QOTD #00001: COMPOSTING HUMANS?!
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QOTD #00001: “Instead of burial, be composted! It's eco-friendly, but is it for you?”
We all end up 6 feet under someday but what if our bodies could help fix the environment? Would you choose to compost your body instead of being buried or cremated? It's sustainable, but is being used in someone's garden too icky?
TOP PLAYER ANSWERS
ilsathejoe
Chicago
Our bodies should be returning to the earth
"Um, I totally support, like, an eco-friendly alternative to burying bodies. Like obviously, like, I wanna be, like, at least burned when I'm born, like I don't want to just have my body rotting away, taking up plots in the ground. I'm dead. I'm out of here. What do I- Why don't I give back to the Earth? I think that's what we're supposed to be doing. And then we, you know, put ourselves in these boxes, but our bodies should be returning to the Earth. Um, it's probably how we get ghosts, honestly."
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Kristina E
Florrisant, CO
Good to have options for people's end of life decisions
"You know, I don't know. I think it really kind of depends on the individual and their family and the decision that they make. If composting is a more environmentally friendly way to dispose of bodies of our deceased, then, and that's okay with their families, then I think that that should absolutely be an option. Now, I understand that's probably not for everybody. But if we provide those options and give people choices on how they can make their end-of-life decisions, then I think that is ultimately a good decision."
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Marie E
Ann Arbor, MI
Not particularly jazzed about this idea
"So, scientists are saying now that instead of having a loved one buried or cremated, you can have them basically turned into compost. I am not particularly jazzed about that idea. I wouldn't want it for any of my loved ones. I don't like the idea of them rotting away, although I don't really like the idea of anyone being buried either, but if somebody else wants to do it, that's fine with me."
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PANZERSaturn
Video editor Longview TX
Don't really agree with that at all
"I don't necessarily agree with turning bodies into compost. I know it happens, kind of, regardless, um, after...after someone passes away, but, you know, kind of- You know, it just kind of- It feels like it robbed the family of their chance to say their last goodbyes to their loved one or whoever may have passed away. It is something that I'm not- I really can't get behind. I don't really agree with that at all, so..."
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Sam M
Balhabour, FL
We come from the earth and we go back to the earth
"My first instinct is to think, "Gross. Humans as compost?" But as I think a little bit more, I think about how we come from the earth and we go back to the earth, and that's the natural circle of life, so I guess it's not that bad of an idea."
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Tamora I
Columbus, GA.
It's for the Earth, so count me in!
"So, anything that helps the environment, I'm down for. So, turning bodies into compost as an alternative to burial or cremation... I'm fine with it. You know, for me personally, I'm dead, so I don't really care. If a family member wanted, you know, their resting place to be their bodies turned into compost, I'm fine with it. Absolutely. I think saving and helping the environment should be at the top of everybody's list, so count me in on this one."
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monila
It's all about us
Sign me up for composting after death
"So, it says instead of burial, be composted. It's eco-friendly. Um, I just like as little harm done as possible to the body, so I feel like, yeah, just throw me in the ground and see what happens. If that's composted, then cool. Um, that's what I'm into. So, I don't like anything really done or whatever. I don't want anything done to my body. So, yeah, drop me in the ground, see if it works, and let nature take its course, I guess."
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Malachi G
Decatur, IL,
Being buried in the woods would be peaceful
"I didn't get into the thing, but it's fine. Um, I still think my answer is very interesting. I wanna be buried in the woods. Technically, it can be composted, too. Um, because I'm giving back to the earth. Not only that, but to pass in the woods and just be like in the deep woods too like, not like no little bit of woods, like, the deep woods where it's just the birds. You can hear anything around you, and like, I don't know. Just to pass would be so peaceful and reconnecting."
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Jesse B
Burbank, CA
I'm certainly not doing anything with my body once I'm gpme
"Um, I think that that's really a great idea. Uh, I think it's sustainable, and I'm certainly not going to be doing anything with my body once I'm done with it, so it may as well be reused."
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Peter c
Summit, NJ
Composting humans? Off-putting at best.
"I would, uh, call it off-putting at best."
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Kolade K
Chapel Hill, NC
This could actually be a great idea
"I think that this could actually be a great idea. It kind of reminds me of how when you can sign up to be an organ donor on your driver's license, you can also sign up to be composted and help distribute your nutrients back to the earth. It could be a really great idea."
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Josh P
Littleton, CO
It should be up to the deceased
"I think if a person passed away, it should be up to them what happens to their body. If a family member or friend wants to be turned into compost, I totally understand, but also if they want to be buried, or if they want to be cremated, then I think that they should get their wishes and that should happen for them."
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Beatrice H
NY, NY
Not that different from cremation, but your body is being used for something
"I think that composting could actually become sort of a thing instead of burials and cremations, because, honestly, it's not that much different than cremation, except that your body is being, like, used for something, as opposed to just kind of sitting in the ground. I don't know if I'd do it, but maybe in a few years."
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Eileen C
Berkeley, CA
To grow as a tree
"I think we should definitely compost the dead. It's more land-saving and more environmentally friendly. When I pass away, I would like to be composed, um, into like a seed for to grow as a tree."
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Matt M
Katy, TX
Might as well turn yourself into food to feed others
"Well, I figure you- you can't take your body with you, so you might as well turn yourself into food to feed others. Hopefully, feed a family, maybe on Thanksgiving."
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Sujana S
Oklahoma, USA
It will be beneficial for the world.
"Well, in my culture, we already, uh, burn the dead bodies, so I think it should be good to compost the dead bodies, so it will be beneficial for the earth, too."
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Evan F
Ann Arbor, MI
Yes... Cemeteries aren't the best uses of land
"Yeah, so I think this is definitely unconventional with turning bodies into compost, but if it's good for the environment, and it helps out, especially- I know that...that cemeteries aren't the best uses of land or best for the environment. So, I mean, this seems like a great alternative. So, um, I think it's a good idea."
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Elliott F
Johnstown, PA
It's okay to compost humans ... once they're dead.
"I mean, I think it's okay to compost humans. Like, once they're dead, they're gone. As long as their family's okay with it, and as long as they were okay with it before they died, I think it's fine. Um, that's, yeah, it seems fine to me. Like, it's just a body once they're dead. It doesn't have really much of a connection, but as long as-"
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Mark D
Holly Springs, NC
I want the ones I love to be buried in peace
"Absolutely say no, because one body is not gonna change the whole entire environment. On top of that, everyone has to pitch in for the environment to be changed, and I want a loved one to be buried in peace. So, I say no, 100% no. I'm not... I'm not against it. It's just I know one body's not going to save the whole world. That's my opinion."
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Neva S
Plumwood, OH
Keep the cycle of life going
"I am so pro composting dead bodies. Heck yeah. I think it's a really good idea. I think it's a really cool way to just, like, keep the cycle of life going. I would definitely be down to get composted when I die or to be turned into like a tree pot or something. I think it's a great idea."
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Zach D
Boston, MA
Icky, but getting them back into the foot chain is key
"Oo, that's an icky one. I mean, do I want my dead loved ones to be turned into compost and then turned very- I don't know. It's just like the- When you bury somebody, the processing into getting them into the food chain again is a lot shorter when you make them into compost. I find that icky."
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Camille G
Nashville, TN
Create fireworks with your ashes and go out with a bang
"In Tennessee, I actually knew someone who took their ashes and created fireworks. Um, and I thought that was really interesting and a way to go out with a bang... And that's an interesting alternative."
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Kate A
Athens, OH
That'd be super legit
"I think it's okay to be composted and would be okay with my loved ones doing it as long as I would know where they are, so that way if I wanted to go visit them at a greenery, and I know that they are helping a tree grow, that'd be super legit. And I could be really cool things like different plants."
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Denishia W
Georgia, USA
It's a little disrespectful
"To me, the thought of having a dead loved one be composted - it's a little creepy, and I feel like it's a little disrespectful, so I wouldn't like the idea."
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Allegra E
Philadelphia, PA
Give back!
"I think that having your body turned into compost is a beautiful and poetic way to give your body back to the earth and the land that sustains us. I think that everybody has a right to choose what, how they want their body to be handled after they die, and this sounds like a wonderful alternative to burial or cremation."
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Billy O
Washington, DC
We come from the Earth - we go back to the Earth
"I think it's interesting, but I wouldn't find a problem with it. It will be up to the person who was being buried beforehand. I think it could save a lot of space when it comes to graveyards, and we can use that area to do other things. We come from the Earth - we go back to the Earth. It's the circle of life."
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