Can a Criminal Mind Prove a Valuable Tool?
As I sit and wonder what a post-zombie apocalypse world will actually be like, I cannot help but wonder what the human race that is left will be. Imagine what a person will actually have to do in order to survive a violent outbreak of the undead. I have no doubts they will be changed forever, yet I wonder what characteristics a person must possess in order to survive such a catastrophic event. Will the criminal element prove to be a survival tool?
- Can you steal a car? You might be asking what that has to do with a zombie outbreak and survival. The roads might be chaotic, but then again, there might be roads that can be traveled, especially if you are going shorter distances. Considering you could easily be without a vehicle, how would you go about getting one to use? Even if you have a vehicle, there is a good chance something could happen to it causing you to seek alternate transportation. Should you need a car, I doubt calmly approaching someone in the midst of chaos unlike any other and asking them for their keys will work. Theft might be the only viable option.
- Craftiness: Can you break into a commercial location, residence, or other location with what you have around you? I am not talking about just throwing a rock through a window, but accessing what appears to be a locked location. Do you have the knowledge of getting in where you need to? Hopefully none of us are just sitting around thinking of ways to burglarize a persons home or place of business. We do not endorse crime here at ZAC. However, when faced with a charging horde of zombies, being able to enter and secure a building can be quite the needed tool.
- Murder: Are you capable of taking a life? You might argue that you are not killing something that is already dead. True. What about someone who has been bitten and not yet turned? Is it in you to remove the threat or will your inability to do what needs to be done be your fate? One might argue that killing someone who is bitten/infected is doing them a favor since they will eventually die anyway. Another argument is that killing is self-defense is not a crime. Regardless of your position, you need to be prepared to stand your ground or run really fast.
Not everything above is solely based on a criminal mind. I could easily foresee arguments that once the dead walk the earth many, if not all, of the rules are thrown out the window. And the other trick is how long you can utilize the criminal element in order to survive. Should you continue in those ways, you might find yourself in the moral dilemma discussed here by Kain in “Morals After The Fall“.
The Cliff-Notes version of this post is basically to ask this: are you prepared to do everything you need to do to survive?
Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay alive.
Comments (22)
Angryvikingman on 16 May 2009 at 8:13 am #
Steal a car? Yes. Find an older model car, break out the window, open the hood, find the small starter cylinoid and use a screwdriver to close the circuit between the two contact points and it will start.
Also, a deck screw, cordless drill and a large pair of pliers can be used to remove an ignition switch and then you carefully pull out the wires and cut them, then touch them together. If the car dies when you seperate them, then use a wire nut or non conductive piece of material to affix them together. The second option works on newer model cars that do not have after market or factory alarms.
Breaking into a business, or home without compromising the outer integrity is also easy. Find air conditioners, crawlspace entries, or even go on the roof. Create your own hole and you’re in. You can always fix the hole from the inside. Zombies probably aren’t going to be thinking abstractly, so find an easy spot to get in where they can’t reach, see, or won’t think about.
Murder….
Well, I hunt, I shoot, eviscerate, and skin animals. I don’t think it will be too hard unless its a loved one. I’d make sure that if I was going to wack them before they turn, that I did it in a place that I could shoot with my eyes closed, turn and walk away from the body without ever having to see it. Just to save myself some mental anguish. As for strangers, you’re fair game.
Suzuki St. Pierre on 16 May 2009 at 1:32 pm #
very good article.. you will need all of the above in order to survive a zombie outbreak… knowledge is always power.. regardless of it being in the shady arts.. knowledge is knowledge…
DirtyDeeds on 18 May 2009 at 5:26 am #
Of course we would change in a post Zed world….all of us are alike, when the chips are down, when the pressure is on, every living creature on earth is only interested in one thing and one thing only….their own survival. (Minority Report)
I think humans are very selfish beings. I still find it hard that any of you would sacrifice yourself for let’s say a loved one like a wife, brother, sister, or child….if you felt it would be in vane. Especially, when you talk about a persons skills in other articles and scenarios, that a person would be useless TO YOU if they had no skills. Skills that may be needed TO HELP YOU SURVIVE.
Do you still think you would die for that person or loved one and be ripped to shreds, infected, or zombified….knowing that on their own they may escape this situation, but will probably die anyways…and knowing that you had a far greater chance at surviving in a Zed world than those before mentioned.
jediwannabe1 on 30 May 2009 at 4:20 pm #
ok, 1st thing Angryvikingman, how old do the older model cars hav to be in the second option for stealing a car?
jediwannabe1 on 30 May 2009 at 4:28 pm #
shit sorry for double post, but the second thing is… you should also be prepared to eliminate anybody who you know will be threat to you once the zeds are on the prowl… my bro has a friend who is a very selfish person and I know he would endanger me and my fam in some way or another if he thought his life was in danger. When he comes to my house to be saved from the zombies, he gets a hole in the head. The thing about killing people in the apocalyptic zombie world, is that if they have been bitten but are not yet a zombie, they must die. I can’t say anything about this from experience, but the only option you have is to shoot before you think. Don’t take the time to look them in the eyes one last time, because that will only weaken your will-power and lessen your ability to finish them. If you MUST, just say a few last words, but make it quick. then lift the gun and fire. Don’t think about it.
gaber on 31 May 2009 at 12:08 pm #
i can hot wire a care,kill,and rob a place and im only 12 lol
Perkele-tor on 01 Jun 2009 at 1:05 pm #
I’m pretty crafty but my ranger friend is downright deviant. My girlfriend is pretty good with hot-wiring (a little better than me actually) but another friend has a few too many scruples. He’d have to wait in the car if any “innocents” were to be killed in the name of resupplying. Really most of my group base morals on “good for humanity (us)” more than “is it legal” and we might already be considered a criminal element by some. We are a handy bunch though.
Jay on 02 Jun 2009 at 4:37 pm #
Google tell’s you all sort’s of stuff how to hot wire a car how to pick a lock wich i can do it would come in handy if you had to be quiet
Caleb on 04 Jun 2009 at 2:34 pm #
I think for me that stealing a car would be the hardest, mostly cause i don’t know crap about em, schools don’t teach me anything useful, like idunno mechanics class or metalshop, gee would’nt those by useful?
breaking into an establishment… not so hard, depending on what you’re dealing with, like angry said, fing a clever way to get in and board it up or stuff it with junk so zed heads can’t get through.
and the murder thing, that’s a toughy. If you’re traveling in a group, which is smart as long as you’re not a massive force that’ll attract every zed in 30 klicks, then you should be okay. But back to the murder thing, if you’re the leader of your group, then the members will most likely see a bitten comrade as your duty to take care of it. The best choice to deal with it is to let the newly infected tag along until he falls into the coma state of the process, then do him/her in with a melee weapon so as to not attract zed by the sound of a bullet. Some may say this is dangerous because you risk more infection the longer he is alive, but the morale of the group must be taken into effect, and it’s always better for the leader to come off as a “do what needs to be done, but not to the point of becoming heinous about it” as the person will still have his sentience until he passes out, to kill him before would come off as cruel to those around him and especially those who had a good relationship with the victim (ie: friend, wife, gal-pal, etc.) and disrupt morale, thus leading to depression in the best or infighting or open shots in the worst situation.
My two cents
FreddeX on 04 Jun 2009 at 3:49 pm #
Well i personally would have problem with the entire murder thing, but i think that if im forced to do it, then the survival instinct will kick in and help me out. Don’t know how i would be able to handle it afterwards thought..
Dave on 08 Jun 2009 at 8:29 am #
I don’t know how to hotwire a car nor get around immobilisers which are common here, so I guess I would have to take out a Z and hunt in their pockets – hunt for the vehicle using the remote. Actually there may be abandoned cars at intersections or whatever though may need fuel and maybe battery.
Access to buildings, have to be a crowbar job. I’d just wedge something behind to secure it if temporary and for an overnight stay I wouldn’t want to rely on a basic lock on a weak door anyway.
Caleb is right imo, you can’t just take people out at the first hint of infection. The group needs a sense of fair play and justice aswell as personal safety – this is part of what being a leader is about, recognising the risks that have to be taken for longer term success. If I was going to have a secure base I would have a quarantine area for new people anyway.
Gabriel on 09 Jun 2009 at 2:40 pm #
Personally, I think my criminal background will be a valuable tool available to me and anyone working with me. This does not however put me beyond the concept of the greater good. B&E, GTA, and manslaughter are things we will all need to be capable of post zombocalypse in order to merely survive. The most important thing to preserve despite the collapse of society is selflessness and morality. Abusing and killing survivors to get by is, and always will be, wrong. Helping others must be a priority if humanity is to survive in any desirable form. So yes, if you pass a wal-mart- raid that sucker! If, however, you find yourself in a situation where sacrificing yourself may save the lives of others you should have the wherewithal to man up. That being said, I’m going to gank my roommates pop tarts.
Die_ANgel on 15 Jun 2009 at 8:38 pm #
A criminal mind? of course, when the shit hit the fan you want those who have muscle and know how to use them on your side, you want peoples who will be able to break into a locked building because finding the supplies you need will be crucial to survival.
When society collapse you have to realise that everybody will try to dig themselve a hole to hold out and a criminal mind might know from experience where peoples will want to go first and what places they might not think about (wich can be exellent to get this much needed ’safe house’ nobody knows about)
Also if you have special plans being able to exploit other people’s weaknesses or know how to deal with the military (or avoid them) can be usefull.
Hugh on 17 Jun 2009 at 5:53 am #
The need to kill other human beings in a crisi is built into the most fundamental parts of the mind. Its seems hard but it wont be nearly as much trouble as you’d think when your actually on the spot. As for the others breaking in is easy if you don’t need to make it look like you havn’t. A little home made thermite can get through everything but blast doors. Just poor some into the gap between the door and its frame (around the hinges or bolt) and set it going. Alternately you can go to the effort of making a thermite lance and use that: much faster on the day but takes a lot of effort to build.
HVACBALLA on 21 Jun 2009 at 6:32 am #
Killing and stealing at first may seem harsh, but its necessary. But If you’re thinking of raiding a wal-mart, you might as well search the store in a car, that means bashing the doors in at about 40 mph and only getting out for supplies. The first thing for me would be is to steal a car or truck, newr or old I can steal them, as long as its not a stick, then raiding a army supply store, then home depot for building materials, then food. With Thick clothes and you can lower the risk of scratch or bitting infections, also getting a welders mask or police protective shield like mask will protect you head, and some steel toed boots. take all this to a big warehouse I know where plenty are, they have nice big doors. There I could start a new life, until something better comes along. The warehouse would also be good for storing Tanker fuel trucks, because gas will be needed. sounds far fetched but raid a good library because your gonna need to learn some new skills, Electrician, plumbing, carpentry, and welding will be needed to secure locations and to armament cars and buses.
Personally the sight of blood makes sick, I’d really like to learn how to hunt or even butterfly a fish. I remember catching a fish awhile back and I was kinda scared to even look at it. But In my younger days I used to steal cars and do B&E’s so shelter and transportation would be the easiest. I think about a zed pandemic a few times a year, but God willing that will never happen.
Ozzy on 26 Jun 2009 at 6:41 pm #
Steal a car: Yes
Break into a mall/rob: Double Yes.
Murder: Fuck Yes.
Angryvikingman on 29 Jun 2009 at 2:59 am #
Remember when using thermite:
It burns at 5000 degrees
Makes a fire bright enough to burn your retinas. Use a welder’s mask.
Its damn near impossible to put out.
It won’t light immediately like a firework. Magnesium ribbon is the best fuse. A regular child’s sparkler will also work as it is comprised of magnesium sulfate and other chemicals that produce a temperature high enough to ignite the thermite.
DO NOT allow thermite to be heated before use, it can explode. Having 5000 degree molten slag fall on you is a bad, bad thing. It will melt right through even the best steel toe work boots.
Adding barium nitrate and sulfur in certain concentrations will increase the heat, fire produced, and thus cutting potential of your thermite.
All of the things I listed are available to the public via fireworks hobbyist websites. Free your mind to explore the possibilities of the things that you can create legally. Thermite is also for sale in a 4 0z. size from a particular website as well. I’m not telling because I don’t want anyone to burn their house down doing some crazy experiments. Just know that there are people out there with experience who can provide the information if ever there is a true need.
Ronin666 on 29 Jun 2009 at 7:56 am #
Cars are easy,if your in a town of any size, head down to the local car dealers, the keys will be in the office . Choose a pick up, preferably, you can back it thru doors of other places you want to access and you’ll have plenty of space to cart away your haul.
Murder? If I gotta choose between me and you I choose me!
David Deitsch on 30 Jun 2009 at 7:55 am #
There is a distinction between the skills criminals use, and criminal thinking. Cooperation and mutual support are invaluable survival strategies. The people who hook up and work together will have better chances than lone “Rambo” types. However, survival also requires flexibility; the ability to quickly recognize that the world has changed, and our priorities and choices have to change just as radically.
Hook up, bug out, and do what you gotta do to protect and preserve your group (not just yourself).
Jordan on 14 Jul 2009 at 5:59 pm #
jediwannabe- generally any vehicle older than a 90, as a side note starting a vehicle this way does not activate accessories nor does it disengage the steering lock.
Coincidentally, cars this old have a steering lock that can be easily defeated by firmly gripping the steering wheel whilst bracing your foot against the driver door and giving a serious pull to the passenger side.
As for the dash and accessories, that’s another story. Without the key to the vehicle theirs no way to engage the first stage in ignition that sends power through the wire rig to the dash.
As for backing into a building at 40 miles an hour, there are better ways of killing yourself. Getting the car up to 40 in reverse isnt good for the car at any rate.
HVACBALLA- you can steal a car but you cant drive stick? BS on that. Stick shift vehicles are some of the easiest of the older models to start through alternate means. Push start the beast and go about your way.
David- you’ve given the greatest advice so far skills, not thinking, are the key to survival when it comes to acquiring anything by unconventional means during unusual times.
DieAngel on 20 Jul 2009 at 8:54 am #
AS far as criminal mind goes, some could be an invaluable asset, their LIFE consist about running away from danger, and adapting to a degrading situation, some might just be lucky, but remember it’s everybody for himself when society crumble, and even if you gather together a group of peoples sometimes you will have to take decision that will not be for the good of anybody but yourself.
ZAC Admin on 28 Aug 2009 at 6:30 am #
I spent some time this morning removing some profane and harsh comments directed toward fellow posters. If I have to do that again I will resort to banning IPs. Really, if you cannot keep it civil, go somewhere else to debate.