None of Us Will Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

"The only thing worse than dying in a zombie apocalypse, is surviving one." 

 

Zombie media has taken over the world by storm (pun intended). With cultural staples like Zombieland and The Walking Dead, and modern interpretations such as The Maze Runner and The Last of Us, the zombie apocalypse has been an area of fascination in pop culture for some time. Recent contributions from Korean cinema such as Train to Busan, Kingdom and All of Us are Dead have introduced a whole new type of zombie and revived the once-stale genre. These zombies are cunning, fast, and have little to no weaknesses.

Why are we so fascinated with them? 

1. Well, they trigger our evolutionary instinct to survive at all costs. 

2. They are freaking terrifying.

The idea of the entire world succumbing to a virus/infection/mutation that causes us to lose our humanity and freewill is a fate that makes us uneasy. It also makes us seasoned survival experts from the comfort of our couches.

We mutter things like:

Pick a weapon, any weapon!

No, you fool! Don't turn back.

Check for bites, check for bites!

Close the door, idiot! 

And it is as fun as it is infuriating. But here's my comprehensive list for why we will likely NOT survive a zombie apocalypse:

1. You don't exist in a vacuum. 

It’s easy to come up with the perfect survival plan from the outside looking in. But our 'strategies' often overlook crucial contextual factors.

Firstly, we have absolutely no control over when the apocalypse happens. Very likely, we will not be in the most ideal conditions, location or state of mind for survival. If you happen to be in a well-populated city during the initial outbreak, you're in tough luck. Your survival is a coin toss determined by great instincts and pure luck.

Secondly, while you have total control over your own actions or decisions, your survival still depends on other people. You're more likely to die from others' mistakes than your own. All it takes is being at the wrong place at the wrong time, like, say, a body falling out of a building (completely plausible during an apocalypse) and landing on you... leaving you physically impaired, and that's that. All your tactical skills and planning out the window.

2. You have something to lose. 

Think across every survival or horror movie you've ever seen. The protagonists all usually have one thing in common:

They're alone. 

Ergo, they have nothing to lose. You, on the other hand, mostly likely have loved ones you feel an obligation to protect or seek out. And while that makes you painfully, beautifully human, it also leaves you at a greater disadvantage during an apocalypse. 

It’s easy to look at a screen and make snap judgement calls like "stay away from the city!" But what if your family member is stuck at work, with no way to get out? What if the love of your life is all the way across town? What if you have kids? Then, you are no longer a free agent in a Bond film... Your own wellbeing and safety cease to exist, and you're singularly driven by the desire to keep them alive. 

You are not only tasked with successfully retrieving them, but with moving them to a safer location, all while keeping zombies and frantic humans at bay. Every risk taken is a gamble for their lives, and every risk not taken decreases everyone's chances of survival. 

It’s not a coincidence that every survival hero is a miserable loner who couldn't care less if they live or die. Yes, it's probably because the juxtaposition makes for excellent television. But the practical reason is, since they have no emotional attachments, their decisions are mostly driven by logic. When you have a loved one, or even lose one, during the apocalypse, you forfeit rationality by default. 

We all know about the infamous hidden bite trope, and while it's convenient to stay in groups, this puts everyone at risk if an infected person hides their bite. What would be the rational response? Subdue them and kick them out? Absolutely. Now imagine if said infected person was a friend, parent or spouse? Would you react rationally?

They're also more likely to take risks, as they're unburdened by the fear of losing it all, or leaving their loved ones stranded. Conversely, they're less likely to take irrational risks, which the average person will have no choice to take if it means the safety of their family. 

To put it plainly, it's easier to survive when you only have yourself to take care of. 

3. There's an even bigger threat 

Most zombie survivalists overlook one crucial thing: the biggest threat in a zombie outbreak isn't the zombies... 

But other people. 

See point number one: we don't live in a vacuum. While it's all too likely to fail as a result of human incompetence, one must never discount human wickedness. 

Consider the fact that local police establishments make about an average of 35 arrests a day. Now compound that on a national scale. When the authorities are suddenly preoccupied with handling the zombie problem, or are compromised themselves, where do you think those criminals will go? 

The disorder and chaos in the streets will only amplify violent and sadistic tendencies. It will be a frenzy of corrupt people using the chaos to their advantage, by killing or sabotaging others for their own gain. 

With that said, life-threatening situations bring the worst out of most 'good' people (our moral compasses have never pointed north). Particularly when their wellbeing, or those of their loved ones, is at stake. 

I think it's safe to say, you can't trust anyone out of your immediate circle during an apocalypse. 

4. Lack of resources 

We've officially covered the immediate threats – the monsters, other people and personal obligations. But there's a silent killer that most zombie media completely skips over. 

Resources. 

Frankly, you're more likely to die of starvation or deadly weather conditions than a zombie bite. Even the hint of an apocalypse will undoubtedly cause a frenzy of mass-buying and resource hoarding. Food, water, shelter, clothing, fuel, weapons and first aid supplies will be in high demand. 

The good news is, the population will be reduced significantly... increasing your chances of finding resources. The bad news is, travelling around with lots of food and supplies will make you a target for any opportunists preying on the vulnerable. 

But you still need food and water to survive.

The quest for both will undoubtedly influence all your decisions – where you take refuge, and for how long. Contrary to most television and film media, in which our main characters don't take so much as a bathroom break or faint from exhaustion while on the run for weeks. With that said, every trip to locate food is a life-threatening endeavour. Both zombies and the uninfected are potential threats to you. 

Also keep in mind that no one goes completely unscathed – an injury can easily become a death sentence without proper medical care... Which raises the matter of medical supplies. Though you could rough it out, of course. But you'd best prepare yourself for the agony of healing in a world without painkillers.

5. What does it mean to survive? 

It’s rare that we actually stop to think of the implications of a zombie apocalypse on a national or global scale. The end of the world is not game of tag or hide and seek.

What is actually means is, most of the people you know are dead. 

Statistically, only a small percentage of the population will survive, simply because of the nature and aggression of the zombie virus/mutation. It takes a shorter amount of time to spread, as the virus is fast-acting. A well-populated city can be completely infected in a matter of three days. 

Survival is a matter of chance, not intellect. What it means is that you're part of the select few people left on earth, a number rapidly dropping by the second. There's no prize for those who manage to stay alive, but a bleak, terrifying existence. 

You're not hiding out until the 'worst is over', and the world goes back to normal. Survival means understanding that there will never be a 'normal' again. Even if all affected persons are completely eradicated, the world can never look or be the same. All the infrastructure we have will no longer serve its primary purpose – swimming pools, museums, work offices, beauty salons, etc. 

Instead, humanity will regress to its most primitive needs: food, shelter, safety and health. All our passions and grand pursuits will become frivolous or meaningless. No one will attend concerts to watch their favourite singers perform, or put on a stage play, or buy a newspaper... everything in your previous life, your career, hobbies and dreams will all fade into the monotony of simply surviving each day. 

The biggest question, then, isn't how to survive in the wake of an apocalypse... But why to survive. What is left to live for when we've lost everything? 

The only thing worse than dying in a zombie apocalypse is surviving one. Think about it: a life of constantly watching your back, moving from place to place, losing the people you love, and witnessing the worst parts of humanity. 

Yet, one thing about humanity is that it prevails under the worst conditions. It adapts and persists against all odds. The one percent that survives represents hope, that as long as we're still breathing, the fight isn't over yet. A community built on trust, mutual loss and trauma may form and forge an entirely new world. 

You don't survive completely... You survive in parts, and shed the rest. Surviving always requires death of some kind. Not every mind is strong enough to make that type of commitment.