Another Zombie Apocalypse What If?

[Wyldwraith]

Ok, It's been a week or longer without one of these, and we can't have that. I recently re-watched all the GAR movies over the holidays, and it got me to thinking about the one nagging element that's generally missing. Namely, the eventuality of a group larger than 4-6 people, all of whom are reasonably intelligent/stable, and realize they'll die if they don't cut the BS and do their best to work together. How do each of you think it would go if say...a dozen healthy, stable and non-stupid people got together towards the beginning of the outbreak (Say the point by which most intelligent people have included that yes, DEAD PEOPLE are shambling about chewing on the living, but before the vast majority of the population have been consumed and all government/police/military efforts to contain the outbreak have completely failed). Do you think such a hypothetical group would be more likely to try to escape to somewhere or perceived safety, hunker down and fortify a securable structure, or what? Yes, I know this has been done before, but people come up with new/novel ideas all the time. What the hell, it's something to talk about besides which RE film makes you want to gouge your eyes out the fastest, or hate on Big Daddy for the zillionth time, right? I'm of the opinion that if you could get 10-12 healthy 18-45yr olds who meet the above criteria together, especially if you had a couple of military deserters and a cop or two, that said group could become a reasonably formidable/self-reliant band of nomads (NOT RAIDERS). I'm of the school of thought that believes stopping anywhere for longer than 24hrs will lead to getting surrounded/besieged/exhausted/devoured. There's a lot of wide open/low population ground in the USA. If said group stuck to migrating between small towns, and bunking down in the middle of BFE they might be able to outlast the zombies. Thoughts? I've given it more thought than the above outline, but don't want to write a six page thesis atm.

[Mike70]

sorry if this goes off on a tangent but: the first problem might be could 12 or so people just leave their past lives behind and forget all that they knew and loved in an instant? i think most folks would have a problem with this. a lot of the hard ass types on the forum will, obviously, disagree here and insist that they could for the sake of survival but i am dubious as all hell. could you simply walk away not knowing what happened to your wife/husband, parents, and most importantly your children? frankly, the person who could do that wouldn't be anyone i'd want to spend time with let alone try and survive with. second the odds of 12 people (esp. people who might not have known each other) agreeing together about anything could be slim. unless there was a strong personality in the group (not a guarantee at all) that could drive things through force of will, there could be more than a few disagreements. staying on the move, even out in bfe where i live, requires planning and most importantly scouting. i doubt that most cops and even most military types know the first thing about how to scout a location out. what about all the other folks with same ideas about heading out into the country?

[blind2d]

It's hard for people to work together, because everyone has different ideas about what they want out of life. ...with an epitaph on it, that nobody gonna bother to read. Anyway, too many people equates too many different viewpoints. The apocalypse is gonna be awful.

[Philly_SWAT]

In the original three movies, all of the people have been thrown together against their will. Not saying that they were forced at gunpoint, but everyone in Night just happened to find the farmhouse; Peter, Flyboy and Fran did not know each other at all; and in Day, scientists, civilians and military were thrown together in a bunker that was rushed together in a matter of days. Many people in all three groups seemed reasonably intelligent, yet they could not get along. Of those three films, the 4 characters in Dawn do in fact cut out the BS as you say, and try their best to co-operate to survive. I think the best course of action is to hunker down in a safe location, and have several escape routes/plans at the ready in case they are needed. If you are going to be overrun by zombies, it is just as likely to happen by moving around as staying put I would say. In theory, I suppose staying put could alert zombies to your presense it you werent careful, but moving into unknown areas with no recon would be just as risky. It is rare when a group of people can ever agree on anything (ever try to decide what movie to go see with a group of friends?) much less where their lives are literally on the line. But to answer your question, I think it is possible. There are billions of people in the world, there would bound to be a few groups that would get together and co-operate, whether by accident, circumstance, or mutual trust and mutual survival.

[SRP76]

How do each of you think it would go if say...a dozen healthy, stable and non-stupid people got together towards the beginning of the outbreak There aren't a dozen healthy, stable, non-stupid people within any 100-mile radius. That's the problem.

[Thorn]

Power struggles, disagreements, personal motives and all manner of other items would in fact get in the way. That said given time eventually a way to co-exist would be found if for not other reason than out of need of one another and self preservation. I can tolerate a loud mouthed braggart a lot more easily if he is good with a gun and handy in a bad spot. Doesn't mean I have to like him, trust him, or hang out with him. I think that those groups would actually do quite well in a zombie apocalypse. More people means more resources to get things done, more security while scavenging teams worked their magic away from your fortified location. Or more diverse skills to support the group. You would just need strong leadership, and a group of people to buy into the plan. Maturity and intelligence would play a huge role. Again I have my plans for surviving I think about them all the time, to the point of my estrange wife questioning my sanity. So be it. You have to have a plan, the personality, and the resources to execute your escape and survival plan. You also need to be mindful of who it is you bring on board because one bad apple can spoil the bushel or some such other clever saying.

[tkane18]

Just watch any reality show on TV and you'll find out how people get along in groups.

[AcesandEights]

Meh. Nay saying is so in fashion, but I'll have to say that a dozen people who are prepared to abide by some very specific, commonsense strictures could do well, but, as has been mentioned, a secure, strong leader and/or arrangement for shot-calling would need to be hashed out very early on. There'd be hiccups, disagreements and issues along the way, of course.

[Thorn]

I think a lot of the people on this board would do well banded together to be honest. We all have different ideas in many cases but we have diverse backgrounds, resources, and skill sets. Also there are only a couple of selfish jerks who would be trying to get the tv into the basement.... *looks around suspiciously*

[Philly_SWAT]

I think a lot of the people on this board would do well banded together to be honest. We all have different ideas in many cases but we have diverse backgrounds, resources, and skill sets. Also there are only a couple of selfish jerks who would be trying to get the tv into the basement.... *looks around suspiciously* Good point (points). I was wondering a different question.....if there was a zombie apocalypse, the odds of ultimate survival would be low for most people. Therefore I wonder which would be the better pick to hold out with....the A-Team, or the local strip clubs B-Team?

[Thorn]

B team!

[Marie]

Also there are only a couple of selfish jerks who would be trying to get the tv into the basement.... *looks around suspiciously* I wasnt taking it to the basement, you can't get any reception in a basement! M_

[Thorn]

lol! Look at his eyes just sizing up his opportunity to make off with some loot. Dirty little troll.

[blind2d]

But the basement is the safest place! Actually, the attic's much safer... why didn't anyone think of that?

[SRP76]

I think a lot of the people on this board would do well banded together to be honest. We all have different ideas in many cases but we have diverse backgrounds, resources, and skill sets. Also there are only a couple of selfish jerks who would be trying to get the tv into the basement.... *looks around suspiciously* TV or no TV, we'd all die. Even in the best of cases, there's maybe 20 of us. Millions upon millions of ghouls. We're history.