The Voluntaries

[TobiasMasonPark]

     I was going to put this up a while ago. But I accidentally deleted the entire post after I had finnished...I do that a lot. Anyways, a few weeks ago, I was thinking about Animorphs (obviously) and I started to think about the Voluntary Controllers. From what we've seen in the series, the Voluntary hosts are looked down upon, like the scum of the earth. We heard that most Voluntaries give up their freedom because they can't handle their own lives, or because they're just really ambitious. I remember reading about how disgusted the kids were when they saw what happened to the Voluntary Controllers during the feeding process--the special room with the Full House Reruns (which makes me think that they can't have it all good, since that particular show isn't exactly "good"...but, I digress). Over all, the opinion of the Animorphs concerning the Voluntaries is generally low.

     But I think we can at least sympathize with these unfortunate people. Couldn't we at least try to understand? Chapman, for instance, gave up his own freedom to save his daughter. Whatever Chapman was like as a child (Andalite chronicles) you can't deny that he was thinking of his daughter's well being. Taylor turned to the Yeerks to get her beauty back. Sure, it's a superficial reason, but I can understand why she'd give up her free will. Obviously, Taylor only had her looks. Once that went away, everyone she thought loved or cared about her went with it.

     And if you don't agree with my two examples, let me try to paint you a different scenario. A middle aged father of two or three recently lost his job. His wife's income isn't enough to support the family. The market isn't stable, and he can't find another job. The father starts to get stressed: his life has taken a turn, he has his children's future to think of, and he starts to slink away into depression.

     Scenario father then hears about the Sharing--through a friend or priest or what have you--and decides to check out this Yeerk Front. After a few weeks of attending the meetings, he is offered a chance to be a "full memeber". The father, realizing that the Sharing is really a front organization, thinks about his family. The Yeerks offer him stability (probably a lie).  What do you think this guy's going to do?

     And then there are the loners, homeless and depressed. People who, like I already said, dislike their lives. I guess you can understand why they'd choose to have someone else take the reins, so to speak. Escapism.

     I can understand Voluntary Controllers. But I don't understand Andalite traitors.

[Chad32]

I sympathise with voluntaries as well. we don't know their stories. We don't know their reasons. They could have really crappy lives. They could be sick, starbing, homeless people who figure being a slave is better than dying a horrible slow death. Heck some voluntaries may be that way just because they figure sitting on a couch watching TV is better than sitting in a cage being yanked around. Not everyone wants to be the brave rebel. Not everyone has the willpower or nerves of steel for that.

I try not to judge them too harshly. People may call them traitors. well, fat lot of good the involuntaries in the cages are doing for their country.

[TobiasMasonPark]

     You can actually respect them more than some Andalites. In fact, there are only a hand full that I actually like, given the guys we see in the Decision and the Arrival.

[Dogman15]

There's also the possibility that voluntary controllers would choose that route because of the potential for companionship and possibly a friendship with their Yeerk. It is possible! In fact, I think there were many "voluntaries" after the war, too - humans and Yeerks who enjoyed each other's company and shared control of the body. You know... nice Yeerks who disliked the Yeerk military and war. Members of the YPM.

[Terenia]

Cheap Plug for my fanfic: The Voluntary


Sorry. But I totally agree with you, Tobias. I mean, honestly, there are points in my life where I probably would have become a voluntary controller in a heartbeat. Heck, if it didn't mean the potential loss of everyone I cared about I probably still would!

I think that Voluntary Controllers are often the most sympathetic characters in Animorphs, because often times they have completely given up hope on humanity. That's not unrealistic, or detestable. It's just sad.

[Phoenix004]

Obviously I don't agree with voluntary hosts and find it difficult to sympathise with them. However, we know that most of them have no clue as to the extent of what they're getting into. By the time they realise, it's too late. Some of them are bound to consider changing their minds, until they see how badly the involuntary hosts are treated and decide to stick with the less awful choice.

True the voluntary hosts are mostly shown as being horrible people, but there was one case where we got to see their point of view: Tobias in Megamorphs #4. His life sucked, nobody cared about him and members of The Sharing were the only people to ever stick up for him (besides Jake) or show him any kindness. Naturally he didn't want to give that up so agreed to become a full member, until he realised what that meant and tried to resist. This probably isn't the only time this happened at The Sharing.

[NateSean]

One thing you have to also take into account is examples like the Chapmans. They're voluntary because the Yeerks bargained with them. Not to mention that both Chapmans have successfully fought and taken control of parts of their bodies before, so even though they may not wind up in the cages with the involuntaries, they are very likely in the crosshairs of the guards at all times when they are watching Full House.

[Unknown User]

My major question when it comes to voluntaries:

Who gets to decide what they watch?

[Morilore]

Sitting on a couch watching TV in the middle of the Yeerk pool surrounded by involuntaries screaming and sobbing and resisting and suffering strikes me as sociopathic. 

[TobiasMasonPark]

     Hate to think those poor Controllers were only allowed to watch Full House. More of Visser Three's torture methods.

[Chad32]

I actually liked Full House.

[Darth Zakryn]

Me, I prefer Everybody Loves Raymond.

But yeah, I really thought the Animorphs' attitudes towards the voluntaries are REALLY close-minded. This was never driven more home than in MM#4 when Rachel makes it sound like joining The Sharing was a shameful, detestable act when she denied Tobias would ever do it. He was alone! And people lonely, with really screwed-up lives, do desperate things.

How about someone who was in jail and The Sharing bailed them out and offered them a chance at redemption? These are the kinds of scenarios I like to play around with.

[Xan]

Could be worse. I would torture people with a nonstop run of Uwe Boll movies.

[Chad32]

Yeah, I'm surprised Rachel would flat out deny any chance that Tobias would join the Sharing. You kidding? He's exactly the kind of person to get sucked into that.

Uwe Boll? *shudder*

[Dogman15]

Sitting on a couch watching TV in the middle of the Yeerk pool surrounded by involuntaries screaming and sobbing and resisting and suffering strikes me as sociopathic. 

They were probably in a mostly soundproof room with thick glass windows looking out to the Yeerk Pool complex. The TV was facing the window(s), I'm guessing, so they wouldn't be distracted by anything going on outside. As for deciding what to watch, it was sort of like a free-for-all sort of thing. First come, first served, just like a lounge or something.