Zombie Cliche Lookout: Survival Isn’t Enough
This particular trope shows up in a lot of zombie fiction. If I were to take a wild guess, I’d say it’s probably in at least 50% of all zombie-related fiction. And there’s a good reason for that. Survival is fun – at least in theory – when you’re thinking about testing yourself for short periods with a definite end point. If it’s just the way you live for the foreseeable future, it’s not quite so fun anymore. Even short-term, it’s a challenging mental exercise. Just ask Survivorman‘s Les Stroud.
People need safety and stability. They need to know that they have food to eat and a warm place to sleep. They need to not have to worry about getting attacked and devoured by zombies. Without those things, stress levels rise quickly and steadily. And as those stress levels rise, people will start losing abilities to think critically, compromise, and get along with one another, creating a pressure cooker atmosphere inside, with the unrelenting zombies outside.
About this Episode:
I did six panels this time around because I’m eager to check in with the other characters, particularly Murphy and Inez. I think there’s some good discussion to be had here, but I’ve got a hankering for a little action, and I suspect you fine readers feel the same.
Discussion Question: Blowing off Steam
Like I said above, surviving long term in the zombie apocalypse is a recipe for dying of a stress-related disease, provided you don’t get eaten by zombies, of course. While there might not be an end point to the zombie uprising, you still need a way to cut the stress so that you can function normally. So what’s the secret? How do you de-stress when there’s an insurmountable horde of the walking dead right outside your door, trying desperately to get in?
Typo alert, Discussion Question, second sentence, after the comma “so that your can function” your–you 😀
Same section, last sentence: “trying desperately to get in” Have Dave’s zombies started thinking for themselves and getting jobs in the zombie apocalypse now? 😀 Either Dave’s zombies are undead who don’t think for themselves as humans do, or they’ve got some lower level brain functions that still work left in them that drive them on relentlessly, despite the fact they’re already dead.
The second typo is more of a question than a typo but I flagged it because if there’s one thing Dave wants in his zombies, consistency would be it! 😀
Also, in the actual dialogue of the comic, isn’t “‘And who trust us.'” incorrect too? Shouldn’t it be “And who trusts us?”
In this case, trust should be plural because she’s talking about more than one person.
Ah. I see now that I look closer you are correct. I read that particular panel separate from the one before it so it was out of context.
Oh, that’s really easy to do, isn’t it?
Fixed the first one. As far as the second one goes, I’m going to leave this in since it’s just a figure of speech.
“It’s not enough to survive. One must be worthy of survival.” – Commander William Adama
I am sooooo stealing that one.
It’s a great line.
I need to re-watch BSG. What a great show… other than the end.
This is a good question. Right now I have 5 different stress busters I use regularly. One is physical exercise, one is hunting/fishing, one is video games, one is mechanical work, and that last is shooting sports. Of these 5 at least 3 maybe 4 are likely to become necessary parts of my daily survival post ZA. (not much time for X-BOX once the dead walk) Will they loose their therapeutic value once they become necessities? WIll I need to find new ones?
Oh, good point Damage. I do think they would start losing their therapeutic value once they become a daily necessity and stop being a pastime.
I feel like shooting might get old quick (unless you are the type of person who doesn’t shoot the zombies). It’s almost more stress-inducing because then you have to worry about having enough ammo the next time you’re swarmed. Also, if you’re facing the zombies that detect sound, you have to worry about a hoard being atracted.
I’d tend to agree with Nom here. The necessity of it, and the stress of time and resource management, would rob all the fun of it.
I vote Cheryl for team leader 😀
She definitely seems to have a good head on her shoulders.
Board games – they’re quiet and don’t attract zombies. 🙂
Excellent point, KimJ. I always like it in movies and books where the survivors have to make up games because they don’t have all the pieces to any single one.
I guess physical exercice is a good one. But I can’t imagine myself doing push ups or fitness with zombie right in at doors step…
I hope I could be able to find the strengh to stay cool or at least clear in my mind and still be able to act in high pressure situation. Changing stress into good adrenaline.
My ultimate secret would be… Remember to breathe. It appears to be usefull to me when under pressure.
Good point on remembering to breathe. It’s a funny thing how easily you can forget about that when things get crazy.