Cannibalism in the US

[morteduzionism]

I'm currently reading the book Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling. In the book there's an event that alters the physical laws of the earth(chemical reactions no longer occur the same way) and all electrical and chemical processes(gun powder exploding) cease to function...

Planes just fall out of the sky causing fires that can't be put out because fire trucks don't work, etc etc etc...absolute chaos...yada yada yada...

Here's my question: the author introduces roving bands of cannibals sprouting up within months of the event, do you think that's realistic? I don't doubt cannibalism might occur at some point but do you think American citizens in the Northwest(Portland area) would devolve to cannibalism within a few months of losing modernness?

[Chaigidel]

they think cannibalism occured during the collapse of the easter island situation

it all depends on if there is enough to eat or not; if there is nothing else to eat; we will devour each other.

[morteduzionism]

I'm not talking about some civilization from antiquity...particularly one found on a relatively small island...

I'm asking how long(if it's even likely) do you think residents in/around modern day Portland, OR or Dallas, TX would take to devolve into cannibalism? Not just opportunistic cannibalism I'm talking about organized communities of cannibals. Communities that actively seek out other people to eat.

The author had this happening within a few months of the event.

[Dayman]

Why they hell would just people from the Pacific NW do that? We still have animals and food, society would devolve back to before electricity, and warfare would change as well.

Society would still exist.

[morteduzionism]

Why they hell would just people from the Pacific NW do that? We still have animals and food, society would devolve back to before electricity, and warfare would change as well.

Society would still exist.

That's what I figured. The old institutions would hang on for awhile, I'd imagine it'd be like late 19th c. America, the author didn't see it that way...lol...

I was just curious if anyone else believed that cannibalism would start that soon...

I do agree there would be some...issues...in cities(lack of arable land) but cannibalism!? I just couldn't see that...I can see people eating cats, dogs, rats, pigeons, etc before they moved on to people.

[Siblesz]

That's what I figured. The old institutions would hang on for awhile, I'd imagine it'd be like late 19th c. America, the author didn't see it that way...lol...

I was just curious if anyone else believed that cannibalism would start that soon...

I do agree there would be some...issues...in cities(lack of arable land) but cannibalism!? I just couldn't see that...I can see people eating cats, dogs, rats, pigeons, etc before they moved on to people.

Do you know how to run a farm like a 19th century American? Do any of you know how? That's why there'd be cannibalism and massive die-offs. Let's not mention the fact that we have 6.6 billion people on the planet today, and feeding all those people on a 19th century agricultural system is impossible. So double whammy!

ajm317 puts it better than me.

I just advice you, that if by any chance civilization stops to exist, move to the most desolate corner of the earth you can find.

[hellheaven1987]

Do you know how to run a farm like a 19th century American? Do any of you know how? That's why there'd be cannibalism and massive die-offs. Let's not mention the fact that we have 6.6 billion people on the planet today, and feeding all those people on a 19th century agricultural system is impossible. So double whammy!

May be it is impossible, but how much agriculture has improved anyway?? Replace manpower with machine?? What else??

Besides, people completely forget there are something called "books".

[Da Skinna]

May be it is impossible, but how much agriculture has improved anyway?? Replace manpower with machine?? What else??

Besides, people completely forget there are something called "books".

lol. Books. What the flying **** are they?

Be a little more realistic about people. There will be a sizable chunk that reverts to backward ways of surviving. Panic will ensure an even larger chunk will follow.

People, frankly, are sheep when in a society, and wolves when not.

[the_mango55]

May be it is impossible, but how much agriculture has improved anyway?? Replace manpower with machine?? What else??

First, agriculture has improved a whole hell of a lot. Grain input:output ratios have gone from like 1:4 to 1:50 or so I believe. Also, there would be no way to harvest all of this food without machines.

Add that to the fact that even if we could get near the same amounts of food as before, how would it be transported from the city to the country?

[Dayman]

I've heard that Dies the Fire was a pretty crappy book.

[morteduzionism]

I've heard that Dies the Fire was a pretty crappy book.

This is probably the wrong place to discuss the actual book...lol...but I wouldn't call it..."crappy"...

[Chaigidel]

well I stand by , when there is nothing else to eat-- we WILL eat one another, there is no doubt about this.

[morteduzionism]

well I stand by , when there is nothing else to eat-- we WILL eat one another, there is no doubt about this.

I'm not disputing this. I agree for the most part. My only question is how likely do you think it would resort to this within months of losing modernness?

[hellheaven1987]

People would just go back to medieval living style, that is it.

[morteduzionism]

People would just go back to medieval living style, that is it.

That's exactly what happens in this book. Exactly. The one variable that I'm curious about is whether or not you think that within months of losing modernness would you have roving bands of cannibals?

it all depends on the crisis-- but only in the most extreme cases would I think cannibalism would occur within months

What "extreme" case could you imagine in/around the Portland, OR area that would cause people to become cannibals within months of losing modern technology?

[hellheaven1987]

That's exactly what happens in this book. Exactly. The one variable that I'm curious about is whether or not you think that within months of losing modernness would you have roving bands of cannibals?

No, because cannibalism is normally the last solution. If there is hope to produce basic needs (food, water), then most people would not step into such horrified path, even the medieval life style is hard (but since there is no TV, movie and other modern entertainment, there are more times for work).

[Roy Batty]

That's exactly what happens in this book. Exactly. The one variable that I'm curious about is whether or not you think that within months of losing modernness would you have roving bands of cannibals?

Most Americans can't cook food unless it's from a box, and it only takes a matter of weeks before you have to eat.

You have to understand that within big cities and their suburbs there are millions of people who are dependent on other people refining their food if not outright making it for them. How much food do you think there is to find once trucks, planes and trains stop bringing it in? How long do you think cans of corn will stay on grocery store shelves in Detroit without replenishment?

Once that food is gone, where do you think it will then come from? Can you butcher an animal and treat it's flesh so that it doesn't spoil? Assuming any grains make it to harvest season, do you know how to harvest it and grind it into flour, then make bread? Do you know how to tend a vegetable patch throughout the required months to their ripening? Can you survive that long with desperate, hungry people hunting you for your flesh because it's all they know how to do?

How it is that you think that within a matter of weeks an entire nation can simply revert to a previous state of existence, happily tilling soil with horse-drawn plows that don't exist outside of Amish communities, using skills unbeknownst to all but a literal handful, is quite simply beyond me.

No. I'm afraid that the book is not unrealistic.

[Chaigidel]

it all depends on the crisis-- but only in the most extreme cases would I think cannibalism would occur within months

[ProneStar!]

cannibalism? sounds delicious! its like pork products...... if instead the pig was your friend you've known for a while....... WILBUR!!!!!

anyhoo on point, cannibalism would take more than just a few months to catch on, not to mention the fact that it wouldnt be roving bands, but individuals.

[Chaigidel]

people with lots of guns would be in the best position hands down.