Zombie Cliche Lookout: We’re in Good Hands
When you meet new people, there’s always a chance that they’re going to be a little… off. And it seems like the more you need something from them, the higher the probability of them being totally weird. So it stands to reason that, in the midst of the zombie apocalypse, the vast majority of people you meet are going to be strange in one way, shape, or form.
Therefore you’re left with weighing their little idiosyncrasies against your needs. Odds are, your needs will weigh out, and you’re stuck dealing with the weirdo. Fair enough, but will they be dangerous? Well, considering they’ve survived this long into the end of the world, they’re either very lucky, very dangerous, or both.
About this Episode:
Fans of Firefly (and really, shouldn’t we all be fans of Firefly?), yes, I am indeed (mis)quoting Mal in this comic. That’s just how I roll.
On another note, as much as I was bad mouthing my little set in the last episode, I’m actually growing to like it. It’s one of those things that is detailed enough to look out, but simple enough to disappear into the background, which suits me just fine.
Discussion Question: Are You a People Person?
Building on our theme from this episode, how are your people skills, and how handy do you think they’re going to be during the zombie apocalypse?
Mine are okay. I’ve never really been a “people person”, per se, but it’s a skill I’ve had to develop over the years at work, and now I have reached a point of begrudging competence. Now, do I think it’ll be useful? Absolutely. People like to talk about weapons, food, and first aid, but being able to get along with people is likely to be just as important a skill.
Well Dave, i’m thinking of writing a zombie survival guide comic, ZOMBIE ACADAME, with the help of their 5 different skills, (Strategy, Assault, Scavenging, Medic, and Socialist.) You can learn to survive tip by tip, hope your ready for the test.
Sounds like an interesting idea.
Yeah, sounds cool! 😀
I am honestly an incredibly socially awkward person irl. Among friends, I’m the life of the party, but if someone shows up that I’m suspicious of or have little respect for, I become uneasy and borderline rude.
So, if I know the person, even by acquaintance, I’m fine, but otherwise…
Makes it hard to meet new people, doens’t it?
I’m kind of the same way. I’m naturally a very quiet person. I can get boisterous among friends, but it takes me a long time to warm up to new people.
I’m the opposite of the Sir above me, I am way better socially with people I don’t know than with the guys I do know, and that’s basically because for the last 2 years I’ve been debating with other people who I know nothing about other than their stance on the subject.
If I have an idea of what they want, then I’ll be able to communicate without any problems, other wise it’ll take some time.
Very interesting Phantom. So you’ve essentially built this skill over the course of two years in competition. That’s really cool.
Am I a people person? It depends. I come off poorly sometimes, as if I am “talking down”, or condescending. It’s not that. It’s that I don’t have a lot of time to dawdle. I have to get the most information into the fewest words possible. If I use jargon or technical language, including fifty cent words it’s not to be a pedant. It’s to convey precise ideas.
When I deal with patients I try to dumb it down. It doesn’t always work. The way I see it is that it’s not my job to please everyone. I try to get along with people, treat them well, and act and speak with veracity and integrity. That’s about all I can promise.
In my estimation, there’s a big difference between direct and being rude. I like directness. I’m not a fan of prattle and small talk.
I agree; but some folks can’t tell the two apart. It’s like Mr. Wolfe in Pulp Fiction: “If I’m curt with you it’s because time is a factor. I think fast, I talk fast and I need you guys to act fast if you wanna get out of this. So, pretty please… with sugar on top. Clean the f****** car.”
Again, I am a bit of a people person; but some folks don’t appreciate critical thought combined with task-oriented action .
You’re definitely right about some people not being able to differentiate. That can definitely get you into trouble.
i thought that most people were shy because they respected people’s privacy.
I think people have a lot of different reasons for being shy.
I’m not really a people person with strangers, but then again within a couple of hours with new people I am able to open up and become the real person I like to be. People usually don’t confront me because of my size but if they do they will realize that I’m just a really big teddy bear.
I’m pretty similar, although it usually takes me longer than a couple of hours to open up. I need to work on that.
I’d like to say I can read people fairly well and with that I will usually find the “line” and cross it to see who’s in and who’s out. It’s kinda like if you get “it” or not, capisci? And I tend to speak fast, sometimes to fast.
I wish I was better at reading people. That seems like a hell of a useful skill to have.
It’s not hard. Just DTA.
(That’s “Don’t Trust Anybody”)
Remember, “liking” leads to “loving”. Loving leads to f******. I don’t want to get f***** over by anybody.That’s true for workplace politics and in the end of the world.
If the guy is a little paranoid, seeing someone he knows rather than a group of strangers would seem to make all the difference.
Question:
I like to think that I’m fairly diplomatic and good at reading people. Of course, I don’t actually like people, especially strangers, so having to deal with them for an extended time would be very wearing for me.
You wrote: “If the guy is a little paranoid, seeing someone he knows rather than a group of strangers would seem to make all the difference.”
I would agree, except in an EOTWAWKI situation. In that case, I would be more cautious (call it “paranoia” if you like) of people that I know, because someone that I know might know a bit about my preparations, and decide that he or she needs them more than I do, and especially if said friend/acquaintance is with a group of people. How do I know they won’t come asking for my supplies; and further, how do I know they won’t try to overpower me or kill me when I say “no”?
I say if someone comes knocking on my door in a WCS he better be knocking with his elbows, because his hands are full of supplies. Otherwise, hit the road, Jack. I have my own family to take care of.