I feel like a lot of zombie fiction where characters know what zombies are and the dangerous of getting bitten end up being semi-satirical comedies. Movies and shows where the idea of zombies didn’t previously exist seem to be a bit more serious from what I’ve experienced. I don’t know if it’s the aura of suspense and mystery or because it leads to more pandemonium.
That’s a good point. Due to the amount of possible variations it might not even mean much in the grand scheme of things whether they have some general outline of what zombies are.
Without zombies people may just think they’re I Am Legend style (the book) vampires or something