Zombie or Robot Apocalypse?
Would a Zombie (i.e. The Walking Dead) or a Robot (i.e. Terminator) Apocalypse provide a better chance for human survival?
Would a Zombie (i.e. The Walking Dead) or a Robot (i.e. Terminator) Apocalypse provide a better chance for human survival?
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Daniel Wilson has a book out called, "How to survive a robot uprising" but I bet more people have read Max Brooks', "the zombie survival guide."
The most we know of a robot apocalypse is The Terminator series, but how to survive that isn't an everyday discussed topic.
Now, if we actually follow our zombie survival plans or robot shutdown plans, is a whole different issue...
If ya consider the average intelligence behind either subject or amount of good weapons on hand vs either subject:
one person vs one zombie = better chance of surviving
one person vs one robot = most likely dead
Another issue with the Zombie apocalypse is the time it takes for a person to go from infection to zombie: if it's too short, the infection will not likely get past the initial outbreak locale. However, if it's fairly long (hours to a day or possibly more), then it has the potential to spread far.
I also think that a zombie outbreak would have more initial deaths than a robot uprising. I mean in most robot-related stories, the first versions looked very mechanical/metallic - this would be easy to identify at a distance. Yet a human vs zombie comparison at a distance would be harder. In fact it could be quite difficult up close: no missing limbs, no blood dripping from the mouth, not dragging a broken leg. Could still be either. You don't want to yell or talk too loud out in the open because you never know what's lurking around the corner/in the shadows. If you get close enough to talk at a reasonable level, then you are in putting yourself in danger of being attacked if it turns out to be a zombie. However, unless you've "passed the point of no return" and are willing to shoot anything/anyone that _might_ be a zombie, then you have to make close contact to tell the difference between zombie and survivor.
Lots of issues on both sides and even more variables that change the potential outcomes.
Another one to toss in the mix would be alien invasion/attack. Plenty of stories on that...