A zombie apocalypse is where the world as we know it comes to an end when it is taken over by zombies, by the dead who are brought back to life without a soul, bent on eating people, particularly their flesh and brains. Those who are bitten by zombies become zombies themselves, creating a zombie plague. Civilization falls with only a few humans left alive desperately fighting off the undead.
The idea first appeared in the American film, “The Night of the Living Dead” (1968) directed by George Romero. He put a twist on Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend” (1954), a book about the end of the world where all but one man becomes a vampire. The idea of a zombie apocalypse has caught on in a big way since 9/11 or, depending on how you look at it, ever since the “Resident Evil” films (2002-2010) and video games came out.
Stories of zombies themselves, however, go back even further, back at least to the voodoo of New Orleans and Haiti, if not back to West Africa. Those who practise voodoo, they say, can bring the newly dead back to life and control their soul. They are alive and can walk but have no will of their own.
Some believe the stories of voodoo zombies are just urban legends, but others say that there is a voodoo drug unknown to Western medicine that can make a man seem dead for several days before he comes back to life.
In mainstream American culture, zombies:
- Are mindlessly bent on eating living humans
- Are not fully conscious
- Feel no pain and have large untended wounds
- Do not talk
- Have bodies that are falling apart
- Can use weapons, preferring those that require little eye-hand coordination.
Shooting them in the chest does no good – their hearts do not even beat! You have to shoot them in the head.
Because their bite makes others into zombies, your friends and family can become zombies too without you even knowing it – till it is too late!
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of the American government has issued instructions about how to live through a zombie apocalypse. Here is some of it:
- Have a survival kit: have enough on hand to live for a couple of days without electric power: water (a gallon a day for each person), food, medicine, clothing, blankets, soap, towels, a first-aid kit, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, etc.
- Have a list of emergency numbers (police, fire, etc).
- Have important documents ready to go: driver’s licence, passport, birth certificate, etc.
- Two meeting places: Have two places for people in your household to meet: one right outside the house and a fallback one outside your neighbourhood.
- Out-of-state contact: Have someone in another state who people can call to say they are safe.
- Multiple escape routes: Have several ways to get out of town.
Of course, this is the same advice they give every year for hurricane season: living through a zombie apocalypse is no different than living through any other disaster.
See also:
- CDC: Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse
- TV Tropes: Zombie Apocalypse
- Marie Laveau – famous voodoo queen of New Orleans
- hurricane
@abagond:
Have you watchedAMC’s The Walking Dead? If so, what did you think of it?
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I looooove zombie apocalyptic stories!
Anyone seen Highschool of the Dead?
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Btw, the way I took one of those zombie apocalypse quizzes and this is the result:
Would you survive the ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE?64%
It’s a toss up. You may not make it, but you probably would. But don’t get cocky. Stay on your toes, keep your eyes peeled and don’t drink tap water. And don’t trust anyone with long sleeves…
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I watched The Walking Dead and I liked it, I can’t wait for season 2 I hope they introduce the black woman from the comic books that wields a katana. She is so badass and cool.
I watched zombieworld too that was funny and a good break from the angsty ones.
I am currently watching a zombie anime called Highschool of the Dead. or H.O.T.D. There is a lot of fanservice in it but once you can get over that it was quite good the first episode was really good.
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OMG Zombies, I absolutely love anything involving zombies and post apocalyptic worlds!
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@Leigh
Personally, I rather liked it and they didn’t skimp on the makeup, the woman or the torso rather, crawling in the park was A++. In a kind of round a bout way they even touched on racism which was kinda “eehhh” because they used the safe, “redneck” to do it and the only black woman in the group decides stay in the self destructing CDC building? Really? That was an eye rolling moment lol.
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I can see it now; zombies will be the new AIDS.
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Now this is a subject I can get into. For reason, despite all scientific evidence and natural law, this is a real fear I have. Now I’m going to read the post. Yeah I jumped the gun.
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I’ve read the essay. Yeah, my biggest fear right here.
It started with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which I hate to this day. Then I saw Night of the Living Dead at a sleepover-didn’t sleep a wink and would’ve taken out any little girl if I had to. Then I played Resident Evil at the friend’s (because I am a masochist for this genre) and didn’t make it past the first encounter. I found the Zombie Survival Guide at a Goodwill and I officially haven’t been right since then.
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An awesome mini-series to check out if you can is “Dead Set”, a zombie horror-cum-black comedy from the UK. It revolves around the contestants in the Big Brother house, who for a long time stay oblivious while the whole world around them is overrun by zombies.
Also worth seeing is “The Omega Man”, an early adaptation of “I am Legend” starring Charlton Heston. One of the first movies I have a recollection of seeing.
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I don’t care for the mindless zombie mumbling, “Brains, brains,” and staggering around aimlessly type of zombie movie, but I did like “The Omega Man”, “I am Legend”, and “28 Days Later”.
Oh, and that “voodoo drug” you heard tell of is probably tetrodotoxin. The toxin comes from several different animal species, but most notably from puffer fish (called “fugu” in Japan, the fish is sometimes prepared as sashimi, but only by preparers with special training).
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@Eurasian Sensation
I watched a little bit of Dead Set never all the way through might try again.
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I must admit after watching so many zombie films and tv shows and anime all in week I moved my dog into my room and have two blunt weapons by my bed. lol
Better safe than sorry plus having all that could protect me from a burglar or something
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Abagond:
Comedy should be left to real comedians. Unlearned people might think he was serious.
Tyrone
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*lovingly holding my SIGNED copy of World War Z*
My precious…..
Seriously though, I LOVE the zombie genre! Good post!
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28 Days Later
I did as well Parfum Bleu but I was a little bit disapointed in the second part.
I prefer satanic horror movies with zombie films coming in at a close second. I hate slasher films.
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I finally saw the CDC zombie instruction. Something tells me that this would strike in The Bad Lands first and then move east. The military facilities are there and so is seclusion.
Yup this is still a fear.
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I’m into 28 Days Later. One of the best movies of the decade, imo. It teaches you there are worse things to be feared than zombies: humans.
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@ Tyrone:
I’m sure Abagond can learn a lot from you about comedy, considering most of your posts on this blog are pure comedy.
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When I saw the “Dawn of the Dead,” I laughed through the first 20 minutes. Yes, you read it right: laughed. Preposterous and shocking things make me laugh, and I find zombie apocalypses funny as hell. “Shawn of the Dead” and “Zombieland” is good, rip roaring side splitting fun as well.
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Resident Evil zombies are so complicated. Have you ever read the wiki pages about the RE video games? So extensive and creepy. I haven’t played the game since the first ones came out so it was weird catching up on the storyline. I especially hated the fact that zombies can “appear” dead so it could attack you. Then it said that if there was a pool of blood around the zombie then it was probably dead. I thought that was pretty scary to sit and think about. The problem with RE zombies is that there are only a few I would consider zombies. Most are just mutants. That’s becoming a bit more common with zombies these days.
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I’m a big fan of Resident Evil games (the movies not so much, put aside the 2008 CG animation).
Were these CDC instructions some kind of satire? They don’t actually believe zombie apocalypse is a plausible menace, do they?
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I’m pretty much a zombie fan over many different fields. Anime (love HOTD/zombie loan/kore wa zombie desu ka?) Movies (Fav dawn of the dead but so many others are awesome) Books (world war z and other zombie books by max brooks) TV (the walking dead)
just saying >.<
Personally I wouldn't mind a zombie apocalypse as i've planned for it countless time.. you know just incase so im set. but honestly i dont think its possible. for a virus to spread that rapidly just isn't possible and if it went any slower it wouldn't become a major threat. but you never know just cross your fingers and hope that it does/doesn't happen
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The season finale of The Walking Dead tonight! I can’t wait!
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I’m ready for season 3 of the Walking Dead. Can’t wait for Michonne to do some slicing, to see the Governor (best villain ever), and I hope they bring on Tyrese from the comic because things become crazy at the prison.
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Man, I can’t believe I have to wait a couple of months before Season 5 finally airs.
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Did anyone watch the Season 5 premiere of The Walking Dead? Talk about intense. Or how about this past week’s episode? Let’s just say the ending was rather, um, unappetizing.
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Folks have to eat!
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Omg, the Season 5 episodes of The Walking Dead Season is too much. First, Tyreese and now Noah! He was one of the new people in Rick’s group I liked. I was so saddened by his death. It was quite gruesome. RIP Noah. 😦
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@Leigh
Noooooooo!!! Not another one!! I have not seen it yet. 😦
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I am a die hard Walking Dead fan and last night’s episode just left me in tears as we had to say goodbye to our dear sweet Noah, wonderful portrayal by Tyler James Williams. I have cried for Herschel when the evil Governor beheaded him. I cried for Sascha’s lover Bob, and her brother Tyreese. If something happens to Michone or Rick i might not be able to continue, but i will have to because i want to see the end.
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The walkers disemboweled him and tore him apart while he was still alive. That was a horrific scene. I was watch Talking Dead the talk show that follows the show with some of the actors as guest on the seating couch. Young Tyler James Williams said he was kind of upset and couldn’t watch the screening, and he said some of the crew on the set was kind of grossed out. It was very hard to watch. I really love this show.
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@ sharinalr:
I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to spoil it for you. On that note, please try not to read what I wrote to Mary.
@ Mary Burrell:
Mary, I bawled when poor Noah went the way he did. Can you imagine? His thoughts right before he was…devoured. And to have Glenn witness it? Ugh, I wanted to kill Nicholas! If it wasn’t for him, Noah would likely still be alive.
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@Leigh
I went and watched it as soon as I finished watching your comment. I was so ticked that those morons got them killed. Thank goodness my eye candy Glenn and Rick are still around.
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I cried with tyrese, but I was more angry with Noah’s death. That f**ker screwed him over. Not to mention that preacher later trying to screw them.
@Mary
Love Michone and Rick. Favorite episode is when Rick killed Shane.
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@sharinalr: i just noticed last week when Rick got all clean showered and shaved he is sexy
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@leigh204: Did you watch Talking Dead? They had the guy plays Eugene, and The guy that plays Glen and Tyler James Williams and they just seemed like fun guys they made me laugh. But Tyler James Williams (Noah) Everybody Hates Chris, said that he couldn’t watch the dailles looking at the gruesome scene of himself being devoured by the walkers. Gabriel is a rat and a turd and he is the evil one, i always knew something was sinister with him. Besides letting his congregation die.
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They are great actors the look of helplessness and horror on Glenn’s face watching Noah’s demise. I was feeling it with him. Carol is great she rocks and Abraham, that “Ginger” is not to be played with. I hope Carol and Rick kill that woman’s husband because he is a wife abuser.
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@sharinalr:
IKR! I thought, “Oh great! Now Pastor Gabriel is going to stir up trouble for Rick’s crew.” That’s the thanks Rick’s group gets after saving him in the first place.
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@ Mary Burrell:
Yes, I always watch “Talking Dead”. It’s a great accompaniment for “The Walking Dead”. I learn so much more after watching it because the show answers certain questions that arise. Yeah, I can tell Tyler James Williams had difficulty with his death scene. I can’t say I blame him. His latex face looked all too real. My husband knows I enjoy watching “The Walking Dead” and he told me that he was checking out many “Walking Dead” forums. And from what he read, he said I’m going to need a hanky for the ninety minute season 5 finale on March 29th. Eek, I wonder who’s going to die next!
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There will be a spinoff from The Walking Dead”. The title of the show is “Fear The Walking Dead”. And it’s a prequel prior to the zombie apocalypse set in Los Angeles. I can’t wait! Cliff Curtis will be in this show. He’s an amazing actor!
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@leigh204: Are you ready for tonight? I am so anxious, I so afraid Darryl or Carol or worse Michone or Glen or Maggie will die. I hope to god it’s not Rick or Karl. The others like Sacha, i wish she would snap out of his PTSD because she is such a loose cannon. Sacha is a good sniper and an asset to the group. But she is going to get herself killed or someone else trying to help her, although she said she doesn’t want help. Abraham is strong, maybe Rosita or Tara or Eugene. Gabriel needs to get chewed up by the walkers. Who is marking the walkers with the “w” on their foreheads?
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@leigh204
They should have let Pastor Gabriel die when he brought those walkers back to the church. I saw him as a liability then, but I would have never imagined he would go so far as to throw rick and crew under the bus.
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@ Mary Burrell
My husband and I are debating on who we can live without. I vote Carol or Eugene. Carol because of her plan to kill that man was a bit too much. Eugene because he is just too much of a punk.
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@sharinalr: I can’t have Carol dying i need her. Eugene is my choice. I just can’t stand him he useless. I am afraid Sacha will probably die because she is just too post traumatic and she just can’t cope anymore. I feel Rosita or Tara might die also. I hope nothing happens to Rick, Darryl, Glen or Maggie and for god’s sake not my girl Michone. I am anxious to see tonight. I am on all the blog sites and there will be sadness.
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@Mary Burrell
I definately want Eugene gone, but you know they always like to take one of the main ones in the season finale. I am soooo worried and nervous right now.
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Last night’s finale was ok. Love Lennie James as Morgan he is my dude. I . the scene with Sasha laying on top of the dead walkers was very poignant. To me it symbolized that she like the walkers was also dead. Having lost her lover Bob and her brother Tyresse. She just need to grieve. I have not been very compassionate in regards to her character and that was not very fair. I feel Gabriel’s self loathing because his consciousness is eating him up. He knows what he did was abominable and he knows he deserves the same. I love how Carol has evolved over the many seasons of the show, from scared and abused wife to just scary bad a**** she is a force to be reckoned with, The Wolves are another breed of monster spawned from the zombie apocalypse. The Wolves are just as soulless and evil. Pete is dead good riddence. Poor Reg Deanna’s husband had to die. RIP to him. I wanted Glen to kill Nicholas. And Darryl and Aron were caught in the parking lot by a herd of walkers and Daryl being the bad a*** that he is and with the help of Morgan arriving just in time to help fight of the walkers. Rick is free to get Jessie for his woman now.
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Have you guys checked out the trailers for Fear The Walking Dead?
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDxew5SguVw)
And The Walking Dead? It looks soooo good!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va1UPrFXHKA)
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Thanks for posting Leigh!!
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Hell yeah! I am so ready for Oct. 11!
Fear The Walking Dead looks a lot better than what I imagined. I can’t wait.
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@ sharinalr:
You’re welcome! Btw, I think the reason why Fear The Walking Dead looks promising is due to the producers,directors, and writers from The Walking Dead getting on board. I’m really looking forward to this new show. It’s said the show will go all the way into October right when The Walking Dead makes its Season 6 premiere episode.
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Okay! I will be honest. Was not a huge fan of Fear the walking dead. None of the characters were lovable. All selfish and me wishing all of them dead.
On the bright side…..Walking Dead Marathon tonight!!!
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I almost thought I had to turn on Rick. This is going to be a tough season.
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I can’t accept that Glenn is dead i just refuse to believe Glenn is dead. I am doing the wall slide.
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I enjoyed Fear The Walking Dead as well.
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@Mary Burrell
I am having a heart attack. They can take anyone, but Glenn, Rick, Michone, and Darryl.
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@sharinalr: I am hoping against hope that Glenn isn’t dead and that he smeared himself in zombie blood and guts and was able to escape the herd. But i have a sinking feeling that it’s probably true.
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@ Mary Burrell:
I watched The Talking Dead following The Walking Dead and when the memoriam clip was played to show who died in that particular episode, Glenn’s name didn’t come up. So who knows?
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And if Glenn is indeed dead then, “Noooooooooooooooooooooo!”
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Has anyone noticed how the majority of the show’s current Black characters are portrayed in their thinking regarding the use of guns?
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@leigh204: That’s what i’m talking about we really don’t know if Glenn is dead.
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Call me crazy but I literally wore all black and went into a mini mourning stage thinking Glenn is dead.
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@Fan…
To be honest I have not noticed. I know in TWD most, if not all, black characters are melee masters.
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My husband actually considered calling into work and using the excuse that we have a death in the family. ROFL
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@Fan… I noticed that Morgan doesn’t like to use guns he prefers his stick. Michone has her katana sword.
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@Sharinalr
” I know in TWD most, if not all, black characters are melee masters.”
I first noticed it in the latter half of the 2nd episode of the new season when their enclave was being raided by the “W” gang.
It dawned on me as Carol was passing out pistols from the armory during the fight against the “W” (etched on their foreheads) invaders, the unarmed reverend said, “I’m not good with guns.” The brother armed with the staff replied, “Me either.”
I’m thinking this is negative reinforcement programming. .. if you catch my drift.
Staffs, knifes, swords, axes are good for close quarter ATHLETIC (ninja style) combat. However, imo, these capable melee experts are trumped by those who are as equally trained in the use of close quarter and longer range use of shotguns, rifles and pistols. Another diff between the weaponry is one can run out of ammo, the other doesn’t.
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@ Fan .
“Negative reinforcement” . Expand on that.
Sasha is an excellent marksman but it seems all the killing got into her head.
Abraham seems to like killing the undead. It does seem like the white characters are gun wise and less affected by the killings.
I didn’t see Glens death coming. I didn’t get to see the episode until tonight. Mary tipped me off something happened to Glen on the open thread. I had to stay off this thread until now lol
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““Negative reinforcement” . Expand on that.”
@ MB
Vis a vis, in Amerika, typically, Blacks seem to have less an affinity for firearms than whites…
Mainstream Amerikans frown, squirm and are made uncomfortable with the idea or image of even law-abiding Blacks possessing legal firearms. Therefore many Blacks themselves are uncomfortable with gun ownership.
I think this TV show, TWD, reinforces the idea that a preponderance of Blacks are not fond of gun use/ownership.
(Also, one has to ponder how many white viewers might tune out if the show’s Black characters were as armed and trained as the white characters… )
Nevertheless, the history of Blacks with guns in Amerika has been an interesting one where firearms have been used time and again as the great equalizer in defense of life and property.
And yes, Sasha is definitely the exception – not the rule.
Thank God for exceptions! 🙂
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Thanks Fan for that. I believe you are right.
If the Abraham character had been Black he would have made white viewers uncomfortable.
I believe all Blacks should be armed for self defense. That said the right for Blacks to be legally armed possibly got Corey Jones killed.
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@ LoM – But the knife problem in England is even worse than the gun problem in America.
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Mirkwood,
Try posting an article that’s not more then 7 years old lol
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33547806
This article mentions that these knife prohibitions are used unfairly against Blacks.
Overall crime is down since 1996. What it is really saying is the number of white people arrested has declined but the number of non whites arrested has remained the same.
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@Fan…
Interesting. I need to pay attention. I had previous issues with TWD black men being weak and the 1 Asian being shown as weak.
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Michael
I would rather see Maggie die than Glenn. Though in the comics he eventually dies by Lucille.
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Mirkwood.
The point is that prohibitions against guns, knives, drugs ect target non whites at far greater rates then whites.
In the U.S. the first gun control laws were passed in the late 1800’s against Black ownership of guns.
Stop and frisk racially profiles non whites because of gun control laws. Stand your ground favors whites over Blacks.
All these laws have race as the underlying factor in how they are applied.
In the U.S. they are about as many guns as their are citizens. Any kind of gun confiscation scheme would result in armed conflicts against the police by mostly white people.
I do think we do need a national back ground check for mental health. That said their are so many guns out their and with a population of 350,000,000 the chances of a crazy person getting weapons and wrecking havoc are great and no amount of gun control can stop mass killings from happening.
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“I need to pay attention. I had previous issues with TWD black men being weak and the 1 Asian being shown as weak.”
.
@Sharinalr
Yes, we all must pay attention.
EVERYTHING in Amerika takes it lead from racism-white supremacy/superiority programming/mental-emotional conditioning.
TV and movies are among their largest weapons of mass (Black minds) destruction!
From baby’s dolls to zealots, the war against our minds never stops.
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Spoiler Alert:
Glenn is said to not be dead, but a major character will die this season.
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Mary and Leigh
How are you guys feeling about Morgan right now? I have to admit I can’t stand him right now.
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@Sharinalr: I am happy Glenn is alive for the time being anyway. With Negan coming on the scene there will be many deaths. Many of our favorites will probably perish. Morgan just annoys the hell out of me. I am so done with him. That “All Lives Are Precious ” I am too through. He didn’t kill that wolf like he should have. Carol was raging she wanted to kill him. Morgan might need to go back outside and fin for himself. He is jeopardizing everyone.
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Not sure how many look at “Fear the walking dead” but I need to vent. I can’t stand Madison. They should have killed her off first. If I were strand I would tell her and her “family” to find another avenue. How does she have the never to believe she has say so in a situations where they did not know heads or tails of what to do? Strand could have left them all.
As to “The Walking Dead”, who do you guys think died? I hope it is not Glenn, because comic book wise it is suppose to be and Not Daryl. Or Machonne or Sasha.
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@ Sharina: I have been on lots of Fear Walking Dead sites and The Walking Dead. I am not understanding the Madison hate lots of folks are displaying. I like her at first I couldn’t stand Strand I thought he was an A-hole but as the story arc stated to develop his character was more fleshed out when we learn about his partner/lover Tom Abigail and he becomes less of a jerk and I see he has a tender side. The finale was all kinds of bat sh*t crazy. As for TWD we don’t know if it was Glenne or Abraham or Eugene. I have read Negan does not kill women according to the folks who read the comics so who knows. It might even be Darryl. We will just have to wait and see.
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@Mary
I can’t speak for everyone, but my Madison hate comes from the idea that she knows what is right of best for every, but it is always due to her blindness of the situation. There is always this aggressive attitude about her at the expense of everyone else. For example, her son. This guy has great potential to be a great person and survivor, but she pulls him down with telling him what he can’t do. As strand put it, she does not realize his potential. Also, I would be lying if I did not say I am partial to Liza.
“I have read Negan does not kill women according to the folks who read the comics so who knows. It might even be Darryl. We will just have to wait and see.”—-I had no idea he did not kill women. I hate we have to wait so darn long just to find out. 😦
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Just got through watching episode 7 it was intense and very sad i am just numb.
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I am crying need an adult beverage to calm myself 😭😭😭😭😭😱😳
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@Mary
*passes vodka*
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@Sharinalr: Yes vodka is good I had Captain Morgan Rum😂😂😂😂
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