Comments on: Intellectual history of cannibalism http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 18:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: hungryjoe http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941574 hungryjoe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941574 I would like to make a joke where I compare the postcard from Fiji to the TSA's enhanced pat-downs. I would like to make a joke where I compare the postcard from Fiji to the TSA’s enhanced pat-downs.

]]> By: andygates http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941323 andygates Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941323 This Christmas stocking filler still has a leg in it. Nom! Also - "plainly impossible"? Is he calling the survivors of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_%28whaleship%29">whaler Essex</a> liars? Famous case, inspired Melville, and all that. This Christmas stocking filler still has a leg in it. Nom!

Also – “plainly impossible”? Is he calling the survivors of the whaler Essex liars? Famous case, inspired Melville, and all that.

]]> By: PurityObscurity http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941346 PurityObscurity Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941346 Why do you always post these things when I'm hungry? Why do you always post these things when I’m hungry?

]]> By: FriendNdeed http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941861 FriendNdeed Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941861 It's wild to see a revolting subject being easily laughed off. (Note that more than half of the Comments so far have a lighthearted jokes.) I have this reaction mostly when something revolting happens that doesn't affect me directly and I can't change it. That's when I make jokes too....cannibalism jokes included. Even though cannibalism jokes are always in bad taste. It’s wild to see a revolting subject being easily laughed off. (Note that more than half of the Comments so far have a lighthearted jokes.) I have this reaction mostly when something revolting happens that doesn’t affect me directly and I can’t change it. That’s when I make jokes too….cannibalism jokes included. Even though cannibalism jokes are always in bad taste.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941606 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941606 Obviously the tongue tastes the best. Just sayin'... Obviously the tongue tastes the best. Just sayin’…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941351 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941351 I'm pretty sure that cannibalism at sea has actually happened. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_(whaleship) for an example. I’m pretty sure that cannibalism at sea has actually happened. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_(whaleship) for an example.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941610 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941610 "In real circumstances, they would die of thirst long before dying of hunger." Actually, if you find yourself stranded on the open sea, you should drink about a cup of sea water a day, starting the first day. Your body will be able to process the low amount of salt and you will get enough water to survive. (as long as you have a companion to snack on) “In real circumstances, they would die of thirst long before dying of hunger.”
Actually, if you find yourself stranded on the open sea, you should drink about a cup of sea water a day, starting the first day. Your body will be able to process the low amount of salt and you will get enough water to survive. (as long as you have a companion to snack on)

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941359 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941359 Not a good idea: http://www.answers.com/topic/kuru-disease Not a good idea: http://www.answers.com/topic/kuru-disease

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941375 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941375 The situation of "sailors adrift in a boat who supposedly cast lots to choose one to be sacrificed" is certainly not "plainly impossible" for . This happened! It's an important English criminal law case that is studied in first year law classes in Canada: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R_v_Dudley_and_Stephens The situation of “sailors adrift in a boat who supposedly cast lots to choose one to be sacrificed” is certainly not “plainly impossible” for . This happened! It’s an important English criminal law case that is studied in first year law classes in Canada: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R_v_Dudley_and_Stephens

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941394 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941394 People... People who eat... people... Are the hungriest people In the world... People…
People who eat… people…
Are the hungriest people
In the world…

]]> By: dross1260 http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941398 dross1260 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941398 "He was a fine young cannibal" —Maurice Moss “He was a fine young cannibal”
—Maurice Moss

]]> By: Blue_Jaunte http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941669 Blue_Jaunte Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941669 Damn you, Pescowitz. I've had this book in my Amazon wishlist for months, and I was just waiting for the price to drop a bit. Now it won't drop for at least another 6 months. Thanks. Damn you, Pescowitz. I’ve had this book in my Amazon wishlist for months, and I was just waiting for the price to drop a bit. Now it won’t drop for at least another 6 months. Thanks.

]]> By: andygates http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941432 andygates Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941432 Are there recipes? Are there recipes?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941437 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941437 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066936/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066936/

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941460 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941460 Here's a start: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-sermons/butcher.html Here’s a start: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-sermons/butcher.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941465 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941465 Sounds very interesting but there is once case of a breed of chimp that eats another of it's species (chimp b) after invading and capturing chimp b's territory and eating the enemy chimps regardless of the fact that's there is an abundance of figs (their main source of food and reason for invasion. Sounds very interesting but there is once case of a breed of chimp that eats another of it’s species (chimp b) after invading and capturing chimp b’s territory and eating the enemy chimps regardless of the fact that’s there is an abundance of figs (their main source of food and reason for invasion.

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941467 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941467 And, perhaps: http://everything2.com/title/Whole+roast+human+%2528Long+pig%2529 And, perhaps: http://everything2.com/title/Whole+roast+human+%2528Long+pig%2529

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941472 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941472 I wrote my Master's dissertation on the ethics of cannibalism in survival situations and I can say that there are indeed many documented cases of people having eaten others in 'castaway' like situations. Indeed, as Avramescu notes, people would die of thirst before hunger, however this is in most situations. In the case of Dudley, Stephens and Parker, Parker was killed because Dudley and Stephens believed his blood to still be viscous. Had they waited for him to die his blood would have been too congealed to offer any sort of hydration. The fact that they ate his body afterwards is incidental and is something that, having already killed him, made sense. But there are also other cases of survival cannibalism. The most famous and perhaps most recent is in the one involving Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, when it crashed into the Andes. Being surrounded by snow the survivors had no shortage of water. However, their rations did eventually begin to run low and they did indeed engage in cannibalism for its nutritional benefits rather than for hydration. The reasons for cannibalism vary depending on the situation and the need. My research concluded that cannibalism can be ethical so long as certain measures are enforced. All potential benefactors and victims must consent, knowing full well that it may be them who may be killed and eaten. The method for choosing must be random and fair. It must be taken as a last resort. Avramescu's book is interesting but it has little to no philosophical or ethical considerations. That's fine, however, as it is a history and not a treatise on its ethicalness. I wrote my Master’s dissertation on the ethics of cannibalism in survival situations and I can say that there are indeed many documented cases of people having eaten others in ‘castaway’ like situations. Indeed, as Avramescu notes, people would die of thirst before hunger, however this is in most situations.

In the case of Dudley, Stephens and Parker, Parker was killed because Dudley and Stephens believed his blood to still be viscous. Had they waited for him to die his blood would have been too congealed to offer any sort of hydration. The fact that they ate his body afterwards is incidental and is something that, having already killed him, made sense.

But there are also other cases of survival cannibalism. The most famous and perhaps most recent is in the one involving Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, when it crashed into the Andes. Being surrounded by snow the survivors had no shortage of water. However, their rations did eventually begin to run low and they did indeed engage in cannibalism for its nutritional benefits rather than for hydration.

The reasons for cannibalism vary depending on the situation and the need. My research concluded that cannibalism can be ethical so long as certain measures are enforced. All potential benefactors and victims must consent, knowing full well that it may be them who may be killed and eaten. The method for choosing must be random and fair. It must be taken as a last resort.

Avramescu’s book is interesting but it has little to no philosophical or ethical considerations. That’s fine, however, as it is a history and not a treatise on its ethicalness.

]]> By: Syd http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941480 Syd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941480 Also see Armin Meiwes the German guy who advertised for a person interested in being eaten. He um, found someone. And made a video. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armin_Meiwes Also see Armin Meiwes the German guy who advertised for a person interested in being eaten. He um, found someone. And made a video.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armin_Meiwes

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941485 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941485 A joke Site that came out in 2005. Very funny. Had quite a few people wondering. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hufu A joke Site that came out in 2005. Very funny. Had quite a few people wondering. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hufu

]]> By: squealingrat http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941523 squealingrat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941523 What is the tastiest part of the human body? What is the tastiest part of the human body?

]]> By: Chocolatey Shatner http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941529 Chocolatey Shatner Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941529 Oh, it's the... uh, I mean, I don't know. Oh, it’s the… uh, I mean, I don’t know.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941299 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941299 RE" "imagined" There is, of course, a very real case where life-boat occupants killed and ate one of their number. R v. Dudley and Stephens (1884) 14 QBD 273 (QB) Classic law school reading about necessity as a defense for murder. (It isn't one.) RE” “imagined”

There is, of course, a very real case where life-boat occupants killed and ate one of their number.
R v. Dudley and Stephens (1884) 14 QBD 273 (QB)
Classic law school reading about necessity as a defense for murder.
(It isn’t one.)

]]> By: Wally Ballou http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941300 Wally Ballou Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941300 Mmmmm, roast leg of insurance salesman! Mmmmm, roast leg of insurance salesman!

]]> By: The Mudshark http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941812 The Mudshark Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941812 <i>Actually, if you find yourself stranded on the open sea, you should drink about a cup of sea water a day, starting the first day. Your body will be able to process the low amount of salt and you will get enough water to survive. (as long as you have a companion to snack on)</i> Source? Actually, if you find yourself stranded on the open sea, you should drink about a cup of sea water a day, starting the first day. Your body will be able to process the low amount of salt and you will get enough water to survive. (as long as you have a companion to snack on)

Source?

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2010/11/17/intellectual-history.html#comment-941309 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-941309 A tasty subject! A tasty subject!

]]>