EricWojo's picture
EricWojo from Livonia, Michigan is reading The Brothers Karamazov October 17, 2011 - 1:00pm

Backed into a corner with guns blazing, which would you prefer?

Raelyn's picture
Raelyn from California is reading The Liars' Club October 17, 2011 - 1:03pm

I must say I'd rather die at the hands of a robot, than be eaten by a zombie.  For some reason, teeth ripping my flesh off seems more painful and terrifying.

Kate Winters's picture
Kate Winters from Toronto is reading James Rollins' Sigma Force series October 17, 2011 - 1:14pm

...why isn't alien invasion an option!? I'd much rather get zapped by some laser cannon!!!

 

but given the two choices... machines, unless they're the Matrix kind :P

.'s picture
. October 17, 2011 - 1:17pm

A group of cultists trying to take my eye balls and all I have to fight them with is a golf pencil.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin October 17, 2011 - 1:19pm

Could we get both? Because I think it would be best to try to play them off of one another.

Machine Uprising seems more probable, so I'd probably opt for Zombies because I figure it would be easier to create dangerous AI programs to deal with Zombies than to create Zombies to fight the computers.

Of course, I also once advocated reverse engineering and inserting leukemia cells as a cure for HIV.

Meachman's picture
Meachman from Indianapolis is reading Amusing Ourselves to Death October 17, 2011 - 5:39pm

Zombies feel much easier to deal with. I could fend off zombies with a rake or a shovel for a bit while I'm looking for better gear. Also zombies legions are limited to the number of human bodies available. Robots can just keep making more and more from old robots and such. Finally, I feel that outwitting a zombie would be much easier than outthinking an AI supercomputer.

I guess I'm just not up for the challenge of facing a robot army.

Kate Winters's picture
Kate Winters from Toronto is reading James Rollins' Sigma Force series October 17, 2011 - 5:44pm

... Or we could just go the Dr. Who route and get the machines and the zombies to kill each other... Hmm...

Raelyn's picture
Raelyn from California is reading The Liars' Club October 17, 2011 - 5:53pm

Meachman, those are some very good points you have; they make me consider changing my answer.  I just assumed in either scenario I would die, so it's better to choose the least painful method.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin October 17, 2011 - 6:13pm

But at least computers are a reasonable opponent. You could theoretically negotiate with computers if you were able to gain leverage over them. Sure, robot armies sound scary, but it's a top down organization. The grassroots enthusiasm of zombies makes them harder to break down.

Kate Winters's picture
Kate Winters from Toronto is reading James Rollins' Sigma Force series October 17, 2011 - 6:22pm

@nkwilczy, you have a very good point.

EricWojo's picture
EricWojo from Livonia, Michigan is reading The Brothers Karamazov October 17, 2011 - 6:26pm

Surprised no one has yet to ask for clarification:  Romero, slow moving zombies?  Or 28-Cups-of-Coffee-Later zombies?

Nick's picture
Nick from Toronto is reading Adjustment Day October 17, 2011 - 6:27pm

I'll take zombies as they wouldn't be able to use my facebook account against me. 

Meachman's picture
Meachman from Indianapolis is reading Amusing Ourselves to Death October 17, 2011 - 6:44pm

zombies, unless otherwise specified, defaults to Romero zombies

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts October 17, 2011 - 6:51pm

Neither, radioactive mutants.

Meachman's picture
Meachman from Indianapolis is reading Amusing Ourselves to Death October 17, 2011 - 6:59pm

evil children

Raelyn's picture
Raelyn from California is reading The Liars' Club October 17, 2011 - 7:00pm

Children of the Corn

Meachman's picture
Meachman from Indianapolis is reading Amusing Ourselves to Death October 17, 2011 - 7:14pm

yeah, those kids. I could club them all day long.

.'s picture
. October 17, 2011 - 8:03pm

The AARP taking over the towns and meeting at Country Kitchen Buffet.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. October 18, 2011 - 9:09am

I'd rather be molested by a wood nymph.

HoboWriterDK's picture
HoboWriterDK from Upstate, New York is reading White Teeth, by Zadie Smith October 18, 2011 - 10:32am

The After Hours team of Cracked.com covered this, hilariously.

Which Apocalypse Would Be the Most Fun?

And yes, as Meachman pointed out, Romero's zombies are the default.

Andrew Moore's picture
Andrew Moore from Belfast Northern Ireland is reading The Dark Tower by Stephen King October 18, 2011 - 3:09pm

Weighing up my character, I reckon I'd have a better chance against a zombie apocalypse. Harder to hide from sentinent machines...

BenevolentForce's picture
BenevolentForce from Los Angeles is reading 1Q84 October 18, 2011 - 11:56pm

Have we decided the machines are sentient?  If it's a machine uprising of Roombas, I have to go machines.  Otherwise, Zombies all the way.

Mike Mckay's picture
Mike Mckay is reading God's Ashtray October 19, 2011 - 10:18am

A machine uprising sounds sweet something related to the terminator with a twist like...well...maybe mechanical dinosaurs?...remotely controlled by pumpkins? I'm not sure I was never the one to be creative with a twist. Zombies are becoming a little stale in my opinion, in literature I'm tired of the whole virus wiped off the human population and shit, really can't get into those for some reason unless theres a good twist. A great example of this is World War Z. No real twist except it is told in realistic details even haven't read it all yet I can't help cringing that these events can actually happen.

In conclusion there is a better chance surviving against zombies so there you have it.  

Raelyn's picture
Raelyn from California is reading The Liars' Club October 19, 2011 - 10:24am

Mechanical dinosaurs remotely controlled by pumpkins...nice!

Howard_Rue's picture
Howard_Rue from Mount Dora, Florida is reading Heart-Shaped Box October 22, 2011 - 6:23am

My computers love me. But I hate people. So...I'll go with zombies. I guess it depends on my weapon. Besides, at least I'd know where to hit a zombie to make it go down. Robots? Choices may be more limited.

Peace?

Rue

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. October 22, 2011 - 9:22am

I feel like robots would look at humans as just broken machines and turn the dead people into robot-zombies.  So, I'd like to be the first to welcome our Robot-zombie overlords.  

fayesimons's picture
fayesimons November 2, 2011 - 10:48pm

I think I'll go for machine uprising but since it's in the season, what better time of year to consider the ramifications of a zombie apocalypse? What happens should the dead rise, walk the earth and feast on the living? Will you be financially prepared? Here are some things you are able to do to be more ready. These suggestions work for other sorts of problems as well, not just zombie assaults. Are you financially prepared for the zombie apocalypse? Be prepared and enjoy this season with your family or friends.

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff November 3, 2011 - 2:25pm

Zombies big time. They're much more fun to kill. They crack, splorsh, whiff. They scrunch.

Fresh ones even offer spectacular splashes of blood, goo and post-human tissue.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 27, 2012 - 12:54pm

Stephen Kings "The Stand" apocalypse. Just something that wipes out 95% of the population. A big empty planet with very few people, all struggling for survival, as it was at the start. I realize it wasn't a choice but, I think it would be the best way to end the world. Not with a bang, but a whimper. 

I would think the machines rising up would be more logical though. It's bound to happen. Children do repeat the mistakes of their parents, and there is always going to be an Oedipus type element to it. 

Grigori Black's picture
Grigori Black from US is reading Radium Girls by Amanda Gowin March 27, 2012 - 1:36pm

Cassandra L.'s picture
Cassandra L. from Melbourne is reading A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole March 27, 2012 - 1:47pm

 

So I guess the answer is zombies then.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 27, 2012 - 2:13pm

@Black, classic. 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like March 28, 2012 - 12:42pm

Going solo, I'd rather be up against zombies.  In a group, I'd rather fight machines.

The infighting and paranoia you get in zombie worlds don't come into play when you're fighting machines.  Not as often anyway.  I guess if the machines had nano-tech or mind-control, you might get something like the "was he bit" or "anyone of us could become a zombie at any time" stuff.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 28, 2012 - 12:47pm

I would think in any scenario like these, going solo would be a death sentence. Every extra set of hands would increase the chance for survival. 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like March 28, 2012 - 12:52pm

Very true.  But if had to do it solo, I'd take zombies over robots.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 28, 2012 - 12:56pm

I really think the apocalypse is the ultimate male fantasy, aside from like building a life out of nothing but the land like the pioneers. 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 28, 2012 - 12:58pm

@Matt - you have very dumb fantasies. 

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 28, 2012 - 1:05pm

Wait, why is that dumb! I can't think of anything more epic! I can give on the apocalypse a little, but not the pioneer stuff! EVER! 

Also, when it happens, I will be King, so watch it! 

Edit: And, it's not all I fantasize about...but ya know.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human March 28, 2012 - 1:07pm

::eats popcorn::

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 28, 2012 - 1:11pm

LOL @ panda. I don't think she's coming back. 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 28, 2012 - 1:13pm

....distracted by shiny object....

If there is an apocalypse that leaves Matt as king, I'll be fine with being dead.

 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like March 28, 2012 - 1:14pm

I really think the apocalypse is the ultimate male fantasy

After everybody but me is dead, a bunch of hot martians will come and we'll repopulate the planet with a new super-human race of hybrids. 

They will also share with me the secret of immortality.  So I can keep doing it.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 28, 2012 - 1:15pm

@AD Weak. 

@JY perhaps you won't be first on the wall when I rule. 

 

Also, 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human March 28, 2012 - 1:20pm

@Matt

If you were king, what would you do?

@Avery

You have to lead a rag-tag rebel group of Amazonian women to overthrow Matt.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 28, 2012 - 1:28pm

Nah - sounds like work. I'm sticking with 'rather be dead'. Because I assume for that scenario to work, every other man on earth has to be dead, so who wants to hang out in that world? Not me.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human March 28, 2012 - 1:31pm

Guess I'm dead too.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 28, 2012 - 1:33pm

You'd have to be, yes.  Matt could only be king by default.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner March 28, 2012 - 2:20pm

Oh, is that how it works? I kill all the dudes? Why would I do that! Lame. 

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. March 28, 2012 - 3:38pm

I vote to be trapped in a building with Matt, Panda, Utah, Dave and Shep in the dead of winter with only our body heat to sustain us.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human March 28, 2012 - 3:50pm

Avery has competition.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 28, 2012 - 5:19pm

For what?  I already said I would just go ahead and die.  Does someone want to die quicker than me?