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A special lecture by: THE MIT ZOMBIE DEFENSE INITIATIVE

A special lecture by: THE MIT ZOMBIE DEFENSE INITIATIVE. ZDI.002: Intermediate TOPICS IN ZOMBIE DEFENSE. Intermediate Topics: purpose. Provide students with scientific tools and knowledge necessary to carry out Survival Strategy Teach biology to better assess thy enemy

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A special lecture by: THE MIT ZOMBIE DEFENSE INITIATIVE

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  1. A special lecture by: THE MIT ZOMBIE DEFENSE INITIATIVE ZDI.002: Intermediate TOPICS IN ZOMBIE DEFENSE

  2. Intermediate Topics: purpose • Provide students with scientific tools and knowledge necessary to carry out Survival Strategy • Teach biology to better assess thy enemy • Teach social dynamics to better assess thy friend

  3. ASSESS THY ENEMY

  4. Practical concerns • Vectors • Infection timeline • Incubation period • Symptoms timeline • Symptom-to-death delay • Infection & casualty rates • treatment

  5. Etiology (cause) • Informs practical factors • Not immediately obvious • Likely Culprits • Viruses • Fungi • Runners-up • Other parasites • Bacteria • Designed factors

  6. viruses • Most known neuro-virus: rabies • Moves up sensory nerves to spinal cord then brain • Bite proximity affects incubation! • Neurological damage  behavioral change • Recovered victims have permanent damage • Positive id as virus difficult under disaster conditions • If no signs of fungus or parasite, virus more likely than bacteria

  7. Virus implications • Vector • Almost certainly bodily fluids • If infected coughing  probably airborne • Treatment (prevention-oriented) • Antivirals expensive, hard to obtain • As soon as symptoms show, person is casualty

  8. Fungi • Parasitic fungi can modify host behavior • Cordyceps sp. Uses insects • Germinates on surface of host, moves through tracheae • Proximity to target affects incubation • Mycelia penetrate brain, release neurotransmitters, alter behavior • Alteration may not be permanent • Id as fungus: • Visible fruiting bodies, rashes (weak)

  9. Fungi implications • Vector • Spores are airborne! • Cover all mucous membranes • Cover skin, check for rashes • Parasitic fungi often species-specific  animal vector less likely • Simple exposure bigger problem than bites • Treatment • OTC topical antifungals available • Oral antifungals exist, but hard to find

  10. questions

  11. Assess thy friend

  12. Social Dynamics in Anarchy • Without state, social consent is law • You can do and get away with what others (with power) will let you get away with • Key to survival in groups

  13. Handling idiots • Idiots are dangerous • Appeal first to rationality • If you cannot remove idiot, consider removing yourself • Make sure social approval comes before any attempt to “force” idiot • Avoid violence if at all possible; bad precedent

  14. More on idiots • If weak: • Be merciful • Harshness upon the weak will hurt you socially • Communicate with those close to idiot • If armed: • Make sure to “Force” only with overwhelming power • Beware power parity—unstable equilibrium • If in charge: • If group is loyal to leader, leave! • Give leader a peaceful “out” after any coup • Win group approval before coup • Make sure power vacuum does not emerge

  15. Friends: Assessing • you want valuable friends • Must contribute more than take • Need good teamwork • Bigger group not always better

  16. Friends: How to befriend • All friendships are deals to survive • Appeal to self-interest • Respect bargaining power in negotiating • Make them comfortable/ confident in your loyalty

  17. Friends: how to lead • Respect: create buy-in, don’t force • don’t abuse your power • Seek group consent for decisions • You’re in charge only as long as those following you continue to think it’s better to follow you • Don’t become the idiot in charge

  18. Disclaimer: Ethics • Ethics change in the apocalypse • Allow yourself to reconsider ethics in new context… • don’t tread on ethics of others • Group consent > principled code

  19. questions

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