Considering I have never seen The Walking Dead, many people do not believe I am knowledgeable enough to debate zombie-related issues. On the contrary, in high school I did research zombies for an English class oral presentation. High school research means you’re basically an expert, right?

Is the act of killing a zombie moral?

It depends on the situation. On one hand, zombies are trying their hardest not to starve to death (or re-death, I guess?) and see this fresh juicy brain sitting in your skull. Survival instincts take over, they must eat the brain to remain undead and fill their rotting stomachs. You have no choice but to act in self-defense. In any case of pure self-defense, killing a zombie is a moral option. Also, if it’s in defense of another human, killing the zombie would be the moral option, especially if it’s a friend or family member; you just saved that human’s life. However, If the zombie is not attacking anyone and is simply standing around, killing it would be an act of murder, which is immoral. If a zombie isn’t bothering you or anyone around you, instead of murdering a zombie that has done no harm, quickly relocate before it gets hungry.

If your best friend became a zombie, would you kill him or her?

I would make the decision based on the moral parameters specified above. While I recognize it would be much more difficult to kill your best friend than it would be a stranger, the rotting flesh would help remind me that they are no longer the same living person they were before. Also, one of the easiest ways to lose the title of my “best friend” is an attempt to crack open my skull to eat my delicious brain inside. Attacking people for brains is a friendship deal breaker for most people.

Is the zombie condition conceivable in our world?

Simply put, yes. There are many different theories about how a zombie outbreak can exist, but the three most likely and most often causes are disease, hazardous chemical spill or leak, and radiation. In theory, such unknown reactions can create a condition consisting of rotting flesh and an intense craving for brains. As for the undead concept? Let’s say this disease/chemical/radiation only comes into effect when the future zombie is on his or her death bed, when certain systems of the body and parts of the brain begin to shut down. That’s when it kicks in. This can explain zombies’ poor motor skills, inability to communicate, lack of blood flow, etc. Theoretically, the zombie condition is conceivable, but extremely unlikely.

Zombie discussion is a healthy way to debate with friends without hurting feelings or becoming upset. Also, it increases awareness and preparedness in case of an actual zombie apocalypse. Continue the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments section.

(In all seriousness, debating zombies is less personal and less emotional than debating politics. As someone who lost a few friends over the years from political debate, switching from politics to zombies is refreshing.)