Point / Counterpoint is a platform in which two parties discuss pertinent cultural issues from opposing sides. It’s a real debate, and like any honest fight, there are winners and losers. This is the result.
Marc:
Let me set the scene: you and your friends are trying to stay alive during the zombie apocalypse. There are hundreds of zombies all around you, with very few survivors remaining. You get separated from your friends and are about to get swarmed by zombies.
Would you prefer to die by being gruesomely eaten alive by the zombies, or to get bitten only enough to be infected, forcing you to become a zombie yourself and join the swarm of the undead. Personally, I think it’s an easy choice: Of course I would want to try my luck as a zombie. Who knows, it might be the best time of my life . . . err . . . afterlife?
Your thoughts?
Phil:
I certainly do not believe there is such a thing as “trying your luck as a zombie.” A truly lucky zombie is one who lacks cognition when he is biting the neck of his best friend. I’m no martyr, but I would take the final sacrifice. If a zombie horde was closing on me I’d look for the most painless way to take my life, if only to preserve the lives of my friends that much longer.
Marc:
It seems to me that in the world of zombies there are several different types, just as there are many different types of people. I would think that, as zombie, I would be one of the more lazy, non-confrontational zombies, who just kind of picks through the scraps of the other “go-getter” zombies. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?
Phil:
Don’t you think you’d just be prolonging your death if you went about it that way? The zombie world is one of survival-of-the-fittest and if you’re not going to rampage around town eating everything that moves, I suspect you’ll starve to death pretty quickly.
Marc:
Perhaps. During zombie apocalypse, it seems like death might be next to impossible to avoid. Now, I’m not sure what will cause the inevitable zombie outbreak — some sort of botched government test to create super soldiers, something caused by radiation, or your standard ancient curse — but who’s to say that becoming a zombie isn’t the next logical step in the growth of the human race? It all depends what sort of zombie we’re talking about here!
Phil:
Well, it seems your suggesting becoming a zombie might bring you great new powers. That sounds awesome (and might be on a personal level) but think about the socio-political side. Both of us, being young, dream of “La Revolución,” which will turn the status quo on its head. Honestly, though, we’ve got it pretty good now. Imagine we were all turned to into super soldiers and the social hierarchy broke down. I’m pretty sure we’d be living in a Vlad the Impaler-esque society in no time.
Marc:
Ok, but maybe the government wants us to be afraid of zombies because they know that being a zombie unleashes human potential in ways heretofore never experienced. I just recently watched the movie The Thing, the new one that’s in theatres, and apparently the scary-looking body-snatching aliens were smart and sophisticated enough to build an elaborate spaceship.
Who’s to say once the zombies have taken over the planet, that they — or should I say we — won’t build their own spaceship and travel the galaxy, looking for brains to eat? We just don’t know, and that uncertainty is why I’m not willing to completely write off being a zombie.
Phil:
While you were watching The Thing I watched 28 Days Later, and they weren’t building spaceships. No, they were starving to death. The uncertainty might do it for you, but there’s too much risk for me.
Marc:
But did you see those guys before they starved to death? Running around and scaring folks — that sounds like a hell of a time! I mean, obviously I would prefer to not be a zombie, but if the choice is to just give up or make the best of things as a member of the legion of undead/infected crazies then count me in!
Phil:
Count me out.
Marc:
How about this: If and when I get turned into a zombie, I promise not to eat
your brains, as long as you promise not to hit me over the head with a shovel.
Phil:
That could work, but don’t come my way when you start to get hungry.
Winner: Life as zombie (with certain concessions).
