Why would Yeerks make it illegal to have hosts reproduce?

[Chad32]

In Visser, the council and other Yeerks seemed appalled when they learned that Visser One had fallen in love with her subordinate, and they had kids through their hosts. So enslaving involuntary lifeforms is perfectly fine, but directly causing two hosts to mate isn't? Even if the two hosts fell in love with each other?

I never got that, and I don't think it was explained. Can anyone think of a reason why this would be so?

I mean, obviously the Yeerks would have to encourage reproduction. Otherwise the whole species would go extinct. If the host species knew a law like that was in place, they could boycott having babies to protect future generations.

[mrlarry]

I don't think it was the reproduction per se. I think it was more the fact that these two yeerks had gotten so caught up in the emotions of being human. It's worse than losing control of your host.

[Qwerty the Charliecorn]

Yeah, I agree with what he said.

And about the species going extinct...

There are ways women can have babies without reproduction.

[Chad32]

Yeah, I agree with what he said.

And about the species going extinct...

There are ways women can have babies without reproduction.

I was under the impression that the law was against the Yeerks directly interfering(sp?) with that. Meaning artificial insemination would be just as illegal as controlling the body to make it have sex.

But if it was more about becoming too much like the host, then it makes some sense.

Maybe like how the Andalites started doubting Ax's loyalty once he had been on Earth for a long time. The Yeerks may have felt similarly about their own kind crossing the line. It may be more about separating oneself than anything else.

[Mongoose]

If it's a general rule then my guess would be eugenics. The Yeerks would have strict breeding programs in place so that the best genetic traits are passed on and the worst are eliminated. If you just allow hosts to reproduce when, and with whoever they want then it introduces a random element which creates, us. If the Yeerks had their say then they would guide humans in a way that were physically strong, athletic, but not too intelligent.

[CounterInstinct]

The one with Visser One was different. Yeerks are allowed to make hosts reproduce if their offsprings were made to be hosts as well. But Visser One's cause was just for.... love.... she clearly became human.

[ThermalRider]

The one with Visser One was different. Yeerks are allowed to make hosts reproduce if their offsprings were made to be hosts as well. But Visser One's cause was just for.... love.... she clearly became human.

This is exactly deal. Reproduction to make more hosts is fine. However, if you remember, Visser One was on Earth with only one other Yeerk and they had not made contact with the Council to tell them about the discovery of a class 5 species. So reproduction had no practical application at the time.

[Qwerty the Charliecorn]

I think they would ban reproduction for fear that Yeerks would lose control and give in to their hosts' hormones and emotions.

They'd probably just give women a sperm injection and leave it at that--or make clones. Whichever was easiest and took the least amount of work, I suppose.

[Phoenix004]

I don't think it was the reproduction per se. I think it was more the fact that these two yeerks had gotten so caught up in the emotions of being human. It's worse than losing control of your host.

Couldn't have put it better myself. Clearly the Yeerks are not opposed to hosts reproducing, as they will eventually need a new generation of hosts.

In book 41, Jake sees Earth conquered by the Yeerks. In this future, it is stated/implied that Human controllers are paired up to produce children, which are then raised to a certain age before being infested. From this, we can assume that unauthorised "breeding" was forbidden, as the Yeerks likely saw it as a distraction from their duties.

[Shock]

personally, i don't think that the yeerks care if the hosts have sex (it when the start having kids is when the trouble starts). the main issue at hand is that some yeerks may start viewing making their hosts mate as a recreational activity rather than just strictly for procreation.

amoral yeerks can effectivly protrotuting their hosts so that they gain fast cash, have fun (and i mean that sololy on the yeerk perpetive), and it is very effeive way to break the will of the host (nothing says "i have absolute power over you" like forcing a host do commit sexual acts that he/she doesn't want to do).

 
the main problem here is that eventually pergnacies will start to appear (the yeerk will never suffer a pregancy due to the fact that they can just leave the host during the birthing process.. so in effect, the yeerks get all of the upsides of sex and none of the downsides). the yeerks will either decided to take care of the kid or have the host undergo a forced abortion (again, a forced abortion is another way to shatter a unwilling mind). the yeerks will have the host treated for as much time as allowed and then the yeerk is given the host back.. and the cycle begains again.

twisted logic but logic all the same.

[TheSoulEater]

Having children would give the Yeerks an emotional tie to the humans. And even the possibility of that is completely unacceptable.

I'm sure it's as simple as that.

[Myitt]

I'm sure the Yeerks wouldn't want any unnecessary emotional ties to a host, and it seems like host reproduction is the ultimate host sympathy when it isn't for the benefit of the Empire.  I also think the Yeerks would probably want to prevent humans from being born outside of Imperal warehouses or whatever they were in #41.  It's interesting to think of an underground society of free humans, created by or aided by sympathetic Yeerks.

Something similar is hinted at or blatantly a huge plot point in that book The Host by Stephenie Meyer, just an aside 

[Estelore]

Don't forget that a pregnant human woman is virtually incapacitated for any physical activity, for months at a time.

The Yeerks would want to keep their female hosts useful, I'd think, especially since the females are usually not engaged in direct warfare (most of the Controllers fought by the Animorphs were male), and are probably in technical, hospital, or administrative positions. Visser One herself had a female host, and if SHE was pregnant, things could go VERY badly for her subordinates.

[Terenia]

Yeah, just think of the mood swings. 


But yeah, just to kind of reiterate everyone, I think that what made the whole thing in Visser so horrible was the feelings behind the reproduction. Edriss didn't have children with the intent of turning them in to become hosts. She loved her partner, and she loved her human children. Major no-no.

[planetstella]

Hey, I thought I'd dig out the oldest thread in history, just for fun (I'm that kinda person). It was last commented on on the 26/06/2008 which means that this is the first comment to this particular post in nearly 7 years! I am sure I just broke a record of some kind