The Chee and Humans

[Damien]

Hope this hasn't already been put up...

I have been wondering, do you think the human race technology wise would be where it is without the chee's help? I remember in one of the books Erek said one of the chee, Mr. King I think, said he actually suggested heat killed bacteria, could there be other areas where they gave humans information?

[Chad32]

I don't remember the Chee giving any technological information to Humans, but I doubt they're programmed not to. The Ellemist created the Pamelites to spread peace and technology. To help other species. I'm sure the Chee have helped discreetly through the centuries.

[Azguard]

 so...I wonder how much humans do on their own. ^^

[Chad32]

Don't tell this to the Andalites, but alien help may be a big part of the reason why we Humans learn so quickly.

[musicman88]

Didn't Erik say somewhere that the Chee helped create TV, or a I thinking of a completely different book/series?

[Phoenix004]

Didn't Erik say somewhere that the Chee helped create TV?

Not that I recall.

I think it's unlikely that the Chee interfered with human development in any hugely significant way, but it's easily possible. However, you have to remember that just because Mr. King suggested heat as a method of killing bacteria, doesn't mean that humans wouldn't have figured it out anyway.

[RYTX]

Well, the fact that it took us so long and an alien android finally had to suggest it is discouraging; I don't where I'd be w/o milk

And shouldn't recommending the death of millions of bacteria be against their programming. I never got over that

[musicman88]

But the death of those million simple bacteria is enough to save a great number of vastly complex humans.

[RYTX]

Yeah but that's not in the rule book
It's "don't be violent. period." not "be violent to benefit others"
A life is a life, i'd imagine the chee wouldn't value a human life anymore than a dog, but they still couldn't kill a person to save a truckload of puppies

[Azguard]

 ok, how about this one.

 who is to thank for broccoli?!

[morfowt]

Yeah but that's not in the rule book
It's "don't be violent. period." not "be violent to benefit others"
A life is a life, i'd imagine the chee wouldn't value a human life anymore than a dog, but they still couldn't kill a person to save a truckload of puppies

not completely. in the last book, erek's programming forced him to take the less violent path...

who is to thank for broccoli?!

don't you remember mm#2? the mercora brought them from their planet...

[Phoenix004]

I don't mind Broccoli so I still like the Mecora. Of course it would have been a different story if they'd brought Onions to Earth... 

I wonder if the Chee did invent any modern day foods? I'll have to thank them personally if they invented Pizza! 

[RYTX]

Yeah but that's not in the rule book
It's "don't be violent. period." not "be violent to benefit others"
A life is a life, i'd imagine the chee wouldn't value a human life anymore than a dog, but they still couldn't kill a person to save a truckload of puppies

not completely. in the last book, erek's programming forced him to take the less violent path...

Yeah, but I don't think it's his programming that did that, he think he did that of his own "will" Taking the Pool Ship offline left the likely thousands on board at the mecery of the few on the Blade Ship, can't really say it's less violent.
What they did, blackmailing him with a Yeerk hostage (whatever book that was), that may better argue your point, but I can't remember what they were forcing him to do.
And still (to argue my point) wouldn't killing one Howler be less violent than allowing it to kill 5 humans and an Andalite? Probably, but he still couldn't do it

[Phoenix004]

The Chee aren't allowed to be violent period. They were only able to blackmail Erek into helping them hack the codes for the Pool Ship because Ax was going to kill Chapman. He was forced to do it to save Chapman, and he was able to do it because hacking the codes themselves wasn't violent, although it did allow access to the weapon's systems (which is why he drained the power out of them).

So no, the Chee wouldn't be able to kill a human to save a truck full of puppies (even if that was the less violent path) because they aren't capable of harming anyone.

[AniDragon]

I think they may have helped out medically more than the bacteria thing (which I won't get into, since there's a lot of inconsistencies with Chee programming, depending on the ghostwriter... I'm sure I'm not the only one who cringed when Erek electrocuted Rachel.).

But I think if the Chee were to figure out a way to help someone be in better help, they might dip a helping hand in, made a few suggestions.

I'm reminded of a part in The Host (by SMeyer), that said something like "We came to experience, not to change. But health isn't something we can compromise on.", and I think the Chee are much like that. They don't want to dump technology on the human race, since they want to experience their lives properly, but I don't think they'd be comfortable with letting them die, when they could do something to help them. So, they very well could have helped with a few medical advancements.