Television

[rightwing401]

Just remembered an old story that I wrote about zombies veging out in front of a t.v. So I'm curious, do any of you think that a zombie could become mesmerized by a working television? That it could be fooled into thinking a human image on a screen is a real person? Or that a show or program with a lot of crazy flashes and odd colors mixed with wild and bizare noises could distract it enough to keep it from noticing a human?

[Publius]

Seems plausible to me. Not foolproof, but it seems like all three of those would work for at least some zombies some of the time. Especially a nice big hi-def TV: how's a zombie gonna know it from a window?

[AcesandEights]

Sure it sounds plausible. It all depends on the rule set one is working with in the fictional zombie universe in question. For example, just on the topic of sensory info and processing for the zombies in question, one might want to ask: do the zombies depend on sight primarily, sight and smell, some other 'supernatural' or super-scientific rationale etc.

[darth los]

Sure it sounds plausible. It all depends on the rule set one is working with in the fictional zombie universe in question. For example, just on the topic of sensory info and processing for the zombies in question, one might want to ask: do the zombies depend on sight primarily, sight and smell, some other 'supernatural' or super-scientific rationale etc. Well, there's something sophisticated happening with their senses. After all, they don't just attack anything and eat it. We know that they "hunt" by hearing and by their sight. (I'm assuming, as always, we're dealing with Romero ghouls here). I don't believe it was ever shown a ghoul ever smelling something though. If they could do you really think they would want to be in close proximity to each other? Or, maybe that's exactly WHY they don't eat each other. As a matter of fact the only time I can remember that happening in is in ROTLD 2. So who knows.

[3pidemiC]

They trained the zombies via TVs in the original Day script, right?

[Thorn]

I do not think they would be fooled by TVS, I think they might be interested in them and some might have memory of them in there somewhere. I do not however think you could bait zombies away from real humans with them. Not in the GAR universe. They do not attack each other, they do not attack dolls or mannequins. I think they are drawn to attack their prey by some other instinct or combination of them.

[BillyRay]

Maybe it's like the Living Dead being drawn to the mall in "Dawn"; if something had enough importance in your life, you'll be drawn to it in your unlife. Considering the amount of Couch Potatoes in the U.S., we really have nothing to worry about from Roamers once the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse comes.

[MoonSylver]

I could definitely see some getting mesmerized by one (you all really must see "Dead Set" ASAP...), but I don't think they're gonna be fooled by it. As stated above, same pretext as the mall: this was an important part of their lives.

[MaximusIncredulous]

They do not attack each other, they do not attack dolls or mannequins. There is one zombie in Dawn 78 that grabs the face of a mannequin which looks like an attempt to pull, what it thinks is, flesh off of it. A TV might have a distractive effect to it if it featured images of active humans in "living" color.

[rightwing401]

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who put out their thoughts and opinions. I think that I can come to the agreement that the living dead can be drawn to a working television if there are no humans around, but nothing can overcome that primordial instinct to consume warm flesh.

[bassman]

Not in the GAR universe. They do not attack each other, they do not attack dolls or mannequins. There's a zombie that fools around with a mannequin in Dawn.... I think the tv could work in the same way that the "sky flowers" worked in Land. Just something colorful to get their attention for a short while. If it were Dawn04, all the zombies would be watching exercise shows on the tube. Got to get that superhuman power from somewhere.

[sandrock74]

I think the tv could work in the same way that the "sky flowers" worked in Land. Just something colorful to get their attention for a short while. Exactly what I was going to say! I think that televisions would have a short term distracting effect on zombies...nothing too permanent.

[darth los]

Exactly what I was going to say! I think that televisions would have a short term distracting effect on zombies...nothing too permanent. But the real question is WHy are they being distracted? Is it because They are simply curious about this glowing box? Or are they realy fooled into thinking that there are actually people on there.

[MoonSylver]

But the real question is WHy are they being distracted? Is it because They are simply curious about this glowing box? Or are they realy fooled into thinking that there are actually people on there. I don't think they would think they were actual people. (After all, we see no signs of them attacking mannequins, which it seems to me they would be a least as likely to mistake for a real person) I think they would be drawn to a TV for a couple of reasons. First just the flickering, glowing, moving lights, but more importantly, it's something familiar & comforting from "before", something that was an important part of their lives (as was the mall) If you ever get the chance, check out the BBC mini series "Dead Set". There's some sly commentary in there on our obsession w/ television (reality tv in particular) that is on par w/ the consumerism commentary in Dawn.

[darth los]

If you ever get the chance, check out the BBC mini series "Dead Set". There's some sly commentary in there on our obsession w/ television (reality tv in particular) that is on par w/ the consumerism commentary in Dawn. I keep hearing you guys rave about this series but I have yet to watch an episode. It's starting to sound like a must see. Anyone know if netfilx carries it? Or how i can see it another way?