History Main / ParasitesAreEvil

* ''Literature/AllTomorrows'': The [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Qu]] create multiple strains of human-derived parasites purely to punish the humans on one world for resisting them, even going so far as to create one strain that infested the ''[[GroinAttack wombs]]'' of their hosts. After the Qu abandoned their post-human creations, most of these parasites died out, but one strain went on to subvert this. They became an intelligent species that formed a symbiotic relationship with their hosts, guiding them and protecting them in exchange for their blood. While the hosts do eventually become completely dominated by the Symbiotes, [[FormerlySapientSpecies effectively becoming mindless puppets]], this is the product of evolution rather than any deliberate act by the Symbiotes themselves.

* ''VideoGame/TraumaCenter'': The main threat in the DS games are the bioengineered plagues known as G.U.I.L.T. Unlike normal parasites, G.U.I.L.T. specifically damage the body in a way that ensures the host suffers in agony before dying. If they detect outside interference, such as a doctor trying to save the patient, [[EvilIsPetty they speed up the infection to try and kill the host before they can be dealt with]].

Though [[ParasiticHorror undeniably horrifying]] and on occasion dangerous to human beings, there's nothing objectively ''evil'' in what parasites or parasitoids do. Regardless of whether they [[PuppeteerParasite control the minds of their hosts]], use them as [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong incubators for their young]], simply eat them (or their nutrients) from within or just generally make their lives a little bit more uncomfortable than normal, the creature committing these acts is merely trying to survive and reproduce in much the same way as any other animal. Nearly every non-parasitic species has more than one unique parasite, and parasites outnumber free-living organisms by a vast margin. This means that the ''norm'' for most Earth life is spending a chunk of their life cycle in or on another organism for food and shelter.

Though [[ParasiticHorror undeniably horrifying]] and on occasion dangerous to human beings, there's nothing objectively ''evil'' in what parasites or parasitoids do. Regardless of whether they [[PuppeteerParasite control the minds of their hosts]], use them as [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong incubators for their young]], simply eat them (or their nutrients) from within or just generally make their lives a little bit more uncomfortable than normal, the creature committing these acts is merely trying to survive and reproduce in much the same way as any other animal. Nearly every non-parasitic species has more than one unique parasite, and parasites outnumber free-living organisms by a vast margin. This means that the ''norm'' for most Earth life is spending a lifetime in or on another organism for food and shelter.

Though [[ParasiticHorror undeniably horrifying]] and on occasion dangerous to human beings, there's nothing objectively ''evil'' in what parasites or parasitoids do. Regardless of whether they [[PuppeteerParasite control the minds of their hosts]], use them as [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong incubators for their young]], simply eat them (or their nutrients) from within or just generally make their lives a little bit more uncomfortable than normal, the creature committing these acts is merely trying to survive and reproduce in much the same way as any other animal. Nearly every non-parasitic species has more than one unique parasite, and parasites outnumber free-living organisms by a vast margin, meaning that the ''norm'' for most Earth life is spending a lifetime in or on another creature for food and shelter.

Compare and contrast PredatorsAreMean, ScavengersAreScum, and MonstrousGerms, all similar examples of human morality being imposed on nature. Could overlap with ParasiticImmortality; after all, taking somebody's body against their will so you can live forever is [[ImmortalityImmorality pretty immoral by default]].

!!Examples

Though [[ParasiticHorror undeniably horrifying]] and on occasion dangerous to human beings, there's nothing objectively ''evil'' in what parasites or parasitoids do. Regardless of whether they [[PuppeteerParasite control the minds of their hosts]], use them as [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong incubators for their young]], simply eat them (or their nutrients) from within or just generally make their lives a little bit more uncomfortable than normal, the creature committing these acts is merely trying to survive and reproduce in much the same way as any other animal. Nearly every non-parasitic species has more than one unique parasite, meaning that parasites comprise the vast majority of life on Earth.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The Flood is a race of parasitic superorganisms yearning to usher in a perfect, utopia without classes, degradation, conflict, or unhappiness. And how do they aim to achieve this goal, you ask? Why by forcibly turning all organic lifeforms across the universe into hideous, disgusting zombies, of course! The ''Literature/TheForerunnerSaga'' only amps up their villainy by dropping the bombshell that the Flood is a Precursor bioweapon birthed from their powered remains for the sole purpose of exacting their revenge upon the Forerunners.

* ''ComicBook/LockeAndKey'': It's eventually revealed that the "demons" that dwell beyond the Black Door are actually a race of extradimensional parasites known as the [[EldritchAbomination Children of Leng]]; they want to experience everything our world has to offer but can only do so by inhabiting the body of someone crossing the Door threshold. They don't possess people in the traditional sense, but actively rewire the ''souls'' of their hosts so that [[EvilFeelsGood they enjoy cruelty]], until any difference between host and parasite becomes purely academic. Motivated solely by sadistic hedonism and megalomania, the Children of Leng can only pretend to be virtuous if it means getting what they want - and even doing that irritates and disgusts them, to the point that [[BigBad Dodge]] can only keep up his innocent facade by fantasizing about [[WouldHurtAChild the horrific things he'd like to do to the Locke kids]]... and [[spoiler: brutally raping Ellie Whedon behind closed doors.]]

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': The Yeerks are the main antagonists of the series, a race of parasitic slugs [[PuppeteerParasite controlling the minds of those they inhabit]], and have built a galactic empire out of their need to find new bodies in which to live. Yeerk infestation is often portrayed as [[AndIMustScream a terrifying, dehumanizing experience]], and the Yeerks themselves are encouraged to treat their hosts as little more than cattle and even break their spirits to mould them into better hosts. However, [[GrayingMorality the portrayal becomes much more complex as the series continues]], with the Yeerks even becoming something of a WoobieSpecies once they make it clear that inhabiting the bodies of others is the only way they can appreciate the world - or even ''see'' it, as Yeerks are blind in their natural state. It's even revealed that the [[TheEmpire Yeerk Empire]] is harboring [[LaResistance a freedom movement]] that wants to shift the species [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch away from parasitism and into symbiosis]]; these rebel Yeerks are regarded as sympathetic and even serve as tentative allies of the Animorphs on occasion. [[spoiler: In the finale, many surrendering Yeerks opt to transform into animals, willingly accepting a ShapeshifterModeLock so they can live peacefully on Earth.]]

* ''Literature/{{Necroscope}}'': [[OurVampiresAreDifferent The Wamphyri]] walk a wobbly line between symbiosis and parasitism: essentially a race of alien leeches, they empower their hosts with immortality, inhuman strength, necromancy, and the ability to [[{{Biomanipulation}} warp flesh at a touch]]. Unfortunately, being bonded means being painfully and unwillingly impregnated with a fetal vampire symbiote — complete with rape imagery - and subject to its hunger. Regardless of how benevolent they were beforehand, hosts are all gradually corrupted into villainy by their new appetites, to the point that any differences between the parasite and its host vanish: the end result is a HumanoidAbomination that will think nothing of committing murder, torture, [[AnatomicallyImpossibleSex anatomically impossible]] acts of [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil rape]], and other crimes too hideous to describe. Vampires are considered so evil in this setting that, upon dying, they're actually ''excluded'' by the other dead minds, who want nothing to do with them. [[spoiler:Even [[TheHero Harry Keogh]] isn't immune to this sort of treatment once he gets infected by a vampire symbiote.]]

* ''Literature/HyperionCantos'': The [[AIIsACrapshoot TechnoCore]] are revealed in the last book to be a product of digital evolution which was massively inclined toward parasitism (like stealing the codes needed for reproduction). In 99% of the cases, their view of the humans is limited to either using them as {{Wetware CPU}}s, or as DNA donors for their {{Wetware Bod|y}}ies -- including the A.I.s attempting to move beyond the purely parasitic mindset.

* ''Series/StargateSG1'': The Goa'uld are snake-like {{Puppeteer Parasite}}s, and commonly use the powers they naturally confer on their hosts to pose as gods, especially when combined with their advanced (and stolen) technology. They regard other life-forms as nothing more than slaves, treating them with a mixture of sneering arrogance and chortling sadism, gladly leaving their hosts [[AndIMustScream trapped in a tormented state of helplessness]]. It's made clear that they're biologically locked into this through GeneticMemory, with each new generation of Goa'uld being inclined to regard themselves as true gods — and stab each other in the back to acquire more power. Only one Goa'uld has been confirmed to have given up the parasitic lifestyle: she founded the Tok'ra, a resistance movement advocating cooperation with their hosts; they're a much more pleasant people - though they're still a bit on the haughty side.

* ''TabletopGame/TheUnofficialHollowKnightRPG'': This trope is {{Downplayed}} with the ticks and fleas, who are portrayed as mostly being made up of criminals who use trickery and misdirection to pull one over on their opponents. This is implied to be due to their size rather than their parasitism though, as they need to use underhanded tactics to make up for just how much smaller they are than all of the other bugs.

Though [[ParasiticHorror undeniably horrifying]] and on occasion dangerous to human beings, there's nothing objectively ''evil'' in what parasites or parasitoids do. Regardless of whether they [[PuppeteerParasite control the minds of their hosts]], use them as [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong incubators for their young]], simply eat them (or their nutrients) from within or just generally make their lives a little bit more uncomfortable than normal, the creature committing these acts is merely trying to survive and reproduce in much the same way as any other animal - in fact, nearly every non-parasitic species on Earth has more than one unique parasite, meaning that parasites comprise the vast majority of life as we know it.

Compare and contrast PredatorsAreMean, ScavengersAreScum, and MonstrousGerms, all similar examples of human morality being imposed on nature.

* Zigzagged in ''{{Franchise/Metroid}}''. In most games in the series, the titular Metroids are treated as a force too dangerous to be left unchecked, with the standing order upon seeing them is to wipe them out to the last. However, in ''Metroid II'' Samus chooses to spare the last infant Metroid in hopes that its powers can be harnessed for good, and it imprints on her and comes to save her life. It's later revealed that the Metroids were bioweapons created to stop an even worse parasite, the X, who would be a plague on the universe if allowed to spread. Samus speaks of them with disdain, saying that the X have no souls. However, in ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', [[spoiler:a single X who consumed the remains of Quiet Robe seemingly comes to Samus's aid, suggesting that either Quiet Robe retained his consciousness in this form or the X containing his memories came to reach sapience.]]