Cannibalism

[elfpirate]

[b]While reading the vegetarian thread, I began thinking about cannibalism, as I always do when I ponder vegetarianism...hmmm...strange quirk, I know, but I think it's a logical mental link...[/b]

[b]I hear so many people talk about how they love meat and could never give it up because it tastes so good, but when I ask them if they would eat a cat or a dog or a human, they cringe and claim that they would rather starve to death.[/b]

[b]Meat is meat, isn't it?[/b]

[b]Personally, I almost never eat meat... maybe once or twice a year... but if I had to, I really wouldn't have any moral objection to eating a human. An objection of [i]taste,[/i] maybe, but I definitely don't think the consumtion of a human would damn me to the eternal pyre, so to speak... [/b]

[b]If I were in a situation in which there were only dead humans available to eat, I wouldn't think twice about it...[/b]

[b]So- in a situation in which no other food was available, would you eat a person in order to survive, or would you rather starve to death? [/b]

[Panda]

This makes me think of the movie "Alive".

One problem with eating humans and that is the same problem the cattle have when eating other cattle- Mad Cow Disease. This can also happen with people. I saw a documentary on cannibals in my cultural anthropology class in college and the "mad cow-like" disease that some of the members of the village suffer from. It comes mostly from eating uncooked brain but from what is known about this condition it is really terrible. It's like watching those mad cow videos of the cows stumbling around and shaking...but with people instead.

If worse came down to worse I think I could eat a cat, dog, bugs or other creatures. I would opt to eat veggies first but if I had no other choice then I would eat meat. Humans, I don't think I could. But if someone wanted to eat my dead body I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[The Blue]

I definately would [U]NOT[/U] eat a human to save my life for a few simple reasons. My number one reason would be for respect. It doesn't really matter who the person is I think they deserve a degree of respect, even after death. My second reason is, if the situation that caused me to not have anything to eat but a dead body, I think I would have a better chance at starving myself until I could find something else or get rescued. If you do eat the body, for one you will most likely get a disease that will guarantee your death. Secondly if it got to that point, what would you do after the body is gone? There wouldn't be anything else to eat then you'd still starve. x_x Although when I think about it I might, and that's a big might, eat a cat or dog or something if I was starving so bad I were surely going to die soon, but heck even then I'd prolly just kill myself.

[Lord Rannos]

The reason that humans don't want to eat cats and dogs n' stuff is simple. Pets are things that we love and have fun with and care about. There are precious few farmers who develop love for their cow. Thus, they wouldn't feel as bad eating a cow as eating the family pet. But they eat dogs in parts of Asia, don't they.....eh, I'll just be disgusted by their behavior. (Sorry if I offend anyone there, but I'm rather fond of dogs.)

On the topic of cannabalism, I'd say that anyone who says they wouldn't eat a body out of necessity has never starved. I'd say that if you're situation is bad enough that human is all you got, you'll probably eat it if just for respite from hunger. It's impossible to imagine being that hungry, I know, but past a point I'd say that it would be fairly likely. Not that I wouldn't exhaust any other means of feeding myself first, but I would eventually do it.

[Sephiroth]

[COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Times New Roman]I have actually eaten cats and dogs while abroad, not too bad to be honest, human's however I would never eat regardless of the situation, it's just plain wrong[/FONT][/COLOR]

[elfpirate]

[QUOTE=Sephiroth][color=darkred][font=Times New Roman]I have actually eaten cats and dogs while abroad, not too bad to be honest, human's however I would never eat regardless of the situation, it's just plain wrong[/font][/color]
[font=Times New Roman][color=#8b0000][/color][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][color=#8b0000][/color][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][color=black][b]You fail to explain[/b] [b][i]why [/i]it's wrong. Why would eating a human be anymore wrong than eating an animal that many consider to be a part of the family, such as a cat or dog?[/b][/color][/font]

[MissWem]

[QUOTE=elfpirate]
[font=Times New Roman][color=black][b]Why would eating a human be anymore wrong than eating an animal that many consider to be a part of the family, such as a cat or dog?[/b][/color][/font][/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]Well, when you think about it humans can quite possibly be literally part of the family. Or at least be a friend. In fact I'd prefer not to eat a human because wouldn't it be awkward if you met their parents?

"Uh.. yes.. I've met your son/daughter. I ate their arm o__o"

Also as a human and knowing what we do throughout the day, I'd feel quite disgusted to eat a creature that lives like that ^^" Unless it were a nicely cooked piece of human it'd be put into consideration, but if you're stuck eating a dead person out in the middle of nowwhere, I don't imagine I'd get the luxury of having it finely roasted with a touch of wine.

However, animals are a silent companion and can never really offer the same range of fulfillment a human can.

I personally don't think there's any difference in eating a cat/dog as there is to pig/cow. Both can and have been pets. People eat fish and keep them as pets. Same with snakes, snails etc. etc.

P.S My mummy told me that the big black dogs are the tastiest :P (although I think she just says that to pull my leg)[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Sara]

[quote name='elfpirate][QUOTE=Sephiroth][color=darkred][font=Times New Roman]I have actually eaten cats and dogs while abroad, not too bad to be honest, human's however I would never eat regardless of the situation, it's just plain wrong[/font'][/color][/quote]
[font=Times New Roman][color=black][b]You fail to explain[/b] [b][i]why [/i]it's wrong. Why would eating a human be anymore wrong than eating an animal that many consider to be a part of the family, such as a cat or dog?[/b][/color][/font][/QUOTE][color=ff66600]We need to explain [i]why[/i] the concept of [i]eating a human[/i] is "wrong"?

Tough crowd.

In the case of cats and dogs, I think it's a matter of familiarity. Western culture sees these not only as pets but often as equals, members of the family. Even the concept of eating a "pet" animal (even if it is, in fact, no one's pet) turns a lot of stomaches.

I don't think anyone's really keen on the idea of eating something with a name. I've eaten beef from cattle that I'd named (although I didn't realize it at the time, heh). When I [i]did[/i] make the connection a couple years ago, it kinda took me off guard. "I [i]ate[/i] Blackie?!"

one-hit wonder,
Sara[/color]

[DBZgirl88]

[COLOR=#004a6f]I pretty much eat by my religion's (islam) dietary laws. So pretty much, do not eat pig, or any animals or birds that eat meat. With birds, you can still eat those that eat bugs or worms, but not animals that eat bugs. Therefore, I can't even eat a frog, because it's diet consists of flies. I think even rodents eat bugs, and not only that the are filthy and loaded with disease (I know, that's harsh). You can't eat bugs or worms either. However, everything in the sea, even if it's carnivorous is permissible to eat.

However, if there is no food available, and your life is at stake, you may eat certain restricted foods. The first thing on the list that I heard of was grasshoppers, circkets, or locusts. If those aren't available, you may eat small animals like mice, squirrels frogs and lizards, if those are not available, you may eat pig. If that's not available, you can eat omnivourous or carnivourous animals like bears, racoons, cats, dogs. You get the point. So the last thing on the list would be another human.

However, I'm not sure if I could bring myself to eat another human. But if I was starving to death, I guess I could.

I think, rather than killing the human, if their is a way to cut off one of their limbs in a fight, then do that. It's not as though you have enough space in your stomach to eat the entire body. That would be a waste of another person's life. (Sorry to get into the gruesome details).

However, I think it would be very difficult to find yourself in a situation where there is nothing to eat except for another human, unless you're lost in the Sahara Desert. There are so many other options of food available; the inner tree bark, the inside part of bones, leaves, and grass.[/COLOR]

[elfpirate]

[QUOTE=Chabichou[color=#004a6f]
I think, rather than killing the human, if their is a way to cut off one of their limbs in a fight, then do that. It's not as though you have enough space in your stomach to eat the entire body. That would be a waste of another person's life. (Sorry to get into the gruesome details).


[b][color=black][/color][/b]
[b][color=#000000]I wasn't talking about actually killing someone to be used as food- that's a whole different issue- I meant, if they were already dead and you were dying of starvation... would you eat (some of) their body in order to survive? [/color][/b]
[/color]

[Annie]

[color=darkslateblue]In all honesty, I couldn't tell you what I would do. You really can't say you would, or you would never do such a thing, unless you were thrown into that situation. Your mind can do some strange things under intense stress, fear, or excitement.[/color]

[Gavin]

[quote name='Annalisse][color=darkslateblue']In all honesty, I couldn't tell you what I would do. You really can't say you would, or you would never do such a thing, unless you were thrown into that situation. Your mind can do some strange things under intense stress, fear, or excitement.[/color][/quote]

[SIZE=1]I second Annie's comments completely, the idea of eating a human is something I would abhor, but not something I would rule out if it meant saving my own life. I would prefer to explore every possible alternative, however as Annie did say we can't say whether we definitely would or would-not do something unless we were in that situation. My own reason for thinking eating a human would be wrong would mainly stem from it being seen as an act of savagery, reverting to a lower form of mentality in order to survive.[/SIZE]

[eleanor]

[color=darkslateblue]Most people wouldn't, simply because it's just a predisposition in their mind that tells them that it's 'wrong'. Now, if you were raised in from tribe that ate humans, you wouldn't really care. I would say most people think it's wrong because humans are our species, our own kind. Besides, we have a bunch of animals to eat.

And on the whole cat and dog thing, there are plently of countries that eat dogs and cats. So that said, it's just a matter of where you grew up and what ideals you were taught. There isn't some textbook that says why it's wrong. What divine presence came down said it was wrong in the first place?

And when it boils down to humans stripped of all necessities and stuck on some island with a dead guy named Bob, I'm pretty sure the humans struggling to survive will eat Bob.[/color]

[Harry]

[QUOTE=maladjusted][color=darkslateblue]Most people wouldn't, simply because it's just a predisposition in their mind that tells them that it's 'wrong'. Now, if you were raised in from tribe that ate humans, you wouldn't really care. I would say most people think it's wrong because humans are our species, our own kind. Besides, we have a bunch of animals to eat.
[/color][/QUOTE]
Well from a scientific stand point it is wrong to eat other humans also.

Anyway I've read that if you eat a persons heart, you gain their power and knowledge. Assuming this is true (which I will), I would most definately eat another human. I've had horse before so human can't be that different.

[DBZgirl88]

[COLOR=#004a6f][quote name='elfpirate']I wasn't talking about actually killing someone to be used as food- that's a whole different issue- I meant, if they were already dead and you were dying of starvation... would you eat (some of) their body in order to survive?[/quote]Oh that's a relief. 'Cause for me the issue is really about killing another human in order to eat them. I think it's permissible under extreme condtions, but I'm not sure. You would have to be insane from hunger to do that.[/COLOR]

[Annie]

[quote name='maladjusted][color=darkslateblue']Most people wouldn't, simply because it's just a predisposition in their mind that tells them that it's 'wrong'. [/color][/quote]

[color=darkslategray]Once again, that falls under what I had mentioned before.

Now, if you meant by just simply living a normal life, with abundance of animals and vegetables, no stress of survival, then I'd say yes to that statement. In that case, I wouldn't even think of eating another human being.

But under the condition of eating another human just to survive, people can't say what they would do/wouldn't do.[/color]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f] However, if there is no food available, and your life is at stake, you may eat certain restricted foods.

However, I'm not sure if I could bring myself to eat another human. But if I was starving to death, I guess I could.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[color=darkviolet]That top part sounds like a Jewish law that if your life is at stake you may eat non kosher food.

I really don't think I could bring myself to eat another person...unless maybe I didn't know the person very well. Or it was a life or death situation. It's kind of like one of those : which one of your friends would you eat first if you were in a plane crash questions.

I understand that in some cultures it is considered acceptable to eat human flesh, but since we weren't raised in that culture we consider it wrong and barbaric.

Many of us may also think it's wrong or disgusting to eat cats and dogs since we've been raised having them as pets. But in other countries people eat them. Heck if you order kagoge in Korea you'll get dog meat. People raise them to sell as food. But...for some reason they eat the nice big dogs and leave the annoying yappy ones. Go figure.

Oh and DerelictDestiny, your thing about eating someone's arm was funny so it's in my signature for right now.[/color]

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]I think when it comes down to it, when the Apocalypse is nigh and the world lies in smoking ruins etc. etc., then yes, eating human flesh as a last resort would be a [b]valid[/b] option. But under any other circumstances? No thanks. Cannibalism is a stomach-turning practice, the idea disgusts me.[/size]

[Fall]

As much as I would love to survive, I wouldn't eat a human for it.

To me, it's wrong. And I couldn't bear eating one of my kind. It's like eating myself... :drunk: And then that's just like killing myself anyway. I couldn't do it. I'd get sick just looking at what I'd be eating.

That opinion could change if it was the only way to survive, but even if it did, I still couldn't bring myself to do it. I might end up thinking "yeah, I have to eat this dude to live", but the actual time of being there and eating that dude would probably make me so sick I'd die anyway.

I'd die rather than eating someone.

[Sara]

[quote name='Baron Samedi][size=1]I think when it comes down to it, when the Apocalypse is nigh and the world lies in smoking ruins etc. etc., then yes, eating human flesh as a last resort would be a [b]valid[/b'] option. [/size][/quote][color=#ff6600]But really, in that situation, what's the point of eating at all? ^_~

gaza strip club,
Sara[/color]

[Annie]

[quote name='Lore][color=#ff6600']But really, in that situation, what's the point of eating at all? ^_~[/color][/quote]

[color=darkslategray]Maybe I got a different thought on that, but perhaps the point is that it wouldn't happen. Eating another human that is...I'm not quite sure.[/color]

[quote name='Lore][color=#ff6600']gaza strip club[/color][/quote]

[color=darkslategray]Yeah strip clubs..sorry, had to throw that in.[/color]

[future girl]

[size=1]I don't eat even eat veal (baby cows :( ) how on earth could I muster the balls to eat a human. What about a baby human, o my god. My answer is no. I don't eat pork and I don't eat lamb and I've gone without eating for several days when my mom refuses to cook anything else. It has nothing to do with religion. Really I just can't fathom it. I eat cows, chicken (with [i]no[/i] bones) and fish. That's it ::nods:: I figure if I'm in a situation where my only option is to eat my dead neighbor, I'm probably going to die anyway so I might as well do so with a clean concience and no prolonging of the process.[/size]

[Morpheus]

If the situation is bad enough, I'll eat a person. It's very sickening, but it's that or die.

[eleanor]

[color=darkslateblue] Ugh...dunno. I'm just a believer of the philosophy that humans will do anything to survive in the end. Unless...they're QUITTERS.

Jk jk.

Would I eat another human being? Hm...good question. I probably would if it meant I would survive. At the moment, disgusting, but whatever. Would a person kill someone else to eat them? I believe it could happen.[/color]

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1][quote name='Lore']But really, in that situation, what's the point of eating at all? ^_~[/quote]My intentions were to write my name everywhere, so that when Aliens came to investigate 5000 years later, they'll think I was some kind of God ~_^

Besides, under any other circumstances, would eating another human be something acceptable?[/size]