The Walking Dead, Survival Rule Of The Week: It’s human nature

4) People can be cowards

I’ve often talked about “That Guy”s, i.e., people who are so selfish that they will do whatever benefits them in the immediate, even if doing that is, ultimately, to their detriment. Well, it turns out that a common characteristic of “That Guy”s…is that they’re cowards. Think of someone like Gregory in The Walking Dead; He’s the epitome of a “That Guy”.

Now, don’t get me wrong: Fear is necessary, without it, you’re reckless, and, in a zombie apocalypse, that can get you eaten. You should be afraid of zombies and hostiles. That said, what you shouldn’t do, is let that fear dictate your actions.

Sadly, there are plenty of people who will do that, even if doing so only hurts them in the long run. People might abandon friends or loved ones in the face of zombies, even if doing so haunts them for the remainder of their lives, or, rather than unite with another group to face down a common hostile, they choose to run or side with the hostile, even if doing so only results in their subjugation.

You can not let this happen. You can not give in to fear. Especially in the face of hostiles. You can not let hostiles intimidate you into siding with them or giving into their demands, because all you will be buying yourself is chains or a shallow grave. Also, if you have the means to fight hostiles, you have to do it. Yes, you might be able to run away from them from a little while, but, the more power hostiles get, the more they will follow you. Eventually, they’ll be nowhere for you to run, and by then, they may be too powerful to defeat.

And, just think about what the consequences of letting fear control you will be. If you abandon a friend to the dead, particularly when you could have helped them, that will haunt you forever; Their blood will be on your hands, and you’ll know it. As for hostiles, if you submit to them, you will be giving them carte blanche to do whatever they want, whenever they want, to whomever they want. Do you want to subject yourself, your friends, or your family to the depraved whims of someone else?

Trust me, in a zombie apocalypse, it’s better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.