Horror is not my strong genre but I thought I’d give it a try this winter. I’ve come up with the following story idea but haven’t fleshed it out yet – what do all you horror writers think of this concept I call The Blink People? Homelessness must be quickly addressed and dealt with before it overwhelms society. It’s a multi faceted issue that commands in depth thought leading to some disturbing moral decisions. Earth is already over populated, being polluted at an alarming rate and its natural resources are quickly being exhausted. The result is that the nourishment and sustainability of the society is in jeopardy. The homeless are a nutritional asset as society slips toward its unenviable demise. Some cultures may find this morally disagreeable but yet many cultures dine on family pets (dogs & cats), some feast on monkeys and horse meat is commonly consumed. So why shouldn’t we butcher and consume the homeless? This would help alleviate society’s burgeoning nutritional problems while reducing numbers of the homeless. Eating the homeless is a win/win proposition.
Screenwriting : What do you horrow writers think? by Doug Nelson
What do you horrow writers think?
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Forgive me, I meant horror writters.
I'm creeped out. not in a good way.
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Wasn't that also the concept of the 1970s Charlton Heston film Soylant Green? I love stories that try to push moral boundaries and make us really question what is right and wrong, but you might want to double check that it hasn't already been done. Either way, keep pushing the envelope! ...in your writing, that is, don't actually eat any homeless people, because we all actually know that's wrong whatever the argument.
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Interesting idea, though I think you'd need something original as to WHY we're eating the homeless as opposed to politicians, prisoners or any other unsavoury characters from our societies. Just eating them because resources are running out is a bit of a one-theme pony. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing. Just need a context that people can relate to for the back-story. If you like horror, you might like my horror novel, The Roots of Evil by David E. Gates.
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Jim Duncan, the first thing I thought was Soylant Green. So you would need something that separates this concept from that. Can you get a hunting license for hunting homeless? Would companies be able to round up large numbers and process them? Would you be able to look at chicken, pork, beef, and homless (old sailors called it long pork). Is it served in Gordon Ramsey's kitchen?
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Thanx for your comments one and all. It has a lot of Soylant Green undertones (Soylant Green was actually a mystery) but played out in the present social/economicl/political climate. Remember, I’m not a horror writer (I always thought a good horror flick was meant to creep the audience out) – I’m more comfortable in the comedic area and I guess I really can’t change my spots at this point. What if I write it as a tongue-in-cheek mocumentary? … Throw in a couple of respectable university professor-types and a couple of scientist-types to legitimize the proposal.
Yep, definitely seems like you could take it into horror or comedy. Lot of great ideas here.
If you go comedy, it is a bit dark, but the hunting license definitely works. Each state has their own season and limit. Rock on.
A hunting license for homeless hunting has merit but it’s illegal to discharge firearms within most city limits (their preferred habitat) but I guess bow hunting might be allowed in homeless preserves. I’ll check with the Mayor and get back to you on that.
Soylent Green is people! people! (it's been done). Now, if you wanted to write a spec about homeless people gaining mystical powers, perhaps leave their bodies and take over another person's body, that would be very scary. 'Blink People'. Cool title.
Eventually someone would domesticate some of them and breed them....but then you would be leaving the comedy aspect, and probably upset a large number of people.
John, we’ve got way to many now so I doubt that it is economically feasible to breed more. Sarah, yeah it’s been done but I’m putting a different spin on the concept – how many times have you watched versions of Cinderella or Romeo & Juliet? Peter, Jonathan Swift and I would be great beer drinking buddies. We both harbor a similar sardonic humor. (We speak the same language.) As a writer, I’m free to reject your reality and substitute my own. I think I’ll go ahead with this project… as a mocumentary.