# We're all literally cannibals? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053 "2003-05-23T16:05:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/1 "2003-05-23T16:05:19Z")
I’m sure everybody has, at some point in their lives, chewed off a little piece of skin or a bit of blood and eaten it (maybe from the lips or from the fingers). Does that make us a cannibal, or does it only count if it came from someone else? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/2 "2003-05-23T16:08:06Z")
From Merriam-Webster: Main Entry: can·ni·bal Pronunciation: 'ka-n&-b&l Function: noun Etymology: New Latin Canibalis Carib, from Spanish Caníbal, from Taino Caniba, of Cariban origin; akin to Carib kari\na Carib, person Date: 1553 : one that eats the flesh of its own kind Technically, yes. We be cannibals. ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/3 "2003-05-23T16:12:41Z")
I suspect it only applies for eating other people…but it does suggest that (paraphrasing) ‘this is my blood, this is my flesh’ of the Christian communion is cannibalistic in origin ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/4 "2003-05-23T16:24:58Z")
**UnwrittenNocturne** that just makes us godivores. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/5 "2003-05-23T16:30:34Z")
I’d have to say no. What you’re describing is generally an act of pickiness or whatever. It has nothing to do with eating for nourishment or ritual purposes. Everyone has probably swallowed some of their own hair. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/6 "2003-05-23T16:36:35Z")
Donner, party of fifty; your table is waiting! 😃 [d & r] ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/7 "2003-05-23T17:34:55Z")
You are what you eat. I eat pizza. Therefore, I am a pizza. I am a pizza. I eat pizza. Therefore, I am a cannibal. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/8 "2003-05-23T18:40:17Z")
Chronos, look up “circular logic.” circular logic: n. see Logic, circular. Then uh, go find a round room and pee in the corner. 😃 Don’t worry about a few bits of skin or fingernail until it becomes a significant portion of your calorie intake. As lutheran I take the meal in the body and blood of Christ in the form of a wafer and grape juice (so the wee tykes and those in recovery can commune too). It nourishes my soul but leaves me hungry for an omelette on Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/9 "2003-05-23T20:46:57Z")
General rule: never go to a dictionary for technicalities of usage. The dictionary definition **Ethilrist** is technically true, but in practice no good writer would ever refer to eating a flap of skin from one’s body as cannibalism, except in the most ironic or jokey of senses. Even eating larger parts, like an arm, would have a qualifier of some kind, as in self-cannibalism, to distinguish it from the standard usage. ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/10 "2003-05-23T20:56:48Z")
So where does that leave those of them who regularly consume 90-100% of their normal nose mucous output (not counting when they have colds)? Cannibals? Or those of us who choose the a less messy disposal of produced fluids when … indulging an intercourse partner in alternative indoor calisthinetics? Cannibals? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/11 "2003-05-23T21:17:01Z")
What about losing weight? If I use my own body fat for energy, am I a cannibal? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/12 "2003-05-23T22:35:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > \*\*What about losing weight? If I use my own body fat for energy, am I a cannibal? \*\* Well, if you are starving, your body starts cannibalizing itself(fat, muscle, organ, in that order) for nutriets, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/13 "2003-05-23T23:32:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*General rule: never go to a dictionary for technicalities of usage. > > The dictionary definition **Ethilrist** is technically true, but in practice no good writer would ever refer to eating a flap of skin from one’s body as cannibalism, except in the most ironic or jokey of senses. Even eating larger parts, like an arm, would have a qualifier of some kind, as in self-cannibalism, to distinguish it from the standard usage. \*\* What about eating a flap of skin from your body? If I did that, would I be a cannibal? Answer: yes. The dictionary definition is fine with me. But maybe we need a different [dictionary.](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=cannibal) cannibal, n. 1. A person who eats the flesh of other humans. 2. An animal that feeds on others of its own kind. Note the word flesh, not skin, nails, fat or excrement. ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/14 "2003-05-23T23:34:11Z")
Please ignore the fact that I answered my own question incorrectly, I meant NO, obviously… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/15 "2003-05-23T23:40:01Z")
Is it ok if the flesh is eaten with fava beans and a nice chianti? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/16 "2003-05-23T23:44:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*From Merriam-Webster: > > Main Entry: can·ni·bal > Pronunciation: 'ka-n&-b&l > Function: noun > Etymology: New Latin Canibalis Carib, from Spanish Caníbal, from Taino Caniba, of Cariban origin; akin to Carib kari\na Carib, person > Date: 1553 > : one that eats the flesh of its own kind > > Technically, yes. We be cannibals. \*\* That depends on one’s interpretation. Also from m-w; “1 : to take in through the mouth as food : ingest, chew, and swallow in turn.” Note the “as food” part. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/17 "2003-05-24T01:07:36Z")
Everyone seems to be overlooking the definition of _flesh_. In gastronomical terms, flesh usually refers to meat, i.e. muscle. By this definition, eating skin/hair/nails doesn’t really count. ---
**Author:** ![sezyou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@sezyou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sezyou)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/18 "2003-05-24T03:18:09Z")
I think it could be referred to as auto-canniballism? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/19 "2003-05-24T03:55:52Z")
> [@](#): > > **godivores** Hmm… Lady Godivore… ah, forget it. The term you’re looking for is _theophage_. As a matter of fact, theophagy is a recognized practice in religions. The native peoples of Mexico ate the psychedelic _Psilocybe_ mushroom and called it _teonanacatl_, ‘flesh of the gods’. However, they were conquered by the Spanish a people whose own theophagic religion suppressed the mushroom cult… until it was rediscovered in the 1950s in the remote mountain town of Huautla de Jiménez by R. Gordon Wasson and his wife Valentina, a mycophile (mushroom lover) from Russia, a land of mycophiles. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053/20 "2003-05-24T04:07:45Z")
Ah, psilocybin. The original Viagra. 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-literally-cannibals/177053.md?page=2)