Zombie Cliché Lookout: Just a Little Odd
A character in a scary movie should know they’re in for a ride when the person they’re talking to just keeps saying a bunch of weird, cryptic stuff. It’s just never a good sign. Of course, most horror movie characters don’t possess this sort of self-preservation instinct. They’ll generally notice that the other person has said or done something inexplicable, and then forget all about it almost immediately.
It can be pretty frustrating at times, but there’s a good reason for it: smart, self-motivated people don’t tend to make good victims. It’s much easier to take a person who pays almost no attention to their surroundings and herd them toward the psycho killer than it would be to carefully construct a scene in which an intelligent, independent person is either cleverly outsmarted, or the victim of extremely cruel fate and luck.
About this Episode:
For some reason, I really like it when the figures hold up a torso (sans hands) like clothing. Hence, we get to watch Sam get dressed again. I know. I’m weird.
On another note, I’ve been sitting on this family of hazmat-suited weirdos for a long, long time now. I’m really happy that they’re finally getting to come out and play, so to speak.
Other News:
Here in the United States, Monday is Memorial Day. As such, I’m going to be taking it off. The comic will return on Wednesday, May 30th. My apologies to those of you who don’t get the day off work and like to check in here for your daily dose of LEGO® zombie mayhem.
Discussion Question: Interviewing Survivors
People can be weird. They can be eccentric, they can be dangerous. What do you look for in a person that tells you that there’s just something not quite right about this guy? Verbal ticks? Lack of eye contact?
This Other news reminded me that we had a discussion about red vs blue because they are starting red vs blue season 10 on Monday. We need to start having a quote an episode again.
And the quotes will continue to fly right over my head.
Looooool.
‘Course, the other reason to not craft ways in which clever, capable, aware people get suckered or snookered or somesuch is that it can take a while, it can be complicated to show, and it can often be mocked by the cinemagoing public. Easier to just assume the lowest common denominator, no?
(And then “Battleships” goes and tanks at the US box office, perhaps providing some counterpoint… but likely not much….)
As for the discussion point: As someone who’s prone to excessive verbiage as a default setting, my hackles are up when people try the same and get it wrong. I usually assume that they’re trying to get one by me, fast-talk me, or are out of their depth. I need to get better at playing crocodile on these situations, even daring to act a little less aware to see how much more they’ll give away.
Also, lack of courtesy tells me that there’s some level of awareness lacking or underdeveloped in a person. In a classic nerd, it’s not a problem but simply an affirmation of nerdliness; in a purported leader or action figure, it’s a concern because if they’re missing the small details and slights which can offend others, then they’ll also miss the small details that lead to bigger problems later.
Yeah, it’s much easier to assume the lowest common denominator. And then they make the characters simplistic and annoying, so the audience is half-rooting against them. That’s a recipe for gold, right there.
Excellent thoughts on reading people, Lich.
…you’ve been sitting on a family of hazmat-suited weirdos? isn’t that uncomfortable? 😉
as for the discussion question, I don’t judge people but if somebody went babbling on about something incomprehensible, twitching and laughing for no known reason then it’s a bit of a clue that I should stay away from them.
Hah!
Although I must say, I don’t think that “I don’t judge people” is really possible. We’re hard wired to judge people whether we realize it or not. It’s just something we do, often unconsciously.
I think we won’t be lucky enough to see any of these people get out of their hazmat suits and into their normal clothes! 😀
Anything is possible.
What I mean is we won’t get to see what their undergarments are like, and in Emma’s case, I’m sure you won’t want to spoil that for us! 😉
In fact, I would very much prefer it if you left what Emma’s wearing to our imaginations, thank you. 🙂
what if he put her in this
http://i.ebayimg.com/03/!B)fhvD!CWk~$(KGrHqUOKi8EwIs((t5vBMNtBC5mUQ~~_3.JPG
*nudge* *nudge*
Hah!
Love the comic Dave ive read all of them so far well the episodes
Thank you, PJ!
“Didn’t get saved”?
Oh my, are these born-agains that think they missed the Rapture?
Pick up your skirt and RUN! Just get the hell out of there.
On topic, I start from the position of DTA (that’s “don’t trust anybody” for you, Dave). One must earn trust, like respect; and when the Schumer hits the fan, I am assuming the worst (my job is to assume the worst, the apply critical thinking to make it right).
There are a lot of fruits, flakes, and nuts in this world. Certainly a societal collapse will flush them like quail. Best to assume everyone is on leave from the psych unit until they prove otherwise. Some folks are really good at lying. Some folks will stab you in the back for a nickel under the best of situations.
In other words, In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.
Gotta love the abbreviations and acronyms. I should make a page on the site to house them all.
“There are a lot of fruits, flakes, and nuts in this world. Certainly a societal collapse will flush them like quail.”
I must be hungry because this made me think of cereal and dinner. lol
Yeah, I need a slap for mixing metaphors. Too early in the morning for me still, I guess.
Still, mixing with that brand of born-again in the middle of a zombie apocalypse is a recipe for disaster.
At least I don’t think she means “saved” in the literal sense. Folks that prepared tend to save themselves, and not worry about the .gov’s help.
What kind of sinister Plot-hole is this, Dave?!
I love your comics, BTW
Why do you assume sinister, DeX? These could be nice, well-adjusted folks.
And thank you!
Cause in every Zombie movie I saw, something Sinister happens…
But this is a zombie comic. Totally different medium 🙂
“Didn’t get save?” Love it Dave!!!
Yeah, you know that can’t be good.
Just don’t drink the Kool-Aid…
I have to say, I’m totally proud of that line.
It’s all fun and games until the human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism starts.
This it’s hilarious.
Meant to type “then it’s hilarious.”
Ha, ha, ha!! The “didn’t get saved” quote is teaching us more about your biases, Bo, than about our Hazmaterians background story. Really looking forward to see what Dave’s feverish mind has in store for our friends.
Not my biases, but of every piece of “survival” fiction I’ve ever read.
When society breaks down, the evil cultists come out to play.
Evil cults are my fav part of the ZA. lol
I’ve always been fascinated by cults as well, Angie. And I’d agree with Bo. Religious folk getting all crazy comes up fairly regularly in post-apocalyptic fiction.
WooHoo!!! Today is my last day of seventh grade, all year I’ve had one B and the rest A’s!! Go Wild!
Okay, discussion Question: I can tell (In my age group) by them using a extensive amount of cuss words, showing that they’re nervous. That or they try to hit you and run away.
Try to hit you and run away? Seriously?
I used to work with batterers a while back. In the Domestic Violence field, a common indicator of abusive personalities is the use of Power & Control Tactics. That is, people who desire to have P ‘n C over populations; usually, over “weaker” (in their eyes) populations. Sex, money, status, etc., were actually secondary goals behind the rush of having P ‘n C over someone.
In the zeepoc, the nastiness of it all will flush out these individuals like an overwrought mixed metaphor on a zee comic. Weirdos, geeks and crazies are not always malevolent. In fact, they’re just . . . us. In fact, the high level of devastation, terror, trauma, will make our own personal ticks more pronounced.
But, there are certain things you may look for to start making you wonder if it’s psychopathic/sociopathic behaviors you may be dealing with. Here is a common set of identifiers used in forensic psych, called The Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist. I’ve actually met a few individuals who rate high on this list, and I gotta tell ya, you never forget them!
Dr. Hare’s Checklist (Sociopathic Traits) [BTW: Sociopathy & Psychopathy overlap, but are not the same thing]
http://www.sociopathicstyle.com/traits/classic.htm
1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM — the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Sociopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A sociopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.
2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH — a grossly inflated view of one’s abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Sociopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.
3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM — an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Sociopaths often have low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.
4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING — can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.
5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one’s victims.
6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT — a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and un empathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one’s victims.
7. SHALLOW AFFECT — emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.
8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY — a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.
9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE — an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.
10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS — expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.
11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR — a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.
12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS — a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.
13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS — an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.
14. IMPULSIVITY — the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.
15. IRRESPONSIBILITY — repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.
16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS — a failure to accept responsibility for one’s actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.
17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS — a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.
18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY — behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.
19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE — a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.
20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY — a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.
Well put Luis, or rather well cited.
After my X, this is now what I look for… especially glib, parasitic, promiscuous and well most of the list as this is what I got subjected to.
Yeah, really solid information here, Luis.
The trouble with that list is that a lot of the items are about history, and you can’t run a background check on someone in the middle of a crisis.
Oh Yeah!! School is now officially over!!
you sir are lucky, I am home-schooled so I school all year long.
Just wait guys, once you’re done with school and start working, the breaks dry up.
yeah, unless you get lucky like these one people I know, they won the lottery and have lived off that there entire lives and have never ‘had’ to work a day in there lives, even though they have chosen to do all sorts of work landscaping and whatnot on there giant property.
Death is a natural part of life. I just help people get through it quicker.
That sounds a little menacing, C4Guy.
MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
There’s to few cults any more..
They seem to go in cycles. I’m thinking we’ll hear about a few between now and December.
The one thing that makes me nervous about someone is how they want to be a part of the group. For instance, Andre (The Colony season 1) really gained my trust because of his talk about co-existence. Then again, I suppose I was wrong. Also, I just finished season 2. What did you think about that ending?
I have pretty mixed feelings on the Colony. The concept is cool, but it seemed like too much of a game for my taste.
Yeah, that didn’t sound quite right there. I think that’s the first real sign that something’s up with these guys.
Question:
Well, normally people aren’t that hard to read if you pay attention. In a zombie outbreak though, it could be harder. A lot of the typical signs that someone should be watched can also be brought on by stress or fear. Good thing people will all be calm and collected, huh?
Also, if these guys don’t turn out to be too weird, score one for the Sam! Hot chick who knows how to look after herself, and the only other guys around are her brothers. There are worse situations to be in.