(by Yaron Schmild)

(by Yaron Schmild)

heart eye cat meme

As harsh as it sounds dogs have been "meat" to us far longer than we are willing to admit. Pretty much every "high culture" of the past has had a period of consuming dogs. They were much more than just companions. We just like to glass over that fact because it makes us realize how hypocrytical we currently are with only consuming certain types of animal meat. In times of harshness and starvation our animal companions have been and anways will be meat. No matter how much media tries to convince us it is inhuman to do so and much more noble to starve to death first. When shit gets really serious your dog is on the roast long before you look at another family member as potential food source.

Therefore I don't think it is odd at all that many wastelanders call a dog "dogmeat" just as many times as a dog is called any other name.

Traditionally humans try to avoid naming animals they know they might have to eat in the future. So yes I totally agree dogmeat is not the same dog and Cooper is rather letting on he had to consume dogs before and will likely do so again if he needs to. It is most likely no more uncommon than naming your dog "Diesel" or "Bullet" etc. In the wasteland.

So the fact that the ghoul calls CX404 ‘dogmeat’ almost immediately after meeting him makes me wonder…

What if dogmeat is just a common nickname for dogs in the wasteland? Something similar to calling a dog mutt or something. This would explain the multiple dogmeats better than the existence of an immortal, breed shifting dog that has wondered the wasteland for 100+ years and could be an interesting bit of worldbuilding.

Because why would wastelanders call all dogs ‘dogmeat’? Why would they not give their companion a name? Maybe because they know the wasteland is a harsh and unforgiving place and they may be forced into a situation where they have to eat their canine companion to survive. Maybe they call dogs ‘dogmeat’ to prevent themselves getting attached and always remind themselves of what they may one day have to do…

🦁

Oh boy I can hear the flatearthers already 😆