Does reading from a POV of a humanoid "maneater" feel cannibalistic?

[Aoibh]

Only freaks would take goblin

Woooo. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Goblins are quite gentle actaully.

 

[Cipiteca396]

I also feel that canabilism won't have an impact unless it is from the prospective of either the victim or the agressor, It seems most refrences to canabilism are an abstract 'those people are canabils' or 'that species eats it's own'. Many insects are canabilistic but it is not very relatable to humans even though it may be hard to write.

I feel like you slightly missed the point of the thread, but I don't really mind.

the Elves clearly don't mix with the humans (if it is even possible)

There's a half-elf in one of the more recent chapters, actually.

For me cannabilism means eating your own species

I recognize that's the technical definition. However, could you really eat

one of these two creatures just because they aren't technically human? What if it was a human that had been transformed into an animal temporarily? An animal that was transformed into a human? Does a former human like a vampire or ghoul even qualify as a cannibal since it's no longer the same species as the humans it eats? Maybe a new word needs to be made, but why bother when cannibalism is already there?

 

[CupcakeNinja]

Woooo. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Goblins are quite gentle actaully.

Found the weirdo

 

[Aoibh]

Found the weirdo

I am normal in the different way.

 

[CL]

What if it was a human that had been transformed into an animal temporarily? An animal that was transformed into a human? Does a former human like a vampire or ghoul even qualify as a cannibal since it's no longer the same species as the humans it eats? Maybe a new word needs to be made, but why bother when cannibalism is already there?

This has me thinking of zombies and whether they'd be considered cannibals. Especially if their condition is ever reversed. A good example of that would be from a 2013 film "Warm Bodies". If there are novels with that kind of perspective, that would be very insightful for this topic's conversation.

 

[orangepeel]

What if it was a human that had been transformed into an animal temporarily? An animal that was transformed into a human? Does a former human like a vampire or ghoul even qualify as a cannibal since it's no longer the same species as the humans it eats? Maybe a new word needs to be made, but why bother when cannibalism is already there?

A good point, I think most of what your describing would have to be from a first person perspective to have an impact on the reader. From a 3rd person limited perspective they wouldn't even know what was going on, from 3rd person omniscient it would still be lacking.

There's a half-elf in one of the more recent chapters, actually.

Good to know, I have been reading that in about 30 chap chunks, otherwise I lose track of what is happening.

I feel like you slightly missed the point of the thread, but I don't really mind.

What I was trying to point out is, for me to have any sort of reaction It needs 2 main things, first that it is not an abstract fact of the world that canabilism exists, it needs to be personal for the characters to care. The second thing it needs is for at least one of the characers to view the other as the same as them, If they view them as diffrent and like a monster then it just defaults to a standard monster situation, you lose=you die a grusome death. In your examples there is the possibility for that view so even though it dosent fit the technical def I can accept that label.
In Azarinth Healer the elves are viewed by most humans as a smart OP race of monsters, so them eating humans is no worse than getting eatten by a drake, also most elves seem to view humans as inferior to the point of not being worth considering beyond sport hunting, so animals not people.

 

[SilvCrimBlac]

This has me thinking of zombies and whether they'd be considered cannibals. Especially if their condition is ever reversed. A good example of that would be from a 2013 film "Warm Bodies". If there are novels with that kind of perspective, that would be very insightful for this topic's conversation.

Been wanting to find the DVD of that without buying it online since the last three discs ( games) I bought online came to me cracked in half. But no one and I mean no one carries it.

 

[T.K._Paradox]

it all depends on whether its socially acceptable to wanna fuck it. Elves? Lotta us wanna fuck them, so eating them is a nono. Goblins? Only freaks would take goblin dick or pussy, so you can eat all them motherfuckers.

I take a goblin over an elf any day.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

I take a goblin over an elf any day.

i respect your right to do so. But not your right to live

 

[Amok]

pretty much this

same species: cannibalism. ethically iffy ground comes in when the organism is near human(half-elf etc.), as this can still be construed as cannibalism ig, not that I apply ethics to fictional verses.

All about world and values in it, imagine tribes of forest-loving elves hunting dwarves and all other trespassers for meat. Guess it comes down to how you shape non-human entity, representing a rationale that is decidedly inhumane and therefore does not read like cannibalism. So I assume what you're really asking is: Are folk OK with intelligent species chowing down on each other, and the answer to that is: Depends on reader.

 

[CL]

@orangepeel I completely understand that we'd require someone we can relate with and that they'd connect with their victim in a similar fashion (aside from being humanoid). I'll have to think that one over a lot more because that means a lot of this relies on context (the story, obviously) and not as much on their species as I initially believed. I suppose that would mean if there were complaints against it being called cannibalism, those readers might not argue on it being taboo.
@Amok Yes, I'm getting that feeling there's no clear-cut answer to how readers would feel as a whole. I'd still have to read into other stories and discover what kind of responses those may have had towards "maneaters".

Thank you all for your thoughts and responses, entertainment and quips, and for your interest and interaction. I truly appreciate your involvement in here. Happy Holidays!

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

There are some old fairy tales that usually involve turning people into pigs and being eaten. Or just tossed into a cauldron. Those never seemed too bad.

 

[CL]

There are some old fairy tales that usually involve turning people into pigs and being eaten. Or just tossed into a cauldron. Those never seemed too bad.

I'll have to search for those. Thank you for making me aware that these exist.

 

[SternenklarenRitter]

Not really, It feels about the same as when I eat anything. Whenever I eat, I tend to be hyper-conscious that I am usually putting something dead into my body and it has always made me uncomfortable from when I first understood the concept at about 4 years old. Eggs, dairy and fruit are psychologically easier for me to eat since nothing had to die compared to meat, grains, and vegetables which are slaughtered upon harvest. I have to remind myself that it's just part of how being human works, but I still sometimes feel depressed and gross after eating. Thus I have a bit more empathy for characters whose physiology requires humans for nutrition than usual.

 

[CL]

Not really, It feels about the same as when I eat anything. Whenever I eat, I tend to be hyper-conscious that I am usually putting something dead into my body and it has always made me uncomfortable from when I first understood the concept at about 4 years old. Eggs, dairy and fruit are psychologically easier for me to eat since nothing had to die compared to meat, grains, and vegetables which are slaughtered upon harvest. I have to remind myself that it's just part of how being human works, but I still sometimes feel depressed and gross after eating. Thus I have a bit more empathy for characters whose physiology requires humans for nutrition than usual.

That is an excellent perspective on this topic. I'll make certain to keep this in my mind (rent free, of course).