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Discussion: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
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Dirge |
Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 4:14 PM EDT
This is probably a dead end thing but since I haven't found a discussion about it I might as well say it. Why do zombies feast on the flesh of the living yet when there's no food to be found, not turn on each other? Is there some sort of chemical or phermone these new zombies excreat?-Mmm zombie smell nice Does the virus direct the zombie more manually, steering the host toward more potential targets rather than the infected?-don't go that way stupid! Are they just picky eaters, and just prefer the flesh of the living?-Hotsauce anyone? Or are they a more alien version of the virus, like the borg or zerg, haveing a collective "hivemind"?-We are the Zomg...^^ Do they hold onto some loyal part of their minds that makes cannibalism of infected as bad as humans eating humans?-I'll only bite once Jimmy, now close your eyes. 19 out of 23 found this valuable. Do you? |
StrykerPez |
1. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 4:51 PM EDT
I think it would most reasonably have to do with pheremones or just plain smell. Instinctivly, they know that "human smell - eat, good nutrients; zombie smell - no reason to eat"
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Legion12 |
2. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 4:54 PM EDT
I always wondered if they saw thermal and hunted us by our heat. Would also explain their love of fire.
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StrykerPez |
3. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 5:01 PM EDT
That is actually a good theory. Just like humans use different cones in their eyes depending on whether it is light or dark, perhaps the undead can only see limited parts of the spectrum that includes infared. So for that matter, a good defence would would be either a shitload of infared heat lamps (blind them) or cover yourself in insulated clothes and cover the clothes with those instant ice packs... they cant see you, or they think you are cold and one of them.
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Talon12 |
4. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 7:17 PM EDT
Some good ideas StrykerPez. Legion told me of a Twilight Zone were a diet pill caused Zombisum. This made them crave human fat.
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Legion12 |
5. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 7:25 PM EDT
Sorry Talon it was an episode of " Sliders "
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McSkullcracken |
6. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 8:38 PM EDT
Hmm...an interesting discussion topic. The diet pill thing actually could be an explanation: whatever causes zombies(virus, bacteria, etc.) could consume or eliminate something in the zombies body that they need, that we humans still have.Or it could simply be that zombies don't smell/taste good and they want to feast on OUR sweet succulent flesh. I'll have to put more thought into this, and would like to see the rest of the site do the same. 2 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Legion12 |
7. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 2 2008, 8:47 PM EDT
"Sorry Talon it was an episode of " Sliders ""Looked it up it is episode 13.8 " Sole Survivor ". If you have Netflix, might be worth a look. 2 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
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iamMetaluna |
8. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 3 2008, 12:02 AM EDT
This IS an interesting discussion topic. I would initially say scent, but if we're talking undead zombies they probably aren't breathing - limiting olfactory effectiveness. Infrared vision is an interesting idea, but I don't see how a virus or the process of dying and somehow becoming re-animated would allow you to see in a different light spectrum. Since we're dealing with conjecture - I could see a "pack mentality" happen that you get with most mammal predators, combined with some memory of identifying things by sight (within normal human abilities) or sound to aid in hunting prey. Given time, these could develop - making an older zombie more crafty than someone just turned. Also, if a zombie outbreak befalls us - it wouldn't be unfathomable for packs of zombies to get something like a territorial instinct and thrive well together in their own groups - but attack wandering zombies, or hordes that stumble into an area where that group normally hunts.
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13th.Casualty |
9. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 3 2008, 12:33 AM EDT
"I think it would most reasonably have to do with pheremones or just plain smell. Instinctivly, they know that "human smell - eat, good nutrients; zombie smell - no reason to eat""A newly infected host would have nutrients too. How come they won't eat those? That discounts that theory. 1 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
alicestar |
10. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 3 2008, 2:55 AM EDT
"A newly infected host would have nutrients too. How come they won't eat those?it may have something to do with the virii or parasite's need to procreate, who knows if feeding is the actual reason they are trying to eat you. they may just be trying to spread their seed. this may be directed by sensitivity to body heat, or smell or maybe they can communicate on a primitive level of telepathy kind of like a beacon. then again this could be done with pheromones as well. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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13th.Casualty |
11. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 3 2008, 8:59 AM EDT
Actually, question: why do zombies need to eat? I doubt their digestive system works anymore. So yeah, I guess their main concern is spreading the disease. But then, why do they keep on biting once they've already bitten once?
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iamMetaluna |
12. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 3 2008, 5:01 PM EDT
There are certain animals that if they have unlimited access to food they will eat until it kills them (gold fish are an example of this) due to poor wiring between stomach and brain. If the virus has effected a person's ability to reason, it's possible receptors from the stomach that tell the brain "no more eating - full down here" are rendered useless. Also, a zombie would appear to be an instinct driven animal and the hunger drive is the strongest drive (fun note - the second strongest drive in humans is lust ). Combine that - with the fact that the undead are from the most intelligent form of life on the planet and may still have an ability to tell the difference between what's fresh and what's dead - and you've got a voracious predator. Why humans? B/c - Humans pose a large food source, and are slower than nearly all animals. If it's a parasite or virus that causes all this, it can still spread all it wants.
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crub90706 |
13. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 4 2008, 5:33 PM EDT
"Actually, question: why do zombies need to eat? I doubt their digestive system works anymore."In the movie "Day of the Dead" there was a scene where a zombie had its digestive track completly removed yet it still had a desire to feed. If we go by this thinking then nutrients have no bases for the zombies feeding frenzy. I also seem to remember something about zombiesonly feeding on warm flesh. Once the body gos cold they stop feeding. Thats why they seem to multiply so quickly. I would think agree that the virus causes some sort of need to spread the infection. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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pink_doodlebug@yahoo |
14. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 10 2008, 8:54 PM EDT
"I always wondered if they saw thermal and hunted us by our heat. Would also explain their love of fire. "but why dont they eat eachother 0 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Legion12 |
15. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 10 2008, 8:57 PM EDT
"but why dont they eat eachotherThey are dead, no thermal reading. They don't see the red, orange glow living people have. We eat red strawberrys, not green 1 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
Irishflyboy254 |
16. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 11 2008, 5:25 AM EDT
Look, one of the most basic instincts in any animal is "feed". An example is a great white shark. Even after it has eaten a school of tuna, it will probably eat a surfer. Since zombies are incredibly single minded creatures, their most basic thought would be "eat". And, since they have no real feeling in their extremities, they wouldn't be able to tell if they're full or not, like a medical condition (Seriously, I know its one where you never feel full).Now, as for why they don't eat each other. While infra-red can't be discounted, it would take a bit for their eyes to adjust, wouldn't it? Amd if they do see heat, they must not be able to eat each other, due to the cooling of the body after death. A more plausible theory is scent. Even seconds after death, the body starts to decompose, sending the smell of dying flesh out. And, since zombies have probably been regeared for hunting, their sense of smell would be at least three times greater than a humans. 0 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Talon12 |
17. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 11 2008, 9:53 PM EDT
Another idea from "Tombs of the Blind Dead" the first of a four part series is they hunted by sound. They could hear your heart beat. They rode horses and fought and killed with swords. I liked that part.
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13th.Casualty |
18. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 12 2008, 11:26 PM EDT
Like I said though, how 'bout newly infected hosts? A body should have a little bit of body heat 2-24 hours of death.
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Dvergamali |
19. RE: Zombies don't attack each other... why?
May 13 2008, 1:15 AM EDT
"it may have something to do with the virii or parasite's need to procreate, who knows if feeding is the actual reason they are trying to eat you. they may just be trying to spread their seed. this may be directed by sensitivity to body heat, or smell or maybe they can communicate on a primitive level of telepathy kind of like a beacon. then again this could be done with pheromones as well. "well said. The feeding would likely be nothing more than the virus, bacteria or whatever activating a primitive area in the brain to spread itself like hunt, feed. what is more primal than eating? Its a basic need so its hard wired into the brain and easy for the virus to use to spread itself. Only other thing would be the urge to mate and nobody wants to see zombies do that*shudder* 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
