shooting anything that moves, but I will no longer avoid attacking them.
Seems to me that if you're talking about intelligent undead, then you're really dealing with more of a "vampire" scenario than a zombie scenario, except that the vampires (or whatever) are out in the open rather than maintaining the masquerade. In such a situation, rather than all out destruction as might be seen from mindless undead, an eventual equilibrium would be reached as the undead would know enough that they'd run out of food and or risk being wiped out if they kept up the non-stop munching. I don't think I'd like to live in that sort of world, but it'd probably be preferable to the stage 4 Brooksian dystopia.
The battle rages but they fight in vain
When all is done it must begin again
-"Freya", the Sword
lol i can see it now... blood banks on every corner: keep our dead undead
*edit actually, i believe it was refered to "land of the dead" originally... and an intelligent crowd of zombies with a leader... not vampires. some fiction literature and one volume of a book on monsters depicts intelligent undead. the monster book refered to the bubonic plague victims rising when their surviving relatives face certain doom... but thats prolly jsut a legend.
Again stating like what was said before an intelligent zombie is impossible, but I will go along with this topic. I would have to agree with Cyberdemon. The only problem I see is the that we are food to them and they want to make peace with us. Did we make peace with cows and if so we still eat them, so a peaceful life with intelligent undead would probably be a reality that would never come to be.
oh if you think about a colossal society of zombies and another one of humans co-surviving... then yes. suspition and ahem cultural differences will probably lead to a repeat of zday. exept with more of an element of surprise and less people with guns on hand
Having just returned from seeing Land of the Dead, I've had something of a revelation.
Previously, my primary belief for Zs was that the brain deteriorated over time and the virus controlling them was unable to activate any more nodes than was needed. Then I realised, the virus would gradually take over and reactivate the rest of the brain, and the activity would prevent it from decaying. In other words, given time a Z can learn to think and feel emotion.
In the film, (Which I'm sure most of you will have seen) a Z known only as Big Daddy on the web leads the other Zs to attack the human city in revenge for them mistreating them and killing them without reason. After he killed the leader of the city, the Zs all stopped attacking the living of the city and instead just ate the already dead or moved on looking for somewhere to stay. In numerous points in the film Big Daddy also showed reasoning and the ability to learn and teach others.
So, given that Zs will eventually learn to be as intelligent as (I can only assume) a 9 year old, what rights would they have? Would it be possible to use diplomacy on them in this case?
Bury deep, pile on the stones
Yet I will, dig up the bones
depending what kind of intelligence...
if they seek peace and a co-existing society, certainly. i'd go even as far as saying, i wouldnt mind giving the uncurably dying and allready dead away as food.
if they seek revenge (as you put it, i havent seen land of the dead) for their bretheren that we killed while they were getting food, fuck them all
if they are like the virus, help me kill more humans and i might not kill you, then the zombie can suck the unfirendly half of my shotgun... :twisted:
war's my game
destruction by no other name
I mean the right amount of intelligence to have basic emotions like remorse, anger, hatred, , loyalty, and friendship, and to be able to reason rationally and reasonably well.
Bury deep, pile on the stones
Yet I will, dig up the bones
As eloquently as Lizard put it, I really don't believe that self-aware zombies are really much of a possilbility (Granted, zombies aren't much of a possibility, but let's stay consistent). However, for the sake of this discussion, I will put in my two cents.
I would have to agree with Cyberdemon's point in that, if they are (or seem to be) seeking some sort of peaceful coexistance, I would give them the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of my trust. That's not to say that once one zombie attacks all bets are off, but more that if they substantially digress from any previously shown civil behavior, they will lose that trust.
I honestly don't see myself ever going out on a zombie-killing spree, as it is one of the most completely impractical ideas I have ever heard. Once this 'truce' is broken, I would not sway from this behavior, going around shooting anything that moves, but I will no longer avoid attacking them.
"Is everyone dead?"
"Dead-ish."
Seems to me that if you're talking about intelligent undead, then you're really dealing with more of a "vampire" scenario than a zombie scenario, except that the vampires (or whatever) are out in the open rather than maintaining the masquerade. In such a situation, rather than all out destruction as might be seen from mindless undead, an eventual equilibrium would be reached as the undead would know enough that they'd run out of food and or risk being wiped out if they kept up the non-stop munching. I don't think I'd like to live in that sort of world, but it'd probably be preferable to the stage 4 Brooksian dystopia.
The battle rages but they fight in vain
When all is done it must begin again
-"Freya", the Sword
lol i can see it now... blood banks on every corner: keep our dead undead
*edit actually, i believe it was refered to "land of the dead" originally... and an intelligent crowd of zombies with a leader... not vampires. some fiction literature and one volume of a book on monsters depicts intelligent undead. the monster book refered to the bubonic plague victims rising when their surviving relatives face certain doom... but thats prolly jsut a legend.
war's my game
destruction by no other name
If it weren't, we'd already be gushing throat wound deep in Zs
Bury deep, pile on the stones
Yet I will, dig up the bones
Again stating like what was said before an intelligent zombie is impossible, but I will go along with this topic. I would have to agree with Cyberdemon. The only problem I see is the that we are food to them and they want to make peace with us. Did we make peace with cows and if so we still eat them, so a peaceful life with intelligent undead would probably be a reality that would never come to be.
oh if you think about a colossal society of zombies and another one of humans co-surviving... then yes. suspition and ahem cultural differences will probably lead to a repeat of zday. exept with more of an element of surprise and less people with guns on hand
war's my game
destruction by no other name
A zombie army with armor and guns scarey
Will you hold me back? If need be I will leave you behind...