# Would you resort to cannibalism to survive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 13, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366 "2005-09-13T00:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/21 "2005-09-13T12:34:04Z")
It’s moral concerns that stop me from eating people as it is, not some sense of being squicked by it. If I was in a situation where I had a good excuse? Hey, I’m culinarily adventurous. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/22 "2005-09-13T13:10:47Z")
I’d do _anything_ to survive. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/23 "2005-09-13T13:31:08Z")
I don’t know if I would (how about that?). I certainly wouldn’t want to, but circumstance has forced me to do a lot of things I didn’t want. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/24 "2005-09-13T13:34:01Z")
Almost certainly. After I get over my initial squeemishness I’d be like “Is it white wine or red whine with Jimmy?” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/25 "2005-09-13T13:35:06Z")
Dammit, didn’t mean “whine” of course. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/26 "2005-09-13T13:40:32Z")
Yep. I wouldn’t feel traumatized about it either – or, not about the eating someone part anyway. I daresay I’d be traumatized by the stranded-somewhere-without-food part, and the some-of-my-traveling-companions-didn’t-survive part, not to mention the actually-having-to-cut-up-and-cook-someone-I-know-and/or-love part. I’d probably hold out a while, if I could, just because of the daunting prospect of preparing the meat. But I’d do it if I had to, and I wouldn’t feel guilty (or traumatized) about it. In fact, I’ve already told both my kids that, if we were ever in this situation and I was the one who died, they had _better_ eat me to survive, or I’d come back and haunt them! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/27 "2005-09-13T13:52:03Z")
I’d eat the dead guy. Especially if I could roast him on a rude spit, basting him in his own fat. Yummers! (Note to self: When fly next, bring 5lb bag of salt.) > [@CalMeacham](#): > > “They Ate Human Flesh” Band name? Or is it too much like They Might Be Giants? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/28 "2005-09-13T13:59:37Z")
From [the BBC’s “On This Day”](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/22/newsid_3717000/3717502.stm) for 22 Dec 1972: _“The group confirmed that they ate human flesh at a press conference two days later.”_ Was this just a demonstration? Or were the reporters served canapés? Perhaps a carving station? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/29 "2005-09-13T14:00:19Z")
Sure thing, but not before I check the area for a George Foreman Grill first. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/30 "2005-09-13T14:25:54Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > From [the BBC’s “On This Day”](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/22/newsid_3717000/3717502.stm) for 22 Dec 1972: > > _“The group confirmed that they ate human flesh at a press conference two days later.”_ > > Was this just a demonstration? Or were the reporters served canapés? Perhaps a carving station? There’s nothing quite like taking the show on tour, is there? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/31 "2005-09-13T16:03:48Z")
Is there any Lawry’s Seasoned Salt handy? ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/32 "2005-09-13T16:19:03Z")
I wouldn’t be able to do it. I hate watching Fear Factor when they have to eat something disgusting. I’m a very picky eater anyways. Given the choice, I would just go lie down somewhere with a great view and wait til my time came. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/33 "2005-09-13T16:23:53Z")
Me and Fido would eat long pork. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/34 "2005-09-13T16:29:04Z")
If I could slather it with some Sonny’s Sweet Barbecue Sauce, I would most likely eat anything. ---
**Author:** ![EarthStone777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@EarthStone777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EarthStone777)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/35 "2005-09-13T16:37:00Z")
If it was a matter of starving to death or eating human flesh when there was a dead body handy, I’d chow down without a second thought.\* But if there weren’t any bodies handy, I wouldn’t kill someone to feed myself. If there were a group of us stranded, I’d ask for volunteers to go under the knife to feed the group. … and if some of my loved one’s were in the group and there were no other volunteers, I’d volunteer myself. - Heck, I’d probably only go hungry for one meal before I’d start the BBQ going. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/36 "2005-09-13T16:46:36Z")
No. There’s worse things than dying. Resorting to cannibalism is one of them, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/37 "2005-09-13T16:47:57Z")
Hell yes. Meat is meat. So, that brings up a question. Are humans really supposed to taste like chicken? Are we white meat or dark meat? ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/38 "2005-09-13T17:00:23Z")
I’m not sure that letting fido get a taste for manflesh when food is scarce is a good idea. Dogs can scavenge. The last thing I would want is fido to start viewing me as a “snack in waiting”. Besides, fido needs to go hunt for his food so he leans out a bit 🙂 I’m all for eating the airline attendant…dead or alive. What? We’re alone and we both have needs. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/39 "2005-09-13T19:58:28Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > not some sense of being squicked by it. That is how you get Kuru. ---
**Author:** ![6\_6\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e0b2c6/32.png) [@6\_6\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6_6_6)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366/40 "2005-09-13T22:05:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > …When that soccer team crashed in the Andes… [nitpick] **rugby** team[/nitpick] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-resort-to-cannibalism-to-survive/321366.md?page=3)