re: The Walking Dead

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They don't eat to function

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I think they do. The human body (dead or alive) needs nutrients or whatever to function. If the zombies aren't getting what their bodies need to function, then their bodies will stop functioning. I.e. they will starve.

At least that's how I think it would work.

I guess in the end, it's all speculation. But it's fun going back and forth about it.

quote:

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The human body (dead or alive) needs nutrients or whatever to function. If the zombies aren't getting what their bodies need to function, then their bodies will stop functioning. I.e. they will starve.

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the body will require nutrients of some sort, and even if it's virus zombies, the virus will require nutrients of some sort

that's why zombies, if they ever did come, wouldn't last. they'd eventually die...i'd wager within a week

water is the main thing they'd miss

now, if you want to add another layer to it, imagine zombies who had the desire to do 2 things: (1) eat flesh and (2) drink water. then imagine if that water could get contaminated

THEN we'd be in some shite

Boil Alert slow...unless it was ultra resistant

I got this of a ZS thread.

Biology:
The zombie isn't the organism, it is merely a vehicle for the organism. The organism its self is a mixture of nanotechnology and bioengineering. Once in the bloodstream of a victim, the organism makes its way to the victims brain where it begins to grow (like a parasite). Its growth does not entail a 'takeover' of the brain, but instead involves the rapid growth of millions of microscopic filaments which grow along the pathways of the victims current nervous system.

These filaments permeate the victims body and act as a simplified and alternate circulatory and digestive system. These filaments extract and metabolize oxygen and carbohydrates internally from any organic material they touch, and externally from any gaseous or liquid source of oxygen (like air or water). The extracted oxygen and metabolized carbs are then circulated to the cells of the zombie through the same system of filaments.

A side affect of the organism seating its self in the victims brain is a loss of higher functions in the victim.

The filaments are nearly microscopic and number in the millions, so to kill a zombie by disrupting or traumatizing its 'filament system' requires near whole-body severe trauma, such as being fed into a meat grinder, being run over by a tank etc. Multiple gunshots, being cut in half, disembowelment, whole body 3rd degree burns, de-limbing; none of these will cause sufficient trauma to the filament system to de-animate the zombie.

Destruction of, or massive trauma to, the brain, will de-animate the zombie because the brain still controls the bodies motor functions.

When not eating or chasing food, the zombie goes into a state that is like hibernation; it shambles slowly, lazily, and randomly along until it detects a source of food at which point the zombie 'awakens', adrenalin kicks in, and the zombie is fully animated, seeking to devour the food source. In this way, zombies can go prolonged periods without eating anything. The more time that elapses from its last meal, the slower the zombie becomes until it reaches an extreme state of hibernation where it remains completely still until food comes in proximity to it, at which point it uses its remaining energy to kill/eat.

Sounds good

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When not eating or chasing food, the zombie goes into a state that is like hibernation; it shambles slowly, lazily, and randomly along until it detects a source of food at which point the zombie 'awakens', adrenalin kicks in, and the zombie is fully animated, seeking to devour the food source. In this way, zombies can go prolonged periods without eating anything. The more time that elapses from its last meal, the slower the zombie becomes until it reaches an extreme state of hibernation where it remains completely still until food comes in proximity to it, at which point it uses its remaining energy to kill/eat.

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I can agree with some of that. But the bottom line is that I'd think it's physically impossible for a human body (alive, dead, or undead) to continue to function for long periods without some sort of sustenance. That being said, I don't think a zombie can just chill in one spot for weeks on end and just ZAP into action when it senses food. Decomposition, atrophy, etc. are all biological things that will happen to a human body no matter what "controls its brain."

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But the bottom line is that I'd think it's physically impossible for a human body (alive, dead, or undead) to continue to function for long periods without some sort of sustenance.

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yeah i mean look at people who die of thirst out in the wilderness...they're not running around for days

I can buy into some of this. Some zombies like the ones on the bus were just sitting there as was the zom in the tank. I would have to think that it is in a constant state of decomposition. If it sits long enough it may turn to dust. I would also believe that as they decompose eventually limbs would fall off from their own weight.

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Feeding is a primal instinct, we are born knowing how to eat, breathe and shite and that's about it.

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This also goes easily with Dude Abides theory about zombies shitting their pants

on the last episode, I saw that shadow through the tent and I just KNEW shite was about to get real.