Comments on: Why does cannibalism get such a bad rap? http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/ Question As Conversation Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:54:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: vytae http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1266 vytae Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:39:05 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1266 Mary Roach's book Stiff has a whole chapter on the subject of human cannibalism, if you're interested in more facts. She goes over where the taboo comes from, and in what circumstances in various cultures the practice is considered to be ok. The book in general is pretty fascinating, too. Mary Roach’s book Stiff has a whole chapter on the subject of human cannibalism, if you’re interested in more facts. She goes over where the taboo comes from, and in what circumstances in various cultures the practice is considered to be ok. The book in general is pretty fascinating, too.

]]> By: synaesthetichaze http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1207 synaesthetichaze Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:17:50 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1207 Many cultures in New Guinea have ritualistic cannibalism, partly due to protein starvation (very few domestic animals, grains are all protein-poor), and partly just due to being fucking crazy killing machines. Cannibalism is probably reviled because disease is so easily communicated (see Marie Mon Dieu's link on prions [the cause of Mad Cow Disease, for one... which uses cow cannibalism as a vector]). Many cultures in New Guinea have ritualistic cannibalism, partly due to protein starvation (very few domestic animals, grains are all protein-poor), and partly just due to being fucking crazy killing machines.

Cannibalism is probably reviled because disease is so easily communicated (see Marie Mon Dieu’s link on prions [the cause of Mad Cow Disease, for one… which uses cow cannibalism as a vector]).

]]> By: FelliniBlank http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1195 FelliniBlank Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:09:28 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1195 I imagine that, like the incest taboo, the cannibalism taboo is at least partly related to the practice being bad for the species as a whole -- especially among mammals, who can't be replaced as readily as simpler animals. Aside from the brain-eating issues, it just doesn't seem wise for carnivorous predators to start eating their own dead because once people develop a taste for people, that inevitably will lead to killing one another for food. I imagine that, like the incest taboo, the cannibalism taboo is at least partly related to the practice being bad for the species as a whole — especially among mammals, who can’t be replaced as readily as simpler animals. Aside from the brain-eating issues, it just doesn’t seem wise for carnivorous predators to start eating their own dead because once people develop a taste for people, that inevitably will lead to killing one another for food.

]]> By: Marie Mon Dieu http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1194 Marie Mon Dieu Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:10:44 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1194 Specifically, eating a human brain can be a <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0410_030410_cannibal.html" rel="nofollow">bad idea</a>. Don't mess with prions, man. More on cannibal history <a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/news/news_cannibalism_pt2.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <a href="http://www.deathreference.com/Bl-Ce/Cannibalism.html" rel="nofollow">This one</a> gives definitions of the various forms of cannibalism and is an easier read, with a bibliography at the end. I suspect the revulsion could be from people not wishing to believe their loved one is dead or feeling the body has to be preserved for the Resurrection but I don't really know. Specifically, eating a human brain can be a bad idea. Don’t mess with prions, man.

More on cannibal history here.

This one gives definitions of the various forms of cannibalism and is an easier read, with a bibliography at the end.

I suspect the revulsion could be from people not wishing to believe their loved one is dead or feeling the body has to be preserved for the Resurrection but I don’t really know.

]]> By: quin http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1192 quin Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:45:53 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1192 Cannibalism is one of the most vilified of actions. I can only assume it's because people (particularly those from cultures who have very specific beliefs about how they want their remains to be handled) might not like the idea of the vessel they once inhabited being used in the same way as a slaughterhouse animal. Then there is the other side, which isn't so much a fear of being used as food, as being /hunted/ as food. When you look at modern depictions of cannibals, generally they are serial killers or apocalyptic savages who treat other humans as nothing more than a potential meal. The idea that we could go from the 'important' lives that we inhabit everyday, to running from someone's efforts to turn you into lunch could be pretty terrifying, if it was a real threat. Cannibalism is one of the most vilified of actions. I can only assume it’s because people (particularly those from cultures who have very specific beliefs about how they want their remains to be handled) might not like the idea of the vessel they once inhabited being used in the same way as a slaughterhouse animal.

Then there is the other side, which isn’t so much a fear of being used as food, as being /hunted/ as food. When you look at modern depictions of cannibals, generally they are serial killers or apocalyptic savages who treat other humans as nothing more than a potential meal.

The idea that we could go from the ‘important’ lives that we inhabit everyday, to running from someone’s efforts to turn you into lunch could be pretty terrifying, if it was a real threat.

]]> By: Josh Millard http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1191 Josh Millard Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:11:30 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1191 I'd guess certain <i>bits</i> would be poisonous, but we don't just sink our teeth into food animals without some cleaning and prep either, so I don't reckon that's the limiting factor. I’d guess certain bits would be poisonous, but we don’t just sink our teeth into food animals without some cleaning and prep either, so I don’t reckon that’s the limiting factor.

]]> By: jmd82 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1190 jmd82 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:10:21 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1190 I remember hearing somewhere that eating people was poisonous. Maybe it was just mum trying to scare me from becoming one. I remember hearing somewhere that eating people was poisonous. Maybe it was just mum trying to scare me from becoming one.

]]> By: 1f2frfbf http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1188 1f2frfbf Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:56:04 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/02/14/why-does-cannibalism-get-such-a-bad-rap/#comment-1188 More importantly, in the immortal words of Calvin, "Should cannibalism be cause for leniency in murder since it's less wasteful?" More importantly, in the immortal words of Calvin, “Should cannibalism be cause for leniency in murder since it’s less wasteful?”

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