Poll: The Geth or the Quarians

[Internet Kraken]

quarians. theyre organics, have a harder life, and can contribute more.
the geth refuse to negotiate with any other species, except saren and sovergien.

What?

The Quarians suck. If they lost to the Geth in the first war, why the hell would they be more powerful than them now? The Geth feel no pain, can't be killed through conventional methods, can travel faster than organics, can produce reinforcements faster than organics, and can easily be more powerful than organics. A small portion of them were able to pose as a significant threat to the Citadel. Meanwhile, the Quarians are puttering around the galaxy in ancient ships that most other species would have thrown away. They may have the largest fleet, but you have to remember that their ships are pieces of crap. Compare that to the Geth who may have a larger fleet, would be capable of producing one if they didn't, and have advanced technology. So how can Quarains, one of the weakest species, contribute more than them?

Quarians.

Yeah, they've wronged the Geth, but hell, lots of people have wronged their PCs in the past. Plus, it's THEIR home world. Without it, they're kinda boned. The Geth could live on a fucking moon, the Quarians need their planet.

It's the Geth's homeworld to. I don't see how the Quarians are somehow more entitled to it. And with how large the galaxy is, I don't understand how the Quarian's couldn't have found some planets they could colonize. The only reason they haven't is probably because that would require converting most of their ships to advance colonization, and that simply won't due since the Quarian government is determined to kill themselves by fighting the Geth.

Besides, Tali is one of my favorite characters in the games.

I can understand liking Tali (even if I personally don't). But why does liking her mean you have to support the idiots that run the Flotilla? Even she doesn't like them, since they tried to accuse her of treason.

As much as I want peace and support both sides, I have to go with the Quarians. Don't get me wrong, ME 2 changed my perspective on the Geth but the Quarians really got screwed, there. They created the Geth to be their slaves, yes, but as robots, not as sentient lifeforms. How would they know they would gain intelligence? Go Quarians!

You're right, they didn't necessarily know they would gain sentience (though still a stupid thing to do in my opinion). That doesn't excuse their attempts to kill them in both the past and the present. I wouldn't hate the Quarian government if it wasn't still determined to either enslave or destroy the Geth.

 

[Kuhkren]

The brainwashing weakness the Geth show is discerning, however they desire peace with the Quarians whereas the Quarians what extermination. Going with the Geth, also since I find their society very interesting.

 

[Caligulove]

Geth.

They were my biggest surprise from ME2, since out of all the things they expanded on with the different races and the universe itself, the dialog with Legion about the 'real' Geth was probably some of the best writing in the entire game. It felt like something straight out of the likes of Alastair Reynolds or Arthur C. Clarke, in a good way. I waited anxiously to talk to Legion more about the Geth each time I was back on the Normandy.

That and from what I learned, they defended themselves from a people that attacked them out of fear of what they might become, and being uncontrollable. But there could be a peace between the two, since not only are the hostile Geth only a faction of 'heretics' but the Geth themselves are not actually occupying the Quarian's homeworld. The Geth have no understanding of the significance of homeworld, but chose it as a logical place to build their Dyson Sphere super-construct for all Geth programs to work in.

That and they seem like they would be easy to reason with, not only because they are nearly devoid of emotions that can cause trouble, but because the deliberate and communicate at the speed of light, able to come to difficult decisions in seconds, weighing all kinds of options faster than any organic could dream of.

There could be symbiosis. Especially with Quarian's weak immune systems

 

[Vuljatar]

I don't understand this. Why are the Geth not entitled to the same rights as other sapient species just because they are not organics? They're intelligent and benevolent, and I don't see how them being machines means it's okay to wipe them out. Yes, they are different from other sapient species, but every species are different. Huamns are not the same as Quarians, Asari, Turians, etc. Justifying genocide of an entire species because they aren't organic is stupid.

They aren't a species. They are robots. You have to draw a distinction somewhere.

And the "genocide" (it would actually be more of a "total product recall") is entirely justified. The Geth are machines, no more than "frakking toasters", to quote BSG. They killed millions of Quarians and drove them off their homeworld. It's a pretty clear-cut situation, really. If Legion's Geth want to live in peace, then I'd say they can go ahead--somewhere else. They have no right to the Quarian homeworld.

Of course, the family members of the millions of Quarians murdered by the Geth would probably be against even allowing that--perfectly understandable. I wouldn't help them wipe out Geth who voluntarily left the homeworld, but I certainly wouldn't stop them.

 

[Internet Kraken]

quarians can contribute to the galatic community way more than the geth simply because the geth refuse to interact with anyone outside their own kind.

I don't know how much truth there is in that statement. It's said that the Geth never respond to messages sent to them, but we don't know what kind of messages have been sent, who sent them, and why they didn't respond. Still, even if the Geth choose to be isolated it doesn't mean we should kill them. Besides, the Geth are going to fight the Reapers, which is much more important than whatever contributions the Quarians could make in the long term.

the fact that the quarians can keep piece of shit ships running way past their prime shows that their enginnering skills would be invaluable to any species.

The Geth's knowledge of technology clearly surpasses the Quarians, so that's a moot point. But I'm beginning to seriously doubt the Quarian's technological abilities. What advanced Quarian technology have we seen? We haven't used Quarian guns, biotic techs, ships, etc. We haven't seen a single technological advancement they have produced aside from the Geth, and look how well that turned out. The only thing Quarians seem to be good for is preserving old tech. They don't seem to ever produce new tech. None of the advanced tech we see in the games is of Quarian origin. Maybe what I'm saying isn't true, but the game hasn't done a good job of showing their technical prowess in this catagory.

besides, how many geth have tried to kill you in the past two mass effect games?

Those Geth were heretics, which are a sub-faction. Tons of organics have tried to kill me in past 2 games as well. Assuming all Geth are like the heretics would be like assuming all Turians are like those in Blue Suns.

and have you not seen the terminator movies? duh

So because a race of robots tries to exterminate humans in one piece of fiction, I should immediately assume all robots will try to do this in other pieces of fiction and in real life?

and the reason the quarians havent found another homeworld is because- get ready for this im only gonna say it once- they have no immune system. its clearly explained in the game through dialouge and the codex.

I'll admit I don't quite understand exactly what is wrong with their human systems. However, I do know that Quarians are capable of colonizing other worlds. They have done so in the past. There is also dialogue in the game that says that Quarians could colonize another planet, but the only thing holding them back is politics. Their immune systems would need to readjust regardless of what planet they colonize. It would just take quicker if they took back the home world. So no, their human system is not a valid reason for them not having colonized another planet.

 

[Internet Kraken]

They aren't a species. They are robots. You have to draw a distinction somewhere.

Why?

You can't just say "oh, they're robots. They're not a real species." That doesn't make sense. It's like dismissing a person based on their race. You have no legitimate reason to do so. What's the qualification for being considered a real species? Being made out of flesh? Why does having organs rather than circuits make you a species while that latter doesn't?

And the "genocide" (it would actually be more of a "total product recall") is entirely justified. The Geth are machines, no more than "frakking toasters", to quote BSG.

My toaster doesn't contemplate it's own existence every morning. The Geth are intelligent creatures. They have thoughts. They have opinions. They have a civilization. They even have primitive emotions. It doesn't make any sense to call them a toaster when they are nothing like one. It's like saying a fern is the same as a human just because they are both made out of organic tissue. You'd call me crazy for doing so, yet that's basically what you are doing.

They killed millions of Quarians and drove them off their homeworld. It's a pretty clear-cut situation, really.

The Quarians tried to drive the Geth to extinction. The Geth only fought back to protect themselves. Why is this clear cut again?

If Legion's Geth want to live in peace, then I'd say they can go ahead--somewhere else. They have no right to the Quarian homeworld.
Of course, the family members of the millions of Quarians murdered by the Geth would probably be against even allowing that--perfectly understandable. I wouldn't help them wipe out Geth who voluntarily left the homeworld, but I certainly wouldn't stop them.

I assume that the Quarians are entitled to their homeworld because it was where there species and civilization was created. Well it's the same thing for the Geth. I don't see how they deserve the homeworld any more than the Geth do.

 

[Souplex]

I'm with the Quarians.

When you start looking at your toys, no matter how advanced, as living beings deserving of life and freedom, it's the beginning of the end.

Yeah, I'm a racist. Or robotist. Or whatever you call it. I hope the Quarians kick the bastards off their home world and start rebuilding.

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings!" -Optimus Prime
With self-awareness comes a soul.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

With self-awareness comes a soul.

Does it? That's a pretty shaky foundation to give a robot rights. Especially since individual Geth are barely sapient, and they only gain in intelligence and understanding when there's a lot of them together (like in Legion's case; many geth, one body). You can't treat them like you'd treat humans because their 'individual' forms as seen by humans are meaningless. Legion himself claims that treating Geth like any other race would be racist, since the Geth aren't like any other race.In fact, that just made me think of an awesome way to combat the Geth: Discrupt their communications. If they can no longer communicate with each other, they'll revert to their basic routines and will be relatively easy to take out.

And as I said before, if my computer kicked me out of my house for whatever reason, I sure as hell wouldn't let it get away with that.

 

[DazBurger]

Quarians are like the Nazi's of ME

They want their planets back, but insted of asking they are planning on an attack.

As far as I know, judging from what Legion have said, the Geth are willing to let the Quarians get their homes back.
In the war the Quarians attacked first, fearing an Geth-rebellion... They got their rebellion allright, but only as the Geth has to defend them selves from extinction :/

 

[DustyDrB]

Has no one else noticed that the geth are just cylons, but more flexible?

Yea, we're hearing some of the same arguments from Battlestar Galactica in this thread too. I'm expecting to see someone say "Airlock all the geth and be done with it!"

 

[Gitty101]

Being the Paragon of Virtue I am, I would opt for a peaceful solution between them both. However, since every Quarian I meet seems hell-bent on destroying the sentient robots, I'm going to have to throw my lot in with the Quarians, as a peaceful resolution seems unlikely.

My reasons? Tali is a Quarian. Nuff said.

 

[AnAngryMoose]

I went with Quarians. Both look awesome so the tie-breaker had to be the actual characters of each race and let's face it, Geth aren't the most emotive race in the Galaxy. And I'm slightly biased because I've always like Tali as a character, even lugged around both Garrus and Tali in ME1 because they were my two favourite characters but absolutely sucked when paired together (and still do).

 

[Volafortis]

The geth are far more reasonable than the quarians. I'd personally like some peace, but I don't see the quarians letting that happen anytime soon.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

The Geth.

 

[olfelix]

I?d try my hardest to broker peace between the two. If that failed, I?d have to side with the Quarians. Legion proved that the Geth have promise and are able to move in a different direction. But it would be able to rebuild Geth, you wouldn?t be able to rebuild Quarians.

 

[Ralen-Sharr]

Absolutely the Geth

The Quarians shot first, the war between them is a self preservation effort of the Geth. The Geth are willing to make peace, but the Quarians insist on annihilation.

When Tali told me the story of the Quarians and Geth in ME1, I though, "well the Quarians shot first, but at this point neither side seems to want to stop."

Then Legion showed up... and gave the other side of the story. Then I fully sympathized with the Geth that weren't trying to murder me.

I like the Quarians and all, and I really like Tali. I think she's one of the better written (at least in ME2) characters in the game. BUT her people are in the wrong. They were the aggressors, and proponents of genocide. If they would toss aside their view that they HAVE to destroy the Geth to survive and even make an ATTEMPT at reconciliation they might even be able to get their homeworld back through negotiations, and it would likely be in better shape than before the Quarian/Geth war.

 

[Vuljatar]

This is utter insanity. I can't believe so many people are siding with the Geth. They don't have emotions, they don't have sentience, they have a simulation of sentience. A simulation of emotions. They are machines, they are the Quarians' property. The Quarians didn't "fire first", they decided it was time for a recall because the Geth had become dangerous. The massacre that followed proved beyond any doubt that they were right. If the Geth "just wanted to live", they could easily have fled. But no, they massacred the Quarians. What they wanted to do was murder millions and conquer the planet, which is what they did.

My ultimate point is that machines are not people.

No peace will be possible while the Geth occupy the Quarian homeworld (I agree completely with the Quarians on that), so either they can leave or be destroyed.