Author Topic: How Long Would You Last Alone?  (Read 1749 times)

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Offline jamaldog87

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How Long Would You Last Alone?
« on: July 28, 2010, 10:18:38 AM »
How long can a human live alone?  I watch  and read a lot of zombie books it it got me thinking how long could one human live alone? also it was on a diffenet form to about this.  the beginning stages would not be that tough.  You have the adrenaline/excitement of the whole outbreak and the beginning tasks of getting everything together to wait it out.  I say 6 months sounds like a good time frame for that.  Gathering supplies, building up some kind of bunker (or finding one) etc.  And of course for the sake of argument from the beginning you have been alone.  Maybe your wife/GF/BF died at the hands of the Z's in the VERY beginning.  Maybe you live too far from family to join with them before it is too late.  Whatever the reason you have to assume you have been alone.

How long would you last alone?

Now phones/internet will be up for 'x' amount of time and you will have the capability to reach out that way, but once the phone/internet is out you are completely cut off except for the occasional Z.  I really have no educated guess how long phones/internet would stay up, but again for the sake of this argument even if the internet/phone was still up after 2 years or so we have to assume that you can reach noone.  This does not necessarily mean you are alone in the world, but just that the other survivors do not have power to run a  computer or charge a phone etc.

At this point 'I am Legend' comes to mind.  He started losing it and talking to dummies as his way of getting through it.  'Cast Away' also comes to mind and how Tom Hanks was talking to a soccer ball (Wilson) for companionship.

Being 'truly' isolated.  I would ask again; How long would you last alone?

 We have to assume you do have to leave your 'house' to scavenge for food etc, but again you run into noone alive.

At what point do you go looking for someone just to have someone to talk to?  Do you make it that far or do you lose your mind before you get a chance to look for anyone?  Do you think you do not need anyone to talk to?


I hear that a human can only go 120 days without hope.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2010, 10:28:34 AM »
I've read quite a bit about it, and the one thing that gets people caught is that they can't take being alone.  It's just not natural, and many can't take it for long.
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Offline Almtnman

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2010, 10:32:19 AM »
I suspect that people that use forums like these would not lastlong at al, because they have become too dependent on cyber functions.  ;D
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Offline born-to-hunt

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2010, 10:43:54 AM »
I would go to a big strong building with many supplies such as a cabelas or something (lots of guns and weapons) and get prepared there hopefully there is a food store like walmart or something near by get food go back to your gun store safe house stay there a little while check computers, phones, survivors, ect and eventually get an SUV loaded with food, weapons, gas, ammo, other necissary things and head west for I am in the east (Ohio) I would also wear tear resistant clothes, knife proof gloves (knives can't get in niether can disease infected bites.) Thats if there is nobody at all if there are other survivors I wuold stay a while and try to decide on going west with the other person or people. Do I have this a little too planned out? I don't want to sound all paranoid lol
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2010, 12:04:51 PM »
I think you have three questions here.
1) how long can a person survive on their own
 Mountain men in the 17-1800 were alone most of the year trapping and hunting.  Once a year they would bring in their furs to trade for goods and other items.
There are stories of Hermits that were crazy but lived for many years alone.
Prisoners were kept alive for years in solitary confinement.
The mind is what will go crazy if you let it.
2) could modern man live alone if there were a disaster?
Yes as others have said there are plenty of food stores and moving from place to place ransacking Wall Mart caned food isles will keep you alive for years.
3) could a person survive if there were something chasing them or wanting to eat them.
Be it Lions, Tiger , dogs, or Zombie?
Not for long.  One person can not watch his back for long and even if you were in an armored RV you would need to leave the vehicle on occasion.  in Africa most Lions become man eaters after they find bodies all over due to war, famine, or plague.  My guess is Domestic dogs will be the same way and hunt down people.
I do not think a person could last long.
My question is how would you stop a Zombie?  If what stops a living animal (Human or other ) is the rapid loss of blood pressure (hitting a main artery or the heart), central nervious system (brain or spine), or lack of Oxygen in the blood (holes in the lungs and they drown in their own blood) How do you stop something that is not alive and no blood, or central nervous system matters.  You would have to stop movement and take limbs off.

Offline blind ear

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2010, 01:25:27 PM »
My meaning of alone: there is no one else. The ultimate end.

I think it would be a constant quest to survive long enough to find others. When the hope of finding others died soon to would the individual. What would be the point.

Who wants to be the man on the mountain top when there is no one else and your end is all that is left.

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Offline gypsyman

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2010, 07:08:31 PM »
Not sure I would want to last very long. If I didn't have my wife or kids, don't think I'ld want to stick around. gypsyman
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Offline Lurker

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2010, 09:06:53 PM »
I would go to a big strong building with many supplies such as a cabelas or something (lots of guns and weapons) and get prepared there hopefully there is a food store like walmart or something near by get food go back to your gun store safe house stay there a little while check computers, phones, survivors, ect and eventually get an SUV loaded with food, weapons, gas, ammo, other necissary things and head west for I am in the east (Ohio) I would also wear tear resistant clothes, knife proof gloves (knives can't get in niether can disease infected bites.) Thats if there is nobody at all if there are other survivors I wuold stay a while and try to decide on going west with the other person or people. Do I have this a little too planned out? I don't want to sound all paranoid lol

I think eastern folk who plan on coming west for survival, will find out that they are unprepared for the rigors of the western life style, in a survival situation.

You will stick out like a sore thumb, "AND," you won't be wanted out here...! Have you ever considered that scenario?

As an easterner you have no idea of the western life style, or mind set. Easterners living here, in the west now, are mostly crapping up the environment in large cities.

Strong words? NO, they could be very much stronger. Stay in an AO that you are familiar with, rather than move into an area that you aren't qualified for, or capable of surviving in.

Bill

Offline jamaldog87

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2010, 09:52:56 AM »
I think you have three questions here.
1) how long can a person survive on their own
 Mountain men in the 17-1800 were alone most of the year trapping and hunting.  Once a year they would bring in their furs to trade for goods and other items.
There are stories of Hermits that were crazy but lived for many years alone.
Prisoners were kept alive for years in solitary confinement.
The mind is what will go crazy if you let it.
2) could modern man live alone if there were a disaster?
Yes as others have said there are plenty of food stores and moving from place to place ransacking Wall Mart caned food isles will keep you alive for years.
3) could a person survive if there were something chasing them or wanting to eat them.
Be it Lions, Tiger , dogs, or Zombie?
Not for long.  One person can not watch his back for long and even if you were in an armored RV you would need to leave the vehicle on occasion.  in Africa most Lions become man eaters after they find bodies all over due to war, famine, or plague.  My guess is Domestic dogs will be the same way and hunt down people.
I do not think a person could last long.
My question is how would you stop a Zombie?  If what stops a living animal (Human or other ) is the rapid loss of blood pressure (hitting a main artery or the heart), central nervious system (brain or spine), or lack of Oxygen in the blood (holes in the lungs and they drown in their own blood) How do you stop something that is not alive and no blood, or central nervous system matters.  You would have to stop movement and take limbs off.


go points. Zombie it the same as the Failure to Stop Drill, head shots.  What about if you had a dog to help you like in i am legend?
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2010, 09:58:59 AM »
As long as there was hope many will survive as long as food and water are aval. But until you are tested you won't really know . Much like facing danger the first time will you hold your ground or run ?
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Almtnman

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2010, 10:22:18 AM »
As long as there was hope many will survive as long as food and water are aval. But until you are tested you won't really know . Much like facing danger the first time will you hold your ground or run ?

As ex-military with all types of survival training and experience used in a lot of different areas of the world including the far east, I think refering to what I learned there would be a help to me and maybe other ex-military.  ;)
AMM
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Offline jamaldog87

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2010, 10:28:19 AM »
i saw on PBS something called alone in the wildness were a man was alone in the alaska wildness for 30+ years. I know if i was in a zombie attack or i was the only person left in my area, i would to busy learnning how to do things and find food i don't think i would have much time to think about that i might be the only person left.
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Offline born-to-hunt

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2010, 12:07:20 PM »
I would go to a big strong building with many supplies such as a cabelas or something (lots of guns and weapons) and get prepared there hopefully there is a food store like walmart or something near by get food go back to your gun store safe house stay there a little while check computers, phones, survivors, ect and eventually get an SUV loaded with food, weapons, gas, ammo, other necissary things and head west for I am in the east (Ohio) I would also wear tear resistant clothes, knife proof gloves (knives can't get in niether can disease infected bites.) Thats if there is nobody at all if there are other survivors I wuold stay a while and try to decide on going west with the other person or people. Do I have this a little too planned out? I don't want to sound all paranoid lol

I think eastern folk who plan on coming west for survival, will find out that they are unprepared for the rigors of the western life style, in a survival situation.

You will stick out like a sore thumb, "AND," you won't be wanted out here...! Have you ever considered that scenario?


As an easterner you have no idea of the western life style, or mind set. Easterners living here, in the west now, are mostly crapping up the environment in large cities.

Strong words? NO, they could be very much stronger. Stay in an AO that you are familiar with, rather than move into an area that you aren't qualified for, or capable of surviving in.

Bill

I undestand totally what you mean but I am not like easterners you are talking about I think you mean more like new york or something? and I wouldn't go all that west maybe just until no more zombies and if nobody wanted me and I had nobody whats the point after that? I think strong liquor and hollow points would be the direction.
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2010, 03:00:35 PM »
i saw on PBS something called alone in the wildness were a man was alone in the alaska wildness for 30+ years.

  Not exactly...  He had numerous visitors, and also flew out on occasion...  His name was Dick Proenneke, and i didn't live all that far from him.

  DM

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2010, 02:48:06 AM »
even evading an enemy would not be alone , you would have a cause , a reason to keep going
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline born-to-hunt

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #15 on: July 30, 2010, 09:20:13 AM »
I think if theres a serious outbreak the only way would be to get on another contanant.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #16 on: July 30, 2010, 07:01:01 PM »
I still do not buy the Central nervous system shot as being the stopper.  If they are dead a hole in the brain would not do anything.  You would need to sever musles and break bones.  hey time for your sword.
But I also do not see things comming back to life once dead.  Only two people I have heard of this happening to.
1) Lazerous
2) Jesus Christ.
But with all the brain dead lierals set on destroying our way of life I can see how the zombie stories catch on.
I think they and the life sucking vampire stories are great science fiction entertainment.
Still not sure if there is anything inside the cranium to hit in a liberal.   ;D
I think a plague, virus, or chemical attack is more likely than zombies.  The idea of a handful of survivors in an area due to prior planning, imune system or something else is likely and surviving.
You will need to leave where the attack happened.  The dead will carry or bring sickness in the forms of bacteria from the rotting bodies.  the history fo the black plague and other outbreaks that had people dying faster than the dead could be burried.  Scavangers, vermin, and  the lack of food killed many survivors of the inital what ever.
When I was in my Jr. High days and the cold war was at it's apex.  I often wondered what i would do if the nukes / neutron bombs flew.  I lived just south of NYC inbetween the Earl Navy pier, fort Monmouth, and the weapons depot.  The idea that I would survive some how along with the girl of my dreams  and be able to leave was things i thought about from time to time.  Some how I was never alone.  Mostly adults did not make it.  Some how the Neutron bombs only killed the adults and the people I did not like in my "what if" senerio.
If these things help you expand ideas for a book, comic or movie then wroite it down, you are a pretty imaginitive kid.


Offline Drilling Man

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2010, 03:59:08 AM »
I still do not buy the Central nervous system shot as being the stopper.  If they are dead a hole in the brain would not do anything.  You would need to sever musles and break bones.  hey time for your sword.


  One word... "paralyze".  It's a good stopper on big big bears, and everything else i've used that shot on, because it paralyzes them....

  DM

Offline born-to-hunt

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2010, 04:20:46 AM »
I would say to make the dead come back to life someone would have to rebuild it. without the neccassary parts to live they can't just say live and shock it and someong actually happen. I don't know about making ordinary (live) people go crazy and start eating people but I think thats a little more possible than the dead actually living.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2010, 05:09:12 AM »
I still do not buy the Central nervous system shot as being the stopper.  If they are dead a hole in the brain would not do anything.  You would need to sever musles and break bones.  hey time for your sword.


  One word... "paralyze".  It's a good stopper on big big bears, and everything else i've used that shot on, because it paralyzes them....

  DM
But bears are alive.  I still think a dead something comming at you will not stop if you put a hole in the T.  I am not sure why I am arguing about science fiction.  What you think is based on what you have seen and what you read.  I think if you are going to start your own zombie franchise why not make fun of the the other lines and have the charictor shoot a zombie in the head and it keep comming an make reference that so and so was wrong and then set up how you want to get rid of the zombies. buck shot, swords, flame thrower, explosives on arrows, Bug spray, or something rediculous like, Blow pops, laser pointers in the eye, or gator aid, but only the blue or original colored flavors.  ;D
Heck the blue gator aid could reverse the chemical that made the zombie, but only the ones that have not been shot, stabbed, hacked, or what ever.
and make something else reverse the reverse like twinkies creme filling.  You could set the world right by filling an olympic pool wih the blue gator aide and getting dozens of the zombies to follow you into the pool and as htey swim after you they are set right.  and few could eat twinkies at the snack bar an you have a sequal...

Offline jamaldog87

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2010, 08:11:28 AM »
it's just a scenario were you would be the last person left in your town,city or area. Zombie are good for that kind of scenario becuase the people that die get back up to keep killing and you see people you know or love trying to kill you.
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Offline IOWA DON

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #21 on: July 31, 2010, 06:08:59 PM »
I think there were some Japenese soldiers found living on islands in the pacific 20 years + after WWII ended. They had been abandoned by their fellow troops and were living off the land. It seems after that long they surrendered to whoever showed up. Also, there was an American Indian who lived off the land long after his trib had been eradicated. I think he was discovered after 1900 in northern California. The problem is that humans are social creatures and more or less go crazy with out the company of fellow humans. There was a TV show recently about how prisiners go nuts in solitary confinment. I guess one would rather be in the worste of circumstances (a slave or prisiner) than be alone for a long time.

Offline Drilling Man

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #22 on: July 31, 2010, 06:13:27 PM »
I still do not buy the Central nervous system shot as being the stopper.  If they are dead a hole in the brain would not do anything.  You would need to sever musles and break bones.  hey time for your sword.


  One word... "paralyze".  It's a good stopper on big big bears, and everything else i've used that shot on, because it paralyzes them....

  DM
But bears are alive.  I still think a dead something comming at you will not stop if you put a hole in the T.  I am not sure why I am arguing about science fiction.  What you think is based on what you have seen and what you read.  I think if you are going to start your own zombie franchise why not make fun of the the other lines and have the charictor shoot a zombie in the head and it keep comming an make reference that so and so was wrong and then set up how you want to get rid of the zombies. buck shot, swords, flame thrower, explosives on arrows, Bug spray, or something rediculous like, Blow pops, laser pointers in the eye, or gator aid, but only the blue or original colored flavors.  ;D
Heck the blue gator aid could reverse the chemical that made the zombie, but only the ones that have not been shot, stabbed, hacked, or what ever.
and make something else reverse the reverse like twinkies creme filling.  You could set the world right by filling an olympic pool wih the blue gator aide and getting dozens of the zombies to follow you into the pool and as htey swim after you they are set right.  and few could eat twinkies at the snack bar an you have a sequal...

  WELL, i thought you guys were using the term "zombe" instead of bad guys, as i've seen bad guys called zombe's before.  (i didn't read the whiole thread closely)   He!!, i had no idea what the heck you guys were REALLY refering to...  Had i, i wouldn't have posted...  lol

  DM

Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: How Long Would You Last Alone?
« Reply #23 on: July 31, 2010, 06:46:37 PM »
I think there were some Japenese soldiers found living on islands in the pacific 20 years + after WWII ended. They had been abandoned by their fellow troops and were living off the land. It seems after that long they surrendered to whoever showed up. Also, there was an American Indian who lived off the land long after his trib had been eradicated. I think he was discovered after 1900 in northern California. The problem is that humans are social creatures and more or less go crazy with out the company of fellow humans. There was a TV show recently about how prisiners go nuts in solitary confinment. I guess one would rather be in the worste of circumstances (a slave or prisiner) than be alone for a long time.
They wer three or four on an island in the Phillipines.
The last one a LT surrendered in 1972 after they had his old commander order him to surrender.
they lived on raiding villagers and attcking them for food and supplies.  They were the "zombies".
He later moved to the US.  If I remember right.