Idiots on drugs.

Proof that drugs cause the munchies.

There are no zombies. Just mentally ill people that you're making jokes out of. People dying because we lack the resources to take care of them. Believe it or not, some people are born with real problems and can't "pick themselves up" like a "real" American. But they are real people, just like you and me, and their deaths aren't all that funny.

Hence, this should be removed for extremely poor taste.

Face eating causes obesity.

Bath salts?!? You are the one mentally ill if you think this is caused by recreational drugs or illness. These people are obviously victims of bio-warfare testing at a level 3 or 4 lab. Testing for various biological weapons has been going on at least since wwII. Why do you think there is an official disaster plan for a "zombie apocalypse"?

Congratulations on your lazy trolling. May you never have to experience the tragedy of mental illness first hand.

The fact that you are polling about this and making light out of something so repulsive and evil is the last straw with The Patch. Your attempt to "be edgy" is gross. Unsubscribing.

i thought Brian Slupski was somebody that was on Patch because he had some local cred as an actual print journo. this is garbage.

Just one more reason why the Patch concept is bleeding millions and millions of AOL's money... don't expect this to last another year.

No, there have been to people with some form of mental issues disease, not unlike cancer or body disease. Ths brain can seem to look worse because of how the mind is to the body. This is no laughing matter to anyone!

Be ashamed of youself, Patch. Inappropriate. You will lose subscribers with this sort of "garbage news".

Hey, I think there are two "Jens" posting to this site. I am the first Jen. I think this reporting by Patch is perfectly fair game. Either the guy is mentally ill, on drugs, or a combination of the two OR has massive spiritual problems (ie, possession, harassment by evil spirits brought on by the satanic rituals comprising voodoo). What's funny are the various posts to this article. This is my last one.

Thirty years of criminal defense work had taught me that these horrible things happen all the time. The media gets hold of a couple of horrific events and the next thong you know it's an "epedemic". No, people kill and maim each other every day. Remember the "summer of shark attacks"? Same thing. Once it gets taken up by the pack of unimaginative idiots who cannot come up with an original idea it's "news". Journalism used to be a noble profession. Now they never challenge anything. Can you believe we went to war over weapons of mass destruction and not a single person in the media said: "hey George, whaddaya, nuts"? Now the war in Iraq is forgotten except for the damaged famalies it left in it's wake. So, Americans, gorge yourself on whatever the slime from your tv gives you.

IT HAS BEGUN!

10. EPINEPHRINE - Pure adrenaline, always useful but only use it when necessary, too much can stop the heart. Always walk with an “EpiPen”

09. CHAINSAW - NO! NO NO NO! Loud, messy and require gasoline. NO

08. BINOCULARS - You probably want to see the zombies before they see you.

07. HELMET - In a world where brains are now in high demand helmet is amazing protections, also doubles as a bowl for when you need it.

06. FLINT - No matches, they break, get wet and never work when needed. But you will need fire so flint is a non-negotiable.

05. DUCT TAPE - Come On! Shit breaks

04. SHOVEL - Useful weapon, hammer and when you need to bury those bodies it comes in handy.

03. CB RADIO - Communication is a must

02. COMPANIONS - Choose wisely

01. HEART OF STEAL - Surviving a zombie apocalypse requires you to be hardcore!

I love this story and look forward to see more, Patch. Love the comments coming, readers. Bon appetite!

I appreciate all of the comments. We decided to do this post because there has been a lot of discussion about these extreme incidents this week. Zombie apocalypse actually was trending as a top search on Google this week and the CDC actually reacted to it. I personally don't think that people actually believe there is a zombie apocalypse, but I think that people have a natural "what the heck is going on" reaction to stuff like this and that's fine.

Hi everyone. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I wanted to share some of the editorial discussion we had before posting this poll and share insight into our decision-making process.

We aim for the Sunday poll on Patch to be a place for local people to discuss regional and national issues. Past topics include concealed carry, cigarette taxes and legalizing marijuana. As we discussed what this week's topic would be, the string of violent incidents was one we could not ignore.

We never want to make light of a tragedy. I'd invite you to reread the post, which was very carefully written not to do so. It simply points out the disturbing attacks and links to news sources about each. It also points out that an overwhelming number of people — it was the No. 1 trend on Google for days — are noticing the trend and discussing a zombie apocalypse. We debated whether to even mention that phrase, but when the Center for Disease Control felt the need to issue a statement about it, we knew it was a crucial part of the discussion.

And that's exactly what we envisioned would play out on this thread — a discussion about the many issues this brings up, including drugs and mental illness and what could be spurring such incidents. And then there's the inevitable discussion about the role the web and social media play in news such as this. Does it help spread awareness or allow us as a society to belittle and become numb to surveillance videos of violent attacks?

You tell us.

Excuse me. "fross" = gross.

Hey J Lyn, there aint justice, only blind luck depending on the prosecutor and/or judge you end up with. It's all bs. Rarely does the actual truth prevail. Just like today's media. If you've ever read a story in the paper you were personaly involved in? They always get it wrong. Whether they spell rhe names correctly or get the quotes accurately. The media is a bunch of airheads who never educate themselves about what they're reporting. They just want the scoop, make the splash, no back story and we wonder why our electorate is so ignorant of basic issues that actually matter. We've lowered the bar in just about anything that has to do with independent, challenging thought in journalism and watch the pack trip over themselves to get a picture of a mourning parent.

It's ALL the sound of humanity slowing circling the drain...a civilization in the beginning throes of it's inevitable demise. A tragedy...a comedy...a farce. Everyone is involved... few seem to notice...or care...and perhaps that is as it should be. Who really wants to watch as they careen straight into nothingness. I can't blame them....but I do sympathize with the condition...we all share it...like it or not. We were born into an inherently unfair system...devised of human folly...and this my friend
is what we get to deal with in our short visit here. Frankly...I would welcome a zombie upsurge...might just spice things up a bit... clear out some dead wood... I hear the
ignorant are the tastiest...well...at least I hope so ! LoL...

Thanks for the happy dance, j lyn.

I think people are way too sensitive these days. Brian, it was an entertaining article, thanks for sharing. Everyone else needs to take a chill pill. I love the Patch, it's the only way to get info about my town now that Pioneer Press stopped making a local paper. I appreciate the website and anyone who would take anything like this so seriously clearly has no concept of observational trends and the reporting of said trends. This is 2012, get on Twitter and learn a little something about the significant way in which social sites have significantly influenced the media.

I'm gonna go with tasteless (pun intended).

The name's Francis Soyer, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Francis, and I'll kill you.

I wasn't going to say a thing but there were two dog whistles upthread and I can't resist:

1) No, journalism has never, ever, ever been a noble profession. In the 19th century most towns had a few local papers run by people with very specific opnions on things and the paper reflected those opinions. The population that read the papers supported the ones that met their opinions. At the turn of the 20th century, we had "yellow journalism". Remember the Maine? All this "objective" nonsense and it's too bad the press is so "partisan" nonsense is just that. The reflection of the fact that the major papers, magazines, radio stations and TV stations and networks of this country have consolidated over the past 20 years and the corporate masters are loaded with debt and afraid to offend anyone.

As for society circling the drain? Oh please. We've been circling the drain since people started writing on stone tablets. Civiliazation is evolving. It would be nice if we'd evolve into nice pleasant friendly folk (like Mormons!) but we're all kind of indvidualistic so that's not going to happen.

I am discouraged that this stupid Patch story -- which is not even local -- has gotten more comments than any other I've seen on this site.

The public has wasted no time in the plethora, of the morbid "joking", of this possibly lost soul. Try to imagine the horror he must feel at this moment. On second thought, don't try...... We can't..... To many it is all a joke..... He's a human..... Does he have a brother or sister, or son or daughter, a long ago friend, or do they even care? Or is it because his "home" is a cardboard box, his pillow nothing more than balled up newspapers, and a cut-out piece of carpet, used for a blanket.

If Mr.Poppo survives this, think of what he will feel when he reads of what was said about him. (If he has any vision at all.)
He may wish then he were not alive, and did not survive.

Americans? We've got a lot to be proud of, don't we? I know. I know. Free speech.
Would it have been different if he had worked on Wall Street?.....Probably not......Semper Fi.....

Semper Fi!

If I had to eat a face, it would look like his.

I can't get over how these simple posts causes so much negative feedback. Personally, I want to read about and know about any and everything trending. These bizarre acts of violence are actual events and not made up. I for one, want to know what's going on in this screwed up society of ours. Had these incidents happened to any of us or to our loved ones, perhaps then, it wouldn't be so funny or ridiculous. People are nuts these days and it's getting worse. Have we forgotten about that Dahmer guy?

At the end of the day we all have a choice as to what we decide to read. If you chose to read this article it obviously sparked some interest to you. So stop complaining and be more selective next time. Free press is what's its called, we don't want censorship!!

Let's try to remain civil and avoid namecalling, etc.

Marine Sniper: Take your Semper Fi and shove it! You speak like you are so uneducated and I doubt that you were ever a Marine. Do not insult the Marines or any other military entity with your barbaric tirades. I don't care what you have posted here. I am clearly entitled to my opinion, if you don't like it keep your ignorant comments to yourself. You are an embarrassment to our Military.

I wonder why Patch moderator you have chosen to delete two of my rebuttals back to two who initially chose to name call, yet you DID NOT delete any of theirs. You are showing that you are of a biased nature. Is it my moniker that offends you in someway, or possibly makes you jealous or envious, for the reason you may have been a coward to enlist in the Marine Corps. Give me a reason you chose to delete mine and not theirs. Or is it you have no chandeliers?
Semper Fi!

Sgt. Hulka? Is that you?

Donny posted at 6:33 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
"If I had a zombie, he would look like Marine Sniper."
====================================
It took you about 23 hours to come up with that! Wow, you're quick, and clever!
That was hysterical! It is very apparent to me, and the others reading this forum, you have been administered a public verbal "beat-down". "Beat-down", a word I'm sure you are VERY familiar with, right? You're feeble and moronic attempt at redeeming yourself has no worth at all. You would have parted slightly better had "you just said thank you, and went on your way".
Accept your beat-down, and stop swinging your purse, ok? Thank you, donnie.

---Semper Fi!

Donny: It probably isn't worth a minute of your time to respond to that barbaric idiot that calls himself "Marine Sniper". He probably never rose beyond a Private. I come from a long line of military and believe me, his type is despised.

This is no joking manner! An addiction, irregardless of what drug it is, can ruin entire families. Ruin lives. Do you know what bath salts even look like. Although bath salts are sold disguised as a harmless substance used for relaxation, people are ingesting them seeking euphoria. In addition to experiencing altered moods, many bath salt users are having psychotic episodes marked with agitation, hallucinations and violent behavior. Because this drug is unfamiliar to medical professionals, doctors are still learning how to treat symptoms and overdoses of this drug. please learn more and spread the word to anyone who may be using these products. http://www.lakeviewhealth.com/bath-salts-infographic.php