• tacosanonymous@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    I don’t think it’s joking about cannibalism so much as it’s a metaphor or figurative speech.

    Although I don’t want some weird prion disease, if rich people were the only remaining food source, I’d eat them.

    • Nimrod@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      It’s why I never say “eat the rich”, instead say: “compost the rich”. That way everyone knows I am serious about both parts of the ‘joke’.

      • explodicle@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Composting doesn’t eliminate prion risks, though. IMHO if we ever have that kind of power, they should be forced to see the world they delayed.

      • Kaity@leminal.space
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        2 months ago

        Not literal but not a joke, it is a serious phrase of figurative speech. It originates from a french revolutionary "When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.” which is most likely a reference to the famous quote by the same author, ‘At length I remembered the last resort of a great princess who, when told that the peasants had no bread, replied: "Then let them eat brioches.’ — Jean-Jacques Rousseau

        The rich said let them eat cake, I propose we eat the rich