FearTWD, Survival Rule Of The Week: Things aren’t always what they seem

Well…after the revelation on Sunday’s Fear The Walking Dead, I think it’s safe to say: In a zombie apocalypse, things aren’t always what they seem.

At the end of Sunday’s episode of Fear The Walking Dead, we learned that the people making the walker fences are, in fact, Annie, Max, and Dylan! Initially, one might have thought them the work of some nefarious group of brutal hostiles, but, nope, it’s the kids, trying to scare away strangers (As evidenced by their lack of trust in the group’s motives).

This made me realize something: Things in a zombie apocalypse aren’t always what they seem. Just because something appears one way doesn’t mean it is that way.

Let’s take the walker fences, for example. As I said earlier, seeing large groups of walkers strung together (By their intestines?) gives on the impression that such things are the work of barbarous, violent crazies or brutal, menacing hostiles, like The Whisperers or The Saviors.

However, simply because those might be the first impression you get from such things, doesn’t mean those impressions are true.

Sticking with our earlier example: It isn’t crazies, it isn’t hostiles, it’s just a trio of kids. And, let’s look at this from the flipside: You can rely on those same assumptions to shore up your own defenses in the apocalypse, just like the kids are doing in Fear. People are much more likely to avoid another group if they think there’s a chance they’re a bunch of crazy maniacs than they would be if they thought they were harmless.

Of course, there’s a second flipside to this idea: Just because someone appears innocent, doesn’t mean they are.

Sure, while I believe Annie and her brothers aren’t hostile by any means (Again, we heard her and Max discuss their desire to find out what the group really want, showing their suspicion of them), they easily could have been.

Especially as supplies dwindle and things get more desperate, don’t be too surprised if people attempt to use chicanery, and trick other people, well-meaning or otherwise, into thinking them weak, needy, or helpless, in order to get them to lower their guard.

Considering that, even now, people prey on the kindness and generosity of others in order to line their own pockets, or worse, to attack them, it should come as no surprise this tactic will continue into the apocalypse.

If you decide to reach out to others, be cautious. While helping others isn’t necessarily bad, always be ready in case those you try to help have other ideas and don’t let them into your good graces until you know they don’t have some sort of ulterior motive.

All of that said, don’t assume that just because things appear bad that they’re hopeless. Quite frankly, half of the survival in a zombie apocalypse is your willingness to keep going. The apocalypse, right out of the gate, will be a shitshow, honestly, but, you can make things better and, even if things appear hopeless, it could easily be the strain of the situation trying to convince you things are hopeless, even when hope still remains. Things can be better if you’re willing to give them a chance.

And that’s our Survival Rule Of The Week! Hopefully, you’ve gained a little insight into all the various things you’ll need to look out for and do. If you like this and want to find out more rules to survive the zombie apocalypse, why not pick up a copy of my book, The Rules: A Guide To Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse! You can also get it at Amazon here, on iTunes here!