Pluribus

For the record, their math is still way off. The rules they set are even more dire than I was arguing. They can't even farm, they can only collect windfall. They are still milking cows (?? I guess if you set a domesticated dairy cow "free" it would just sit there staring at you, waiting for you to milk it, it's got no where else to go and would be torn apart by wolves the moment it stepped out of its covered, air conditioned grazing and milking area)....but just collecting milk doesn't make up for shit.

They claim millions of tons of food already existed at the time of the joining (from processed/packaged food stuffs, ie everything from packaged ramen noodles, frozen vegetables, canned tuna, dog food, etc) which, say there's 100 million tons of existing food, which sounds like a lot, right? It isn't. 100 million tons of food would feed the 7.3 billion survivors for 9 whole days. let's take it to the other extreme and say there are 999 million tons of existing food, that's 89 days, just shy of 3 months, before they run out of food and mass starvation begins. We know that its no more than 999 million tons of food available. The hive knows everything that every human knows, so if there was more than 999 million they would of said billions not millions. They know how much food they have and they cannot lie.

There's also about 900 million human cadavers from the joining that they are turning into food as well. those cadavers would buy you another 7-8 days. and they only add 100k new corpses a day from natural deaths. Biomass is biomass, they are probably collecting human feces and dogshit as well and tossing it into the corpse starch. Indian's wouldn't even notice a difference.

They stated that humans will die off in 10 years from starvation, and on it's face that is probably true, but it is misleading. The last of the humans will starve to death in 10 years maybe, but the first of the humans will start starving by day 10, and the bulk of the human population, easily 80-90% of all humans, will have starved to death by week 10. After that point they will probably achieve an equilibrium where the number of mouths to feed (and available stockpile of dead bodies) reaches a place where the optimized hive mind is capable of gathering food efficiently enough to keep most of the remaining people alive and they reach a stable, declining population that takes 10 years for the last to die off. This will be possible because the hive mind can live in ways that no human with free will would ever choose to.

They are on day 13. If the show was going for accuracy it would pretty much just be a race against time to destroy the hive mind before everyone starves to death, "24" style. but it's not gonna be about that, it's gonna be a slow burn character development as the others begrudgingly join carol as they come to accept the absolute horrors the hivemind commits because they'd rather close their eyes to that than agree with anything carol says, she is that insufferable.

In a hypothetical scenario where humans must rely solely on naturally fallen fruits, vegetables, or nuts, and opportunistically scavenged dead animals (without any active hunting or harvesting), survival would hinge on regions with consistent, year-round food availability, mild climates to minimize shelter needs, and access to water. Tropical areas excel here due to their equatorial location, which provides stable temperatures, high biodiversity, and continuous fruiting cycles without distinct seasons. Temperate rainforests could work as alternatives with milder seasonality, but they'd require more planning for leaner winter months. Dead animal scavenging is unreliable everywhere—carcasses decompose quickly, attract competitors like vultures or insects, and pose health risks from bacteria or parasites—but areas with dense wildlife might offer occasional opportunities.


Below, I'll outline the top locations based on natural abundance, drawing from ecological data on foraging and wilderness survival. These prioritize passive gathering of fallen produce (e.g., fruits dropping from trees due to ripeness, wind, or animals) over rare animal finds.

1. Amazon Rainforest Basin (Brazil, Peru, Colombia)​

This vast tropical region spans South America and offers one of the highest densities of edible plants globally, with year-round fruiting thanks to consistent rainfall and warmth (average temperatures 25–30°C). You could survive primarily on fallen fruits like wild bananas, mangoes, papayas, guavas, and Brazil nuts, which drop abundantly from canopy trees. The forest floor is littered with such items, and rivers provide water plus occasional dead fish or animals washed up. Wildlife density is high, so naturally deceased mammals (e.g., from age or predators) might be found, though they'd be competed for by scavengers. Challenges include humidity, insects, and navigation, but indigenous groups have thrived here as gatherers for millennia.

2. Southeast Asian Rainforests (Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo Islands)​

Similar to the Amazon, these equatorial forests provide perpetual warmth (26–32°C) and rainfall, leading to continuous cycles of fruits like durian, rambutan, mangosteen, jackfruit, and wild bananas falling to the ground. Coastal areas add coconuts and occasional beached sea life (e.g., dead fish or crustaceans) as "dead animal" sources. Islands near Borneo are particularly ideal for isolation and lagoon access, where fallen tropical produce is supplemented by edible roots and vines. High biodiversity means more chances for scavenging deceased small game or birds, but focus on plants for reliability. This region mirrors the banana plantation example but in a wilder, more diverse setting.

3. Congo Basin Rainforest (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa)​

As the world's second-largest tropical forest, this area has year-round fruit availability from trees bearing items like wild figs, avocados, and oil palm fruits that drop naturally. The equatorial climate ensures no dry seasons, with temperatures around 25–30°C supporting constant growth. Rivers and wetlands could yield dead aquatic animals, and the dense ecosystem increases odds of finding naturally expired wildlife (e.g., monkeys or antelope). It's less explored than the Amazon, offering seclusion, but political instability in some parts could be a modern caveat—hypothetically, focus on remote interiors.

4. Hawaiian or Pacific Islands (e.g., Beyond Urban Oahu, or Similar Archipelagos)​

These volcanic islands provide tropical conditions (20–30°C year-round) with abundant fallen coconuts, breadfruit, guavas, and papayas from wild groves. Coconuts are especially survival-friendly, as they fall ripe and provide food, water, and tools. Coastal lagoons and beaches offer washed-up dead marine life (e.g., fish or jellyfish), counting as accessible "dead animals." Low predator presence and mild weather make it low-effort; feral pigs or birds might occasionally die naturally in view. This is a more contained, island-based version of the banana plantation idea, with ocean moderation preventing extremes.

5. Temperate Rainforests (e.g., Pacific Northwest USA/Canada, or Ireland's Western Coasts)​

For a non-tropical option, these mild, wet areas (10–20°C averages, rarely freezing) have near-year-round foraging, though with some seasonality. Fallen berries (e.g., salmonberries, huckleberries), nuts (e.g., hazelnuts), and apples from wild trees are common in summer/fall, supplemented by edible ferns or mushrooms in other months. Coastal access provides dead seafood from tides, and forests have game like deer that could die naturally. Ireland's rural west stands out for its depopulated wilderness, flint for tools, and abundant berries/fruits. It's viable but requires storing fallen produce for winter, unlike true tropics.


In all cases, prioritize clean water sources (e.g., rivers, rain) and avoid rotten items to prevent illness—fermented fruits can be toxic, as seen with wildlife deaths. Urban edges with mapped forageable trees (e.g., via global databases) could enhance this in places like California or Mediterranean spots, but wild areas reduce competition. Overall, tropics win for consistency, echoing the banana example with broader variety.