Alive : How Far Would You Go to Remain So ?

[kreeden]

We seem to keep getting into discussions about eating meat , or not eating meat . Years ago I read a book that took the topic much farther . It was the TRUE story of a group of people who's plane crushed in the Andes , and the choice they made to survive . The book was called " Alive : The Andes Survivors " , and for those who haven't heard the story , this link should tell enough of the story . http://members.aol.com/PorkinsR6/alive.html

Basically , a group of rugby players , returning home from a game , crushed in the Andes Mountains , on Oct 13 , 1972 . Of the 45 people on the plane , 16 lived for 72 days before they made it out of the mountains . Yes , they made it out . They were not found , and would not have been if a few hadn't walked out on their own . These 16 only managed to survive as long as they did , by eating their dead . Not an easy choice .

Do you think that under the same conditions , you would , or would not eat human flesh ? Honestly . And don't think that you couldn't . If these people could , any of us could . { well , most of us anyway } . It has been years since I read the book , but I believe that two would not eat , and choose dead . But I could be mistaken . { the website appears to disagree with my memory , so I assume that it is correct } .

 

[Yerda]

I'd be munching on my plane buddies before we hit the ground!

Pilot: "We're about to go into the Earth like a bloody dart people!"
Me: "I'll get the cutlery."

 

[Druidus]

Easy enough; yes, i would eat human flesh. My only qualm would be the possibility of the human equivalent of mad-cow disease (yes, I've forgotten the name of it).

I would never kill them for it, but hey, if they die on their own, why should they go to waste? I'd like to think that even in dying, I could help the others survive.

 

[Yerda]

Dibs on Dru.

 

[Jaymes]

I'd like to say I could, but I'd never know until faced with the situation. If I could cook it first, then odds are I would. If I had to eat it raw... ugh.

 

[Ori]

I think i'd be one of the first to die, I couldn't eat human flesh, even if I tried I would puke it up!
I'd prefer to kill myself and let myself be an extra bit of meaty goodness.

 

[michel]

I'd like to say I could, but I'd never know until faced with the situation. If I could cook it first, then odds are I would. If I had to eat it raw... ugh.

I was actually going to say that I hope I would resist the temptation - but I guess, when the time comes..........

I remember the crash itself. As for eating raw flesh, I know it is not quite the same, but the French were eating rats during the War - when food was really short.

 

[Melody]

I think the website is wrong. I also remember that at least one of the members died because they refused to eat human flesh.

I honestly don't know what I'd do. I have a fairly nervous stomach and it doesn't take much to make me upchuck. When my kids threw up, I did too while cleaning it up. Came close on a number of diapers. I can't even watch Fear Factor when their chowing down on cow snout because I will literally barf.

I'm afraid while my brain might be willing, my stomach will revolt and I'll be next on the menu.

 

[Druidus]

When faced with a situation like that, Melody, your stomach would probably get used to it. Besides, it's not the actual taste of human flesh that you dislike, it's the idea of eating a human. Granted, that may be disturbing, but human flesh is supposed to taste a lot like pork, so you could just imagine you were eating ham.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I guess I would find out if Hannible is correct in thinking human taste good.

 

[john313]

I saw a thing on this not too long ago. The scientists said that when your body starts to starve, first it feeds on the fat, then it moves to the muscle, then it starts to shut down unnecessary organs of the body, eventually part of the brain shuts down and the only functioning part of the brain is the "reptilian" part. once this happens the person does not use morality to make decisions, only logic. the survival instinct takes over and the starving person will do whatever is necessary to survive. So if we get hungry enough, according to those scientists, we will do it.
They also talked about the mad cow disease in people, which can be transferred from cows with mad cow and can take 25 years(based on some former human cannibals) to show up i think it was. makes me wonder how many people have unknowingly eaten mad cow meat and just do not yet show signs, with all the unnatural (ground up dead cattle)food served to cattle on the factory farms.
I would eat humans to survive if it was the only way.

 

[The Black Whirlwind]

i would defineteley eat human meat if it was cooked. I'd just imagine a big, meaty steak, and eat the flesh. If it was raw, i guess i would have to imagine my favorite sushi, and then try to eat it.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

it is a pretty repugnant thought . but so is to die when you could live with out doing any harm.
What does the Bible say about it? anyone got a reference.
Our eating habits are pretty irrational. The English don't eat horse the French love it. It is known stone age peoples in Europe ate human flesh.

Terry
________________________--
Blessed are the pure of heart, they shall behold their God.

 

[john313]

i think all the 'abrahamic' religions say eat whatever you need to if it is a matter of starvation.

 

[kreeden]

I think the website is wrong. I also remember that at least one of the members died because they refused to eat human flesh.

I thought that the married couple wouldn't eat it ? But perhaps something else killed them before they straved ?


John313 , Reptilian Brain , don't you love that term ?

Interesting replies everyone . Truth is , I'm not sure what I would do , although I believe that I would eat . BTW the flesh was frozen . I believe that they tried to cook it as much as possible , but they had little for fuel . { it was during the latter part of winter , in the Andes } . And I don't think that any possible long term effects would be a concern at the time . Staying alive long enough to have any long term at all was the concern .

If you ever get a chance to read the book , do so . It was not an easy decission for any of those people . And it is quite an amazing story of survival . In the Spring , a small group had to walk out of the mountains , on their own , to get help . Changes are , if they weren't in as good size as they were before the crush , they would not have made it , even after eating human flesh .

 

[Neo-Logic]

When life gives you lemons ...

 

[Yerda]

When life gives you lemons ...

Take them back and ask for something sweeter?