[Submitted] The Brains Behind Kuru

[Electrum]

A rather macabre issue idea. Contains references to Sweeney Todd, the musical.

3rd draft

[issue] The Brains Behind Kuru
[validity] Cannibalism - 88.1

[desc]Outbreaks of kuru, an incurable, fatal neurodegenerative disorder linked to cannibalism, have occurred across @@NAME@@.

[option] "Kuru is an insidious disease that eats at the brain and is spread by the consumption of infected brains. There is only one solution," says your physician, slamming a hefty book titled Grey Matter Anatomy on your desk. "Ensure the sufferers get the best possible care at our hospitals, so they can live their last days with dignity. Then, ban cannibalism so that we don't get outbreaks of this and other diseases from the handling of human meat ever again."
[effect] brains have been removed from lists of best brain foods

[option] "Why dearie, we would be outta business!" pipes up the proprietor of Mrs. Lovett's Pies, placing some piping hot pies on your plates. "The easiest solution to this kuru thing is to ban brains in food. Also, why don't you get yer government to promote and subsidise us purveyors of wholesome foods, like me steak pies, which use the finest cuts of human rump. We would make a killing having curious cannibals and grub-lovers going on exotic food tours to me humble shop."
[effect] human pie shops continue to receive shipments of meat from Spleeny Rodd's

[option] Your brother, sensing an opportunity, pitches you an idea. "This book says that symptoms of kuru include body tremors, outbursts of laughter and poor coordination. Basically, the average dimwitted fast food worker. Round up the diseased and claim them for usage by government and industry to fill society's most dangerous and undesirable jobs - if they die, well, it was going to happen anyways. Then, we can harvest their meat and neurological tissue to generate a never-ending supply of 'zombies.'"
[effect] @@LEADER@@ is accused of being heartless by those considered brainless

[issue] The Brains Behind Kuru
[validity] Cannibalism - 88.1

[desc]Outbreaks of kuru, an incurable, fatal neurodegenerative disorder linked to cannibalism, have occurred across @@NAME@@.

[option] "Kuru is an insidious disease that eats at the brain and is spread by the consumption of infected brains. There is only one solution," says your physician, slamming a hefty book titled Grey Matter Anatomy on your desk. "Ensure the sufferers get the best possible care at our hospitals, so they can live their last days with dignity. Then, ban cannibalism so that we don't get outbreaks of this and other diseases from the handling of human meat ever again."
[effect] brains have been removed from lists of best brain foods

[option] "Prohibition never works," pipes up the proprietor of Mrs. Lovett's Pies, placing some piping hot pies on your desk. "Instead, you should make curious cannibals sign waivers acknowledging the risks behind eating human meat and that neither the shop nor the government will take any responsibility for anything that happens afterwards. If @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are still willing to eat my bespoke brain meat pies after knowing the risks, then who's to say we didn't warn them?"
[effect] human pie shops continue to receive shipments of human meat from Spleeny Rodd's

[option] Your brother, sensing a business opportunity, pitches you an idea. "This book says that symptoms of kuru include body tremors, outbursts of laughter and coordination problems. They sound like the perfect zombies! Let my business partners at Blood and Breakfast Haunted Houses take care of these folks. We will provide them jobs and health care, and when they pass on, we can sell their meat to make even more zombies, err, actors. We're going to make a killing when we tell everyone we have 'real' zombies who ate brains in our haunted houses."
[effect] living rooms in haunted houses showcase the living 'dead'

[issue] The Brains Behind Kuru
[validity] Cannibalism - 88.1

[desc]Outbreaks of Kuru, an incurable, fatal neurodegenerative disorder linked to cannibalism, have occurred across @@NAME@@.

[option] "Kuru is an insidious disease that eats at the brain and is spread by the consumption of infected brains. There is only one solution," says your physician, slamming a hefty book titled Grey Matter Anatomy on your desk. "Ensure the sufferers get the best possible care at our hospitals, so they can live their last days with dignity. Then, ban cannibalism so that we don't get outbreaks of Kuru and other diseases from the handling of human meat ever again."
[effect] brains are removed from lists of best brain foods

[option] "Education, not prohibition," pipes up the proprietor of Mrs. Lovett's Pies, placing some piping hot pies on your desk. "People should be educated about the risks of eating human meat. If @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are still willing to eat my bespoke brain meat pies, then who are we to stop them? If taking a calculated risk fails, then it will be their problem, not the government's."
[effect] human pie shops continue to receive shipments of meat from Spleeny Rodd's

[option] Your brother, sensing a business opportunity, pitches you an idea. "This book says that symptoms of Kuru include body tremors, outbursts of laughter and coordination problems. They sound like the perfect zombies! Let my business partners at Blood and Breakfast Haunted Houses take care of these folks. We will provide them jobs and health care, and when they pass on, we can sell their meat to make even more zombies, err, actors. We're going to make a killing when we tell everyone we have real zombies at our haunted houses."
[effect] living rooms in haunted houses showcase the 'living dead'

Submitted Jun 12
Accepted Jul 22

[Australian rePublic]

Option 3- How can they be vonbies if they're not dead

[Electrum]

Option 3- How can they be vonbies if they're not dead

They're not actually zombies, but they can act like one.

[Noahs Second Country]

[option] "Kuru is an insidious disease that eats at the brain and is spread by the consumption of infected brains. There is only one solution," says your physician, slamming a hefty book titled Grey Matter Anatomy on your desk. "Ensure the sufferers get the best possible care at our hospitals, so they can live their last days with dignity. Then, ban cannibalism so that we don't get outbreaks of Kuru and other diseases from the handling of human meat ever again."
[effect] brains are removed from lists of best brain foods

The effect line would be better in past tense as 'brains have been removed...' Overall this is a good and reasonable option.

[option] "Education, not prohibition," pipes up the proprietor of Mrs. Lovett's Pies, placing some piping hot pies on your desk. "People should be educated about the risks of eating human meat. If @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are still willing to eat my bespoke brain meat pies, then who are we to stop them? If taking a calculated risk fails, then it will be their problem, not the government's."
[effect] human pie shops continue to receive shipments of meat from Spleeny Rodd's

I'm slightly confused as to what is being proposed here. How is the education happening? Are you putting warning labels on boxes, educating children of the risks in schools, running a public health campaign, etc.? 'People should be educated' is a phrase I see pretty frequently and it's very vague without some further clarification.

[Westinor]

"Ensure the sufferers get the best possible care at our hospitals, so they can live their last days with dignity. Then, ban cannibalism so that we don't get outbreaks of Kuru and other diseases from the handling of human meat ever again."

I'd say "victims" as preferred to "sufferers",

They sound like the perfect zombies! Let my business partners at Blood and Breakfast Haunted Houses take care of these folks. We will provide them jobs and health care, and when they pass on, we can sell their meat to make even more zombies, err, actors. We're going to make a killing when we tell everyone we have real zombies at our haunted houses."

Why is he restricted in calling them zombies after calling them that before and after?

Other than these minor grammar problems, I don't have any other quarrels with this issue that others haven't stated, but I might come back to this later.

[Electrum]

The effect line would be better in past tense as 'brains have been removed...' Overall this is a good and reasonable option.

Gotcha.

Are you putting warning labels on boxes, educating children of the risks in schools, running a public health campaign, etc.? 'People should be educated' is a phrase I see pretty frequently and it's very vague without some further clarification.

I agree. I've removed and rewrote the option. I've gone the route of waivers, seeing that restaurant food waivers are used around the world for dangerous foods. I've not gone the route of a public information campaign because the player would have chosen 88.2 instead (allow cannibalism, but under strict health regulations).

I'd say "victims" as preferred to "sufferers",

I don't think the leader's physician would use such evocative language.

Why is he restricted in calling them zombies after calling them that before and after?

I'm not quite sure what you mean.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Good premise.

I can't see Mrs. Lovett asking for a waiver requirement -- that would hurt her business.

It'd make more sense for her to say that the problem lies with eating brains, not human meat in general, and you only need to stop neurological tissue making its way into the food supply. And maybe instead, you could promote and subsidise purveyors of wholesome foods, like her steak pies, which use only the finest cuts of striated muscle.

Option 3, "brother" has never been an entrepreneur. He's more about government corruption and autocracy. I'd suggest instead he has the "zombies" be claimed as a workforce for "government and industry" to use. You could also say something mean-spirited like "I mean, even with their limitations, I think they'd be no less energetic or intellectually capable than the average fast food worker." Because bro is a dick, and he says dickish things.

[Electrum]

Thanks Candlewhisper -- I've gone ahead and redrafted, keeping your comments in mind. I think I'll move this to last call given the impending deadline for submissions.

[Australian rePublic]

Good luck