Can the Changelings be justified for their actions or not?

[NavelColt 22,879]

Not necessarily, there are some parasites that have a symbiotic relationship with their host I know that is not the case with the changelings and ponies but there is nothing that says that would be entirely impossible. I think it is safe to say that Chrysalis is evil, she used food being one of the most basic needs of her subjects to control them and gain more power for herself. The changelings themselves are doing what they view as their only method of survival though I think some of them do share their queens cruelty.

 

Parasitism is a non-mutual relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host.

Symbiotic relationships do exist, yes, however parasites are never apart of them. You're confusing two types of organism relationships. A legit parasite gains positively at the expense of the host it's feeding on. As the show clearly demonstrates, the changelings feed on love of others, and the ponies are harmed in the process *Shining Armor was more or less zombified*

[Bendy 1,821]

First off "evil" if there's truly is such a thing, but let's say there is.

 

Changelings from the show itself seem to behave sort of hive-minded. Perhaps not all Changelings have a hive mind, and some queens may not as hostile as Queen Chrysalis. They may feed off love, but don't harm the one they are feeding off from, other than tiring them out and a little sleep would fix that. But still have to keep their lives as Changelings a secret.

 

There may be some Changelings living in Ponyville itself, but can never reveal they are Changelings, because the Ponies could hurt them or imprison them. 

 

Or are all Changelings "evil" and deserve to be destroyed? I don't think so, because I imagine Celestia would not allow an entire race to die. This is a kids show, so I doubt she would allow the genocide of an entire sapient species. Unless they are hive minded like the Darkspawn from Dragon Age I think.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Rush

[The Blades Shadow 444]

Finally somepony realizes that not all changelings are evil! I think...

I don't see them as evil because of the fact that they weren't actually going to hurt anyone until they got attacked. I'm not saying the ponies are evil, but they shouldn't have attacked Chrysalis or any of the other changelings for just trying to survive.

[Malinter 3,064]

even if they're not evil. they are definately aggressive. We also do not know if a changling dies if starved of emotion or wiether they can actually live on normal food (i think they can or why would chyralllis try food while disguised).

 

Also, while a changling may not in itself be evil, Chrysallis is, and though her are labelled evil.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Malinter

[The Blades Shadow 444]

even if they're not evil. they are definately aggressive. We also do not know if a changling dies if starved of emotion or wiether they can actually live on normal food (i think they can or why would chyralllis try food while disguised).

I believe Chrysalis tried food so that she wouldn't look suspicious. Wouldn't it seem somewhat strange if a normal pony just suddenly stopped eating?

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,350]

I blame it purely on the hive-mind thing they have going on. It is clear that Chrysalis has complete control and her being their 'queen', they probably do whatever she says and of course what they do probably makes her happy so it makes them happy. It is a viscous cycle of super dictatorship though this one is probably even crazier than that.

 

So I wouldn't call them 'evil' automatically, just insanely aggressive and insanely loyal. Potent combination.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Kyoshi

[Untitled Goose Q 5,137]

​I would say we simply do not have enough information to make an accurate hypothesis. Certainly, I would say it is unlikely they are all evil, but it is equally unlikely that they have no evil members. They could also not be evil at all, merely trying to feed themselves. Even Chrysalis may not be truly evil, they prey would often see the predator as evil, even if they are not. Evil is a point of view.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Changelings just feed off of love, plain and simple. The hive just follows Chrysalis's orders since she is their queen, so they would basically do whatever she commands them to do. If they don't follow her orders, she would probably kill anyone who tries to defy her orders.

[Magic Man 222]

First of all, I'd like to make the point of order that there is NO solid canon evidence that Changeling are of a hive or hive-mind or that they are the Queen's children. That is a fanon assumption with no real basis other than they fact they look buggish. It is also an assumption they need to survive, while evidence from the show and comics suggests it is more of a power source.

 

Also, when you ask whether or not they are beyond redemption, you say it with again, an assumption that all Changelings are then in need of a redemption story. You have the mindset they all must collectively be one or the other, not taking into account individualism. Now are there evil Changelings? Certainly, if we go by Chrysalis and her army, the former who is gloatingly evil and the latter who are willing servants of her. But does this mean ALL Changelings are evil? Not necessarily, as a monarch and her soldiers are not representative of a species. People like to get around this by going with the hive theory and that they are the entirety of the species, but as there is no evidence for it, I cannot say it counts.

 

A similar analogy would be the Third Reich. We certainly cannot hold Adolf and his Wehrmacht in a good light, but do we still collectively condemn the German people of that time?

Edited October 18, 2013 by Magic Man

[Malinter 3,064]

I believe Chrysalis tried food so that she wouldn't look suspicious. Wouldn't it seem somewhat strange if a normal pony just suddenly stopped eating?

 

But suppose the changlings conquered everything. There would be nothing left to feed on and they would die. The only thing I can think of is perhaps the changlings can also feed on magic only its as good as love.

[Koelath 445]

Chrysalis is evil. If changelings are a hive mind, she leads it, which makes all of them evil.

 

At any rate, every changeling shown so far was evil so the question is moot anyway.

[Bendy 1,821]

Chrysalis is evil. If changelings are a hive mind, she leads it, which makes all of them evil.

 

At any rate, every changeling shown so far was evil so the question is moot anyway.

 

So the Royal Guard is just going to hunt down every last Changeling.  And afterwards just laugh about wiping out an entire species? I don't think canon Ponies would do that. Maybe in a fan fiction. 

 

By doing that the Ponies would become monsters.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Rush

[Koelath 445]

So the Royal Guard is just going to hunt down every last Changeling.  And afterwards just laugh about wiping out an entire species? I don't think canon Ponies would do that. Maybe in a fan fiction. 

 

By doing that the Ponies would become monsters.

Yes, because I totally just said "They're going to commit genocide and laugh about it."... Learn to read.

 

Ponies aren't all sunshine and marshmallows. They would absolutely do what's necessary to survive, same as anybody. Celestia proved as much when she sealed Luna away for a millenium.

 

Eliminating evil is not monstrous.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Koelath

[spacestorm 183]

They aren't evil if feeding on good emotions lies in their nature. They are just predators. They probably can survive a long time without "food" by going into hibernation state.

 

But if emotions play a role of powerup for them but are not needed to survive because they can eat normal food, then they're evil.

 

They have mouths and teeth, so I assume that the second option is true.

We don't know how exactly they drain power from feelings (only from love?), if they can do this harmlessly then probably not all of them are evil.

[The Swedish Brony 153]

Well, I sure do hope that they aren't truly evil. 

 

In fact, I would kinda think it as bad writing if the writers just brushed off the changelings as "the evil guys" and just leave at that. It would be a shame really.

 

So I guess you can say that I'm supporting the idea of not all changelings being bad or anything else similar to that.

[Koelath 445]

They aren't evil if feeding on good emotions lies in their nature. They are just predators. They probably can survive a long time without "food" by going into hibernation state.

 

But if emotions play a role of powerup for them but are not needed to survive because they can eat normal food, then they're evil.

 

They have mouths and teeth, so I assume that the second option is true.

We don't know how exactly they drain power from feelings (only from love?), if they can do this harmlessly then probably not all of them are evil.

 

Presumably, there is a way to do it without harm. I mean, unless it's just physiologically impossible for anyone or anything to knowingly feel love for a changeling, there has to be a way. Though if you look into the lore for changelings (and the other myth-beasts MLP's changelings are based on), there's a fair case for the above actually being true...Sad, really. The fanart makes them so cute...

 

But whether there is or not, Chrysalis specifically chose deception, conquest, torture, sadism and general nastiness as her methods and the changeling herd followed her. Maybe if they had a better influence...

[Princess Periwinkle 3,775]

@,

 

Hi there, we actually already have a topic dedicated to the discussion of whether the Changelings' actions can be justified or if they are evil, so I've merged your thread with this one. I kept the poll, however.

Edited October 18, 2013 by ~Chaotic Sky~

[Koelath 445]

If a new type of human appeared that had a physical need to feed off of people to survive, would you call those actions justified? Maybe, if you were open-minded.

 

If they went beyond their needs and just did it out of apparent unpleasantness and sadism, would you call it justified? No.

 

Even granting the likely possibility that changelings cannot receive love themselves and thus require the deception of assumed forms to feed, there is no necessity in invasion, conquest, subjugation...By that point, they're just being utterly counterproductive because nobody loves their captors. It's stupid evil.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Koelath

[FNGRpony 658]

Well,

 

working with in the pre existing work on them being love drinkers a writer for the series would easily make them sympathetic.
Easily.

Their queen?  Well that's gonna take some flash backs LOL.

 

based on their actions their despots and they like being despots.  I'd be open to that roll changing.

[The Blades Shadow 444]

If a new type of human appeared that had a physical need to feed off of people to survive, would you call those actions justified? Maybe, if you were open-minded.

 

If they went beyond their needs and just did it out of apparent unpleasantness and sadism, would you call it justified? No.

 

Even granting the likely possibility that changelings cannot receive love themselves and thus require the deception of assumed forms to feed, there is no necessity in invasion, conquest, subjugation...By that point, they're just being utterly counterproductive because nobody loves their captors. It's stupid evil.

You are really against changelings aren't you? Really they may have tried to take over, but what other choice did they have? They need love to survive as far as we know, and nopony would just willingly love a changeling. Sure it was a bad idea to invade Canterlot, but that doesn't instantly mean all of them are evil.

[Bendy 1,821]

If a new type of human appeared that had a physical need to feed off of people to survive, would you call those actions justified? Maybe, if you were open-minded.

 

If they went beyond their needs and just did it out of apparent unpleasantness and sadism, would you call it justified? No.

 

If we're talking about something that acts like an actual zombies, then yes would have choice but kill every last one of them. But unlike zombies, Changelings could possibly perhaps get love, without doing harm to others. Maybe not in canon, but certainly fan fiction.

 

Or be redeemed, yet still be Changelings. Without the need to feed on love.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Rush

[FNGRpony 658]

If we're talking about something that acts like an actual zombies, then yes would have choice but kill every last one of them. But unlike zombies, Changelings could possibly perhaps get love, without doing harm to others. Maybe not in canon, but certainly fan fiction.

 

Or be redeemed, yet still be Changelings. Without the need to feed on love.

 

has the canon ever shown any negative affects of feeding off love?

Cause i haven't seen it.

 

It totally should,

making the victem fatigued, jaded, angry,

discorded,

but if we're going by strict canon

 

I don't see a draw back to letting them in town.

 

with 0 speculation there's literally no reason they shouldn't have been let in, in the first place.  None.  And don't say the wedding,

why were they not let in before that?

 

It's never given.

[Koelath 445]

You are really against changelings aren't you? Really they may have tried to take over, but what other choice did they have? They need love to survive as far as we know, and nopony would just willingly love a changeling. Sure it was a bad idea to invade Canterlot, but that doesn't instantly mean all of them are evil.

 

...What other choice did they have?

 

Oh, I dunno...Maybe something that would actually get them fed instead of being stupid counterproductive evil? They had LITERALLY ANY OTHER CHOICE. Explain to me how taking over would get them the love they need. Granted, they could've hypnotized everybody assuming they all had Chrysalis' abilities but then why didn't they do that instead of being sadistic pricks?

 

The "They need love to survive!" defense falls to bits when you notice they start acting in a way that will only bring them hatred.

 

So invading, conquering, subjugating, and otherwise terrorizing a land of (mostly) innocent people isn't evil? ...You voted for Bush the second time, didn't ya?

Edited October 18, 2013 by Koelath

[The Blades Shadow 444]

...What other choice did they have?

 

Oh, I dunno...Maybe something that would actually get them fed instead of being stupid counterproductive evil?

 

So invading, conquering, subjugating, and otherwise terrorizing a land of (mostly) innocent people isn't evil? ...You voted for Bush the second time, didn't ya?

Technically they weren't actually hurting anypony until they were attacked. They were just going to feed off love harmlessly until the ponies started looking at them as evil. They were defending themselves, not trying to hurt ponies without reason.

[Bendy 1,821]

...What other choice did they have?

 

Oh, I dunno...Maybe something that would actually get them fed instead of being stupid counterproductive evil?

 

So invading, conquering, subjugating, and otherwise terrorizing a land of (mostly) innocent people isn't evil? ...You voted for Bush the second time, didn't ya?

 

First off I'm not American.

 

Yes you can defend yourself from the Changelings and send them home by force if they attacking. To reenact the holocaust, of a now weak species that the Ponies have mostly defeated, would make the Ponies evil.

 

Try to redeem them, help them or something, but not destroy them.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Rush