What is the realism of zombies?

I was wondering, what is the realism of zombies.... and im talking zombies as in flesh man eating came back from the dead zombies, anywhere from the devil ressurecting the dead (dawn of the dead) to biological diseases / cell mutating recontructing (28 days later & resident evil). I personally dont think any paranormal voodo, or the devil ressurecting the dead is probable....but i think the idea of some sort of virus, or disease infecting people and reorganizing the body to become instinctive on only food is possible.

What do you all think? the reason i am asking is because ive always been interested in zombies, and ive always loved zombie movies, but ive always fantasized, and dreamed about waking up one day and having to pull my shotgun out from under my bed to kill one running through my house looking for me, then having to seek shelter and run and a bunch of crap like that. I dont know if its just my inner thoughts just messing with me since thats something im interested in, or if my reoccuring dreams are a sign that it might happen. and i need to prepare or something. i know it sounds funny, and im no nut bag ether but im just looking for more information to see if its possible.

Thanks

quick and boring answer = ZERO

more constructive answer :

" coming back from the dead " , zero -- the best you could hope for is a pathogen that destroys / disrupts higher cognitive function

the body is quite capable of survial in the absence of higher brain function .

but the problem arises when you expect your zombie to have locomotion , analyse sensory stimuli etc

" fixation on food " -- possible the most realistic way would be a pathogen / toxin targeting the hypothalamus

see this medical site

and note that the same small area also regulates sexual urge and aggression -- amogst other things -- see where zombie writers got thier ideas from yet ?

but i admit a bias as i have always thought that zombie flicks sucked . 28days later made me want to disembow boyle and garland

Okay. Zombism is a VERY sensitive subject.


1-----------------------------------
True Vodouism. For centuries it has practiced the art of creating zombies. Without going into detail, I'll try to explain this.
Unwittingly, the victim consumes a tasteless and odorless cocktail of certain plants, and the powder of dried out blowfish liver.
Within hours, It puts his entire body in a vital state, and he "dies".
This "death" is not infact death. It is a state where his entire body is paralised.
Only his heart and lungs function, but at such a slow rate that it is impossible for any doctor or machine to register.
The lack of bloodflow makes his body cold.
Believing he is dead, his family then buries him, only to be dug up later by the bokor. (The bokor is the person who put him in this state.)
The bokor then revives him.
The lack of oxygen and the bad blood flow has given him sever brain damage.
The victim cannot think for himself, and can only do what he is told.
In this state, he is now a zombie, a slave to the bokor.


NOW, I know that's not what you asked, but it had to be addressed.
So now about what you asked.

...zombies as in flesh man eating...

No.
That is, unless you want to believe this:

The culprit was discovered to be mosquitoes native to that region carrying a new strain of Malaria which thus far has a 100 percent mortality rate and kills victims in fewer than 2 days.

After death, this parasite is able to restart the heart of its victim for up to two hours after the initial demise of the person where the individual behaves in extremely violent ways....

Have a read of this BBC News article.
...
......
.........
Then read the event's date.

Originally posted by Gear

Then read the event's date.

You know, I looked at that, knew what it was and I was just about to have a go, then I saw your line.

I actually fell for that when it first came out.

The only truth to the zombie idea is that there are drugs that cause "zombie like" behavior. Here is a site that explains it:

www.webster.edu...

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
The only truth to the zombie idea is that there are drugs that cause "zombie like" behavior. Here is a site that explains it....

That's great. Thanks man. I guess that it's too bad that you don't read posts.

unless it is a corpse being moved by some sort of mechanical aparatus, 0
then again, that would simply make the being a robot

I'm well scared of some sort of zombie outbreak type thing I think i'd know what to do if it happened though. However unlike america in england we have no guns so we would have to be a little more creative in the old weapon department.

I've always wondered about the whole 28 days later thing although in theory they are not really zombies they just have rage. But who knows what experiments governments are really doing without any of us knowing, which is why its so crazy when animal rights activists break into research labs and let all the animals go like in 28 days later.

Its a scary thought

I've also heard about the herb potion but those people don't go out trying to eat people they are just used as slaves I believe it happens often in small villages etc in places like africa.

Just remember if zombies come trying to get you destroy the brain

Originally posted by almeister 5000
I'm well scared of some sort of zombie outbreak type thing I think i'd know what to do if it happened though. However unlike america in england we have no guns so we would have to be a little more creative in the old weapon department.

Slingshots are very effective.. Read up on David and Goliath.
Also, arisol spray, and lighter, instant flame thrower.. I am sure you guys across the pond can be pretty inovative should the need arise.

yeah we can be pretty resourceful if needs be I can't imagine it will happen anyway, hopefully

My British brethren! We must remember, we would be great in taking out zombies, he country is infested with them already.......................chavs.

my god its started already and I never noticed

You have to watch 'The Serpent and The Rainbow' to understand where the Zombie myth came from.

"The Serpent and the Rainbow" film was kind of a dramatized version based on a 1985 book by the same title whose author, Wade Davis, was (and is) a Harvard biologist. If you want scientific details as to the drug (tetraiodotoxin)-zombie scenario, I'd recommend the book. The movie was entertaining but again, the book is where I'd go.

Originally posted by Zanzibar
My British brethren! We must remember, we would be great in taking out zombies, he country is infested with them already.......................chavs.

no, no, NOOOOOO!!!!!
Although chavs are less likely to eat your brain and more likely to just take your ipod!

Seriously though, Gear posted the only 'true' accounts of zombism (sp?). There are no cases of deranged mutated corpses going on a slow walking rampage through entire towns.....yet.

What always gets me about zombie films is why everyone is so easy to catch. The zombies move slower than an old lady driving a tractor, yet people think it would be a better idea to turn and fight, than put a good mile between you, rest then move on again.

Stupid.

I think that Shaun of the Dead paints a pretty good picture of what would happen, it would be freaky, but the zombies are so slow and dumb they pose little threat.

If it ever happens, anyone that gets caught, deserves what happens to them.

Zombies are REAL...I saw a load of them on Sky news the other week.
They had all gathered in one area,for something called "the labour party conference"

I am an Undertaker by trade, and let me tell you, once a body is dead, it is nothing more than a piece of meat.

The closest a dead body comes to being alive is, when disturbed, the built up gasses in the belly pass by the vocal chords and the corpse 'moans'.

I've had corpses moan, pass wind, pop and tear open.

I have never seen a dead body get up and request a nice plate of brains.

Originally posted by Silcone Synapse
Zombies are REAL...I saw a load of them on Sky news the other week.
They had all gathered in one area,for something called "the labour party conference"

oooo

That calls for an...



OOOHHHH SNAP!

They had all gathered in one area,for something called "the labour party conference"

Zing! too true.

although on the old zombie issue being slow and stupid what about these running types I reckon a running zombie would be difficult to get away from plus would it get tired? hmmm thats a thought.