Slow moving Zombies are more realistic than fast moving zombies

Pro's CaseThermodynamics"In this debate, I am arguing for the realistic idea of fast-moving zombies over slow ones, not that the fast zombie has to constantly be fast. "My opponent attempts to make this argument in order to make their argument more tenable, but this statement violates the definitions that he has already accepted. In this debate "Fast Moving Zombie" is a epithet for zombies whose behaviour is modeled in the movies in the definitions provided: 28 Days Later and World War Z. In both of these movies it can be seen that even into the latter stages of the outbreak Zombies still move at very high speeds and therefore my opponents argument regarding gradual degredation of speed is invalid. Zombies that move quickly but degrade then move slowly do not fit the given definition of fast moving zombies. "To refute my opponent's first point, I point out that zombies do consume human flesh, thus still allowing for the infection to spread"In both examples of fast moving zombies, they do not consume flesh, they merely pass on the infection, then move along. This is especially true in the World War Z movie zombies. These zombies specifically avoid the infected. Therefore my opponents attempt to create a source of chemical energy for fast moving zombies is ineffective. My point remains. There are no sources of chemical energy large enough to sustain the energy output exhibited in fast moving zombies. "However, research has recently revealed that viruses can generate electrical energy from mechanical energy, thus establishing that viruses are capable of generating energy - something long thought impossible. "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, the energy in the world is constant. Furthermore, Electrical energy would be useless to a zombie that is attempting to achieve high speed locomotion. In fact, the virus my opponent exhibits only takes away the mechanical energy that is required to create movement and therefore locomotion. Virus do not spontaneously generate energy, in this case they simply convert energy. Energy is never generated. It is only converted into different forms. This is the point of metabolization. Organisms metabolize chemical energy found in their food in order to generate energy for the body. If a zombie has no form of energy intake (i. e. the consumption of large amounts of brains) then there is no realistic way for zombies to achieve high speed locomotion. " Additionally, bacterial infections are already capable of generating chemical energy. " Again I state, energy is NOT generated. Energy is converted. Yes bacterial organisms are capable of metabolizing energy to provide energy to themselves, but this still requires some source of energy (food). Decomposition/Stress"Again, I have to argue only for the probability of faster zombies being more realistic than slower ones at any point in time. " This is not true, and has been addressed previously in my rebuttals on Thermodynamics. With this point invalidated, my opponent cedes my argument to be superior. "Since reanimation generally occurs fairly quickly, the body has not had much time to decompose. "In the case of the World War Z Zombie this is true, initially. But Many scenes in the movie depict zombies that are clearly rotting in an accelerated state. This is likely due to the fact that since they do not consume chemical energy, the zombies must atrophy their own bodies in order to move and function. This combined with the forces that accompany rapid movement would very quickly cause the body to fall apart. Zombies are the undead, walking corpses. Without refridgeration, bodies decompose very quickly (1)"if it is exposed to the elements, it will decay very quickly. The most important factor in decomposition time is how much exposure the body has had to bacteria. Bacteria need oxygen to survive and are generally found in heavy concentrations in water. Therefore, exposure to air or water will speed up the process of decomposition dramatically. Animals and insects will feed on the tissue if a body is exposed, also quickening the process"(1)Zombies are indeed VERY exposed to the elements, and alongside self-atrophy the zombie will decompose very quickly. As soon as the ligaments, tendons, and muscles fail, the zombie will be incapacitated. This could take as short as several days. If fast moving zombies only last for a few days, then there is no way the outbreak could effectively spread. Sedentary Lifestyle and Human Disease"When have zombies ever done anything efficiently? The most efficient way (or, I should say, a more efficient way) for a zombie to kill people would be to pick up a machine gun and open fire (which has seldom happened). "This is simply a purposeful misinterpretation of my use and the concept of "energy efficiency. " Obviously zombies lack the brain function to operate advanced weaponry, but even if they could use weapons, guns wouldn't spread the virus. My point is that Zombies that are sedentary until activated by stimulus are more realistic as they could preserve their bodies for longer periods of time, and would consume less energy while hunting for prey. Furthermore, Slow moving zombies would operate for longer, as less force would be put on their rotting ligaments. " Zombies do not possess the capacity for the rational thought that sick humans do and thus do not consider remaining sedentary. " You may make the concious decision to remain sedentary while violently ill, but eve if one tried to run around while sick, they could not because their body cannot produce the proper amount of energy while sick. "Additionally, the virus (assuming it is a viral infection) can contain vast amounts of energy"But not enough energy to power a sprinting human body. Furthermore, when the virus spreads, how do the pathogens acquire power to bring to the new host? Rebuttals"In the early stages of an outbreak, faster zombies are more realistic than slower ones. As I have said, a zombie is a reanimated human body. At the time of reanimation (depending on the length of time between death and reanimation), the body remains in relatively good condition and thus is still capable of allowing the zombie to sprint or run. Now, the most common counterpoint to this is rigor mortis. However, as the chart demonstrates, rigor mortis builds and disperses over time. A fast zombie would still be fast before and after rigor mortis. Only during its peak would a zombie be slowed. At onset and resolution, a zombie would be as fast as the human was in life. "Not all cases of zombification exhibit reanimation of the body in good condition, (see Shaun of the Dead, and "The Max Brooks Zombie") and therefore it cannot be assumed that the body will indeed be capable of sprinting. Sprinting also does indeed violate the law of conservation of energy, and would surely cause the process of decomposition to accelerate rapidly, therefore preventing the outbreak from spreading quickly. This shows an outbreak of fast moving zombies to be unrealistic. SummaryMuch of my opponents argument rests on a violation of the given and accepted definitions. I have sufficiently countered his points, proving that fast moving zombies do indeed violate the laws of thermodynamics in that they generate power where there is none, and that the rot that would surely occur would prevent them from running (the forces would make your body fall apart), and that slow moving zombies bypass these problems by conserving energy, and avoiding strenuous forces. Slow moving zombies would be more efficient hunters, with much better longevity, and therefore would be better for spreading the zombie infection. Therefore, Slow moving zombies are more likely and more realistic. VOTE PRO! Sources1. . http://curiosity.discovery.com...