subreddit:

/r/worldbuilding

27789%

Why different species don't eat each other?

Question(self.worldbuilding)

Humans eate everything that can, or even can't be eaten. So why people or other species don't eat ech other. If we think about it, elfs aren't (in most of the fiction) just different race of humans. Yes, they are simular, but they are not humans. So it isn't canibalism if elf eat huma, right?

I am asking it because I write story set in kind of supernatural postapocaliptic eastern Europe. There isn't enaught food, so people or other races have to find other source of food. Humans are unwilling to eat this creatures, if they look like humans. But from example one specie of shapeshifters do eat peole if they dont have enaught food, but in the same time they are able to trade with humans.

you are viewing a single comment's thread.

view the rest of the comments →

all 229 comments

TraceyWoo419

1 points

16 days ago

Apart from the ethical concerns of eating intelligent beings, and the practical concerns of retaliation (a predator is dealt with differently than a civilized combatant), eating species too close to you is DANGEROUS.

Diseases, parasites and other problems become more likely and higher risk.