Will They Eat the Dead?

[Oragomi]

Hello, I'm new to this post ;)

Possible Spoiler in Episode #4 suggests Jack may pose this question to others.

[Spirit Shards]

@_@ Erm... I hope not. I really don't want to think about it. That would be totally disgusting.... I mean, if they have to do it for survival then I guess it's necessary, but... ick ick ick... :x

[Vicki]

ugh that would be horrible. IF it does ever happen, i know not everyone would say the same thing...so i'd say majority would totally be like "no way." (including shannon, of course.) i don't really see anyone at the moment that might consider it.

[Abraxas]

Definitely not. They need to secure some areas with food. There must be plenty around there. Well, first of all they'll eat the dog! :x :p

[perdida]

They won't eat sushi but they'll eat the dead? I think not. With all the stuff from the plane they shouldn't have a problem finding something to use to go fishing - if the idiots in Survivor can do it, so can they.

[OneFoolOfATook]

Spirit Shards- NUMFAR RULES!!

I Think That, When Made Desperate Enough, Anyone Would Do it. You May Not Think So, But I Do. I Wouldn't Want To And I Cringe At The Thought, But If It Came Down To Death By Starvation....eehhhh.....
I Hope They Don't Get Into This, It Would Be A Bit Too Disturbing For The Viewers And The Show Could Potentialy Lose Viwers Cause Of It.....It Would Be A Neat Turn Into The Desperation Zone, But I Think They'd Sooner Use Body Parts For Fishing Bait....
Of Course That Would Be Desecrating The Dead.....But 'eh...proves them more resorceful!
And Less "Ickey"

- - -

[walkingcarpet23]

I imagine they'll bury the bodies somewhere...

As for food, why eat humans when you probably have a jungle full of critters and an ocean full of fish?

[AFG]

I hope not! Anyway they should have enough polar bear to get them through episode III and by the time it’s gone the dead will have spoiled from baking in the tropical heat:lol

[Suil Liath]

They are not going to eat the dead in that time slot.

The polar bear is not going to last long if they don't find a way to preserve it.

-Kit-

[JacksGirlfriend]

Max thinks the polar bear would not be an edible food source as it's probably riddled with parasites.
JacksGirl

[Why its Mr U]

When I first read that episode summary last night I wondered the same thing but this morning I started to think...

Aside from the fact that they could catch seafood and find edible plants, that was a pretty big polar bear, how long could it feed 48? As I hope they won't go "there" (cannibalism), I started to wonder what Jack's suggestion could be. Here's an idea, maybe the suggestion is to use the bodies as "bait" to trap the mystery creature.

There is another "fact" that goes against the cannibalism from that same episode summary but as this is the spoiler free forum I'll say...

Its possible there are more animals on the island besides the polar bear (indigenous ones) they could hunt for food. I can only imagine eating the bodies being suggested as a last resort.

One other thought, maybe his suggestion is to burn the bodies. The bodies might be attracting the wild beasts and it makes medical sense, there are health hazards from having decomposing bodies around and burial, in addition to a lot of work, might not eliminate the animals being drawn to the remains. Burning the bodies would also signify (in a way) that they were going to be there awhile (before being rescued) and that could horrify some of the survivors.

I think if they do go the cannibalism route I'll certainly like "Jack" less and while I don't know if I'd stop watching (might be too hooked by then), I can see that it would turn off a number of viewers.

[Calime26]

As several others have already said, I really don't think they will need to resort to cannibalism, since there are obviously many sources of food easily available to them between the forrest and the ocean.

What I'm wondering is where they are going to find enough fresh water for everyone? I know that there are things you can rig up to purify sea water and urine, but would anyone in that group know how to make one?

[yawndave]

Dead bodies--what to do with em? Have they just left the "b-o-d-y-s" (ha ha) where they've croaked so far? I guess that up till now they figured they'd be rescued, and they wouldn't have to deal with the dead. They will have to figure something out soon.

As far a their diet is concerned--I assume that the bear had to eat something--seals or game animals of some kind. One would think that the group could hunt them as a food source--surely a more palatable choice!

[Why its Mr U]

Well they could also collect rainwater and polar bears need fresh water to survive so there must be a source of it on the island somewhere. But whether it will be large enough is a good question. Thinking of DUNE by Frank Herbert, is there any "survivalist" way to extract the water from a dead body? Something that a doctor or a military person like Sayid would know? Maybe thats the suggestion Jack makes... extract the water from the bodies.

[feenie1010]

I started to wonder what Jack's suggestion could be. Here's an idea, maybe the suggestion is to use the bodies as "bait" to trap the mystery creature.

Well, that does make sense. If they are trying to preserve themselves and still aren't sure what is out there, that could do it. And yet, it would only keep the creature coming back looking for more food.

[Master Xander]

I don't think they're that desperate for food (yet).

Regarding the polar bear... I read on TWoP that polar bear livers have such a high concentration of Vitamin A that it's toxic to humans. And they also brought up a case of a couple of explorers who got stuck and thought they could survive by eating polar bear...

[jprez98]

Well, while I was patrolling the ABC site, I read the Diary they have being kept by one of the survivors. I think it said that they were burning the dead bodies.

-Jen

[toonaspie]

In an interview, Abrams says that the characters (not the cast) have seen movies such as Alive and Jurassic Park I wonder if theyll start making any disaster movie references on the show?

[MyZackyMacky]

I think that by the time they'd be hungry enough to consider it, the bodies would not be edible. In "Alive" the bodies were preserved in the snow and ice. In the heat of a tropical island, the bodies would begin to rot very quickly.

[toonaspie]

I think that by the time they'd be hungry enough to consider it, the bodies would not be edible. In "Alive" the bodies were preserved in the snow and ice. In the heat of a tropical island, the bodies would begin to rot very quickly.

You're right, I've seen these old photos of the Civil War where you have dead bodies that have been out in the heat forever swell up...do you think that's what happen to the dead by now?

I'm sure they can resort to fishing. If Tom Hanks can do it...

[Suil Liath]

The Ecology of the island suggests water. The plant life alone suggests rain forest. Hence there is either an aquifer (s) and springs, etc. or they can capture rain.

Parasites will be their enemy with regards to drinking water. Think Montezuma's Revenge.


And yes, the bear lived on something. Meat. Polar bears only eat meat. They are the only 100% carniverous bear. This bear would have had to make some unbelievable adaptations though as they hunt seals through the ice (in fact have been known to kill a baby seal, dangle it through an ice hole, then whack the mother when she comes up to investigate, thus bagging for itself two meals).

If this polar bear were an escapee from a "zoo" it would not have had to adapt. If the polar bear were a descendent of some migratory sort of bear, it might have adapted to hunting in some other fashion.

but notice the hair. the polar bear's fur was very arctic. It would be pretty uncomfortable in a tropical climate. So -- not an adaptation but a transplant..


By now in that heat, the wreckage would start to smell pretty ripe. Bodies bloating, decomposing -- burning is the best answer.

-Kit-

[tx77]

I think they will eat the Polar Bear, they might as well have some bear sandwitches

[cccourt]

No...polar bear...not likely. I mean, I live in TX and the only Polar Bears we eat are ice cream bars. Have you ever seen Polar Bear on a menu? Highly unlikely.

As to the dead: Highly unlikely. First off...they have enough food...and the current dead are not needed at this time. THey will have to be buried.

When you get to one at a time, I think there will be danger involved with each death..and general group mentality will keep it from happening. Now then, if we get down to 4 or 5 people?? Well..that isn't going to happen. The show is a hit! THey aren't going to be killed off and eaten.

And I have lived on the island of Borneo. It just isn't done anymore!;)

[sing4themoment]

Well, ya never kno. How did humans survive millions of years ago? By hunting and eating anything!

If it really DOES get worse, the show is not going to show them lik roasting the polar bear, that is just too awkward nd werid...dunt u think?

The worst it can get is roating rabbits...if they ever find any.

aww! poor rabbits

[maxpublic]

How did humans survive millions of years ago? By hunting and eating anything!

Actually, humans survived mostly by gathering. Around 80-90% of food consumption was in fruit and vegetables, the other 10-20% in meat (depending on location).

The only group of human relatives that survived largely by hunting were Neanderthals. In terms of food consumption the numbers were reversed, i.e., approximately 80% meat and 20% fruits and vegetables.

Max

[sing4themoment]

OK SO??????????????????????? They still HUNTED AND ATE...humans consumed DISGUSTING MEAT ok? Period.

[ElectricKoolaidAcidTest]

I dont know for sure if theyll start eating the dead...but Id be getting a little nervous if I was Hurley right about now.

[MaisterPup]

> By now in that heat, the wreckage would start to
> smell pretty ripe. Bodies bloating, decomposing --
> burning is the best answer.

I agree. I was amazed when I saw Jack and Sawyer moseying around the plane wreckage, apparently indifferent to the smell. In reality, they would have covered their noses/mouths to avoid the stench. Those dead bodies would be putrefying pretty badly by now. So -- cannibalism? I don't think so.

[azteclady]

Not only are there other food sources all around them (ask Jin!) but there's also the fact that many of the survivors expect to be rescued fairly soon - maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next week, but Syed/Sayid/Sayed *tells* them that he'll be using the batteries from whatever electronic equipment they can find to rig the transceiver, thus misleading the majority of the group to believe that rescue *is* possible.

So, if the group en masse expects to be back in civilization fairly soon, would their first thought would be to commit an act that it's considered an abomination when not a crime for most of the world? Not likely.

And if even one of them were to think of it after they run out of ready-available food - such as the plane meals Hurley distributed earlier - I can warrant that after just a few *hours* (let alone days) under the tropical sun, the decomposition process would be well under way. [For that same reason, the bear-as-a-meat-source theory doesn't hold water for me.]

What would worry me to a degree is the vegetable part of their diet - wouldn't it be a *bit* too much of a coincidence to have someone who would be familiar with the flora of that particular part of the world, enough to distinguish harmful or downright poisonous stuff from the good stuff?

As for purification of rain/spring water, I agree that in all likelihood the survivors would have to go through an acclimation period during which no one would feel too happy :D But the body does get used to things over time, as many people who have moved to remote/less sterile places can tell you.

My penny

Beto

[gscaleta]

Dibs on HURLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wynter Zera]

No way. Only our monster gets that honor. :D

[edens demise]

I sure hope they don't eat the survivors. I would think that fishing would be a more logical option.

[devenish]

O god thats an awful thing to say, no theyre not goin to eat the dead or the survivors , at least I hope so , they wont turn in to canibals they can eat boars and stuff, maybe theres a k-mart on the island and they havent discovered it yet lol hey just a thought

[sing4themoment]

Boars...is the answer then...what if they finish all the boars???

they'll eat each other:eek

[TheNumbersAreBad108]

no way. even if they were that desperate, I don't think they would stoop to the level of canabalism. if one person was gonna do it, it'd be locke.

[TheNumbersAreBad108]

Dibs on HURLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




you're terrible ..................lmao tho........hehe

[I like to listen]

It will be Hurley. (OH PLEASE!)

It is the era of Super Size.

Such a fitting karmic resolution to a problem.
Otherwise who would get any, if Hurley got there first?

Wash him first!

.

[Lostaway]

?????

Okaaaaaaaay

[PTK22]

Haha I wouldn't worry about it.

[ekoistheman]

I'd eat Kate.....OH you said if they were dead, nevermind.

[j-losti]

I voted for too silly. O.k that would be an amazing episode but the bodys would have rotted ages ago
I vote

[AdamCrew]

Locke: We need to survive. And if you think we won't start eating our dead you're sadly mistaken.

Jack: NO JOHN! I WON'T LET YOU DO IT!

*verbal war continues*

[panta]

dharma will take care of everything

[The Black Cloud Thing...]

horse burgers anyone?

[rottenralf]

Vincent might want some Kate Kibble.

[RoseArienh]

Not yet...

[The_Island]

not unless they are branded with the Dharma sign

[vonnegut]

Wow, this one popped up in random polls.

[Vitriol]

There are more banned people in this thread than I have ever seen.

[LPU]

At least we waited until they were banned to eat them.

[Vitriol]

I didn't. NOM NOM NOM

[LPU]

Hang the bastard, hang him high.
Hoist his body to the sky.
It's as nice as a day can be.
Won't you come to the hanging with me?

Hang the bastard, hang him high.
Hoist his body to the sky.
It's as nice as a day can be.
Won't you come to the hanging with me?

Hang the bastard, hang him well.
Send his sorry soul to hell.
When his neckbone snaps we'll know.
When the cannibal won't be killing anymore.

His face will turn red,
Then purple, then blue.
We'll watch from up here
To get a good view.
And when his eyes bug out we'll know,
It's the end of him
And the end of the show!

So hang the bastard, hang him with cheer.
We'll make some hot dogs
And drink a few beers.
And when his tongue rolls out we'll know,
It's the end of the show
And we all can go home!

But not till we hang the bastard, hang him here.
The most exciting thing this town has seen in years.
When his body stops jerking we'll know,
It's the end of him, it's the end of him,
It's the end of him,
And the end of the show.

[Cowbell solo]

So hang the bastard, hang him high.
Kiss his guilty butt goodbye.
It's as nice as a day can be.
Won't you come to the hanging with me?

His veins will pop out all over his head.
We'll tickle his armpits to make sure he's dead.
And when his tongue rolls out we'll know,
It's the end of him and we all can go home!

But not till we
Hang the bastard, hang him high.

Hoist his body to the sky.
When his body stops jerking we'll know,
It's the end of him, it's the end of him,
It's the end of him!
Let's get on with the show!

Hooray!

[Vitriol]

Cannibal The Musical FTW!

[silver]

holy <snip>, my 3 year old just ask this question the other night.
"Do people eat people? What happens when you die?"

i'm banning her.

[vonnegut]

Did you tell her about the Donners?

[silver]

We try not to encourage her. we've hid the shovels b/c she wants to exhume our dead cat from the back yard...

[vonnegut]

If she had any brains, she would have just put it in the MicMac burial ground to begin with.

[silver]

We're keeping Steven King off of her reading list..

Besides, who needs to bring them back from the dead when the replacement cat looks like this (http://losttv-forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2280277&postcount=15)?

eta: maybe this cat was a bad idea...

[Annie]

The dead eating is being covered by Heroes. No need for lost to copy. :)

[vonnegut]

:rotfl:

This remains my favorite poll of all time.

[LostCroc]

Just be careful! You might get some bad Mexican like T-Bag in Prisonbreak!!:nanabobo:

[ZIA]

Did you tell her about the Donners?

Donner. Party of 6.