h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Norman mentioned the Anatomy Act 1984, and the fact that it was law in England. In fact it is law in the whole of the UK, but according to the Scotland Act 1998 (http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980046.htm), the Scottish Parliament could pass its own legislation on the matter. So, Fat Mammoth, if you really want to know what cannabalism is like, legally, try petitioning the Scottish Parliament!

I have my reasons, MUHAHAHAHAHA! (ahem)

Scottish Parliament. Damn, it's times like this I really hate being southerner! btw, what's the law like in America, anyone know?

Believe me, you don't want to live with the Scottish Parliment. At least not our local council...

Yo Fat,

Do you have a dead body just laying around and don't want it to go to waste??

Oh you know, there's always a couple aren't there?

NEXT ON ASK H2G2, SEX WITH ANIMALS, IS IT ALWAYS WRONG?

Not if you're animal, I suppose

Hi

I don´t know if you can see this post, as I am having some trouble. But I just thought I would give you this link about cannibalism:

http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=313225&in_review_text_id=257324

I read it, I'm not to clear on something, did they kill the children, or just dig up the bodies?

I seem to think that the moral predicament has been very much over hyped. I think that the real problem is "what is the best way to cook human flesh?". Roast, BBQ, Boil, Saute, grill, fry, stew? Anyone got any tips (no puns on the tips please)

We are also called Long Pig, so your own particular favorite way to cook pork would probably be best Or raw with salad cream, for Niz......
BCNU - Crescent

Well again the problem lies with how to cook. For example a pork chop is best grilled or fried (personnal choice). Does a human have a chop? Although I have to say pork chopwith salad cream, yum

You would make one, a pig is pretty much similar to a human. Four limbs, rib cage, vertabrae, head etc. However you get your fave cut from a pig, could easily be adapted for use on a human. Mmmmmmmm long pig spare ribs, mmmmmmm Until later....
BCNU - Crescent

America has only come across the problem of cannibalism a few times in history and most of the incidents involved murder (Jeffrey Damer). There is not exact law that says you can't and you couldn't leave your body to someone, only an organization (science etc.).

But, unless it was an extreme situation (plane crash etc.) you would run up against the same type of laws that are in the U.K. Here in Boston though they still have the Blue Books laws (old laws from way back when) that might have a very severe penalty (death). According to the Bule Books it is against the law to have sex in any position but missionary, and you could be thrown in jail for it.

Probably we wouldn't have a problem with it - as long as they were free range

Actually, I've heared (no, I didn't ask a cannibal), that human flesh tastes pretty similar to pork.

I heard about the cannibal who passed his friend in the jungle

Now thats just wrong. I saw an article in the paper (Boston Herald) yesterday about cannibalism, if I can remember I will type it in on Monday when I back at my computer.

First, I wanted to agree with Courtney that there is no federal law in America against cannibalism. There may, however, be local and state laws. It would be terribly difficult to find out, as local and state laws in America are a virtual maze of insanity. Many laws on the books are ignored because it is easier to do so than to overturn or remove them.

For an interesting perspective on cannibalism, read about the Anasazi Indians:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/cannibalism000906.html

The Anasazi have been praised for centuries by archeologists for their modern dwellings and their contribution to the Indian society as great traders with a surprisingly good taste in art. They died out around 1150 AD, and this was considered a great mystery. The proud Hopi Indians have claimed to be descended from them. Conspiracy theorists sometimes claim their ancient myths were inspired prophecies of the future.

But now it looks like a severe drought caused vegetation and wildlife to die out in the area, and someone (whether it was the Anasazi themselves or a nearby tribe is unclear) took to a massive campaign of cannibalism. The findings, published this week in Nature magazine, have been brewing for years. But nobody wanted to admit the truth.

I've heard about the Anasazi cannibalism - there was a program about it over here in Britain some time last year. A representative of the Hopi Indians didn't want to even consider the fact that his ancestors might have been cannibals. However, the theory that was advanced to explain the cannibalism wasn't war or famine. One archaeologist who has been working the site for years believed that he had found evidence that people from Central America had moved into the area and that they were the ones who introduced cannibalism. I can't remember all of his argument, but it had something to do with the overthrow of the ruling class of the Central Americans, making some of the people in power emigrate to North America. The program was a long time ago, which is why I'm hazy on details.