Parasites on TV

Admittedly, I did not get Shivers at first. I hate horror movies with a fiery passion, and it was as a horror movie that I approached Shivers. Even after the first day of watching, I went onto Wikipedia to see the summary, so that I knew what to prepare for and hopefully find the point. Wiki didn't really help with the latter, but it was interesting to see that the filmmaker had received a lot of grief over his "indecent" production. After finishing the film, however, I began to possibly see the grain of good that might come from such a film. That is to say, not only are parasites dependant on us for survival, but by extension they're dependant on our interactions with other humans. This is good to know, especially in such a connected society where our value is often measured by our social interactions.

As if interacting with each other wasn't complicated enough, with innumerable unwritten rules that change depending on to whom you are talking, parasites give us to consider exactly what it is we are passing on to others. In the case of Shivers, those infected were driven to spread their "guests" through sexually charged contact, so we also have to be on the watch for what it is we're receiving from our socialization. It would be ideal to be aware of the parasites inside us so that we may protect others, but since it is in the best interest of the parasite to remain unknown to our consciousness, this is not something we can always count on. This, of course, may lead to paranoia in those not infected.

I recently watched an episode of Farscape that focused on a virus that had been brought onto the ship. In brief, the virus would hop from host to host as its only defense, and it could not inhabit the same person twice. If it was allowed to remain in the same host for a certain period of time, then it would incubate and eventually release spores so that all present are infected. The catch is, there is virtually no way of detecting who is containing the virus. The host will act completely normal. The only time when the mind control on the part of the virus is apparent, is when the host has been backed completely into a proverbial a corner, and thus, when the parasite is being directly threatened. The way it can change hosts? Only by direct contact.

Amidst the finger pointing that is sure to follow in the wake of a stealthy, disruptive enemy, the humanoid characters naturally revert to a more "immature" morality in the interest of self preservation. Thusly, not only do parasites feed on us and depend on our own largest key to survival (ie, socialization) to achieve its own purpose in life (to multiply), but in its invisible face the worse is brought out in us, arguably making us less sophisticated than the virus itself. In any case, the virus is much better composed and harmonious with its million parts than we are even in a group as small as a handful.

Could it possibly be, however, that our own tendency to not get along with everyone is a defense mechanism even against viruses? After all, by avoiding certain groups altogether, say certain tribes that have no interest in interacting, then the an epidemic that strikes one may not reach all of humanity. In modern times, but with the internet and our own interweaved existence with every point on the globe, this "negative" aspect of our nature can act in much of a defensive manner, since it is near impossible to isolate ourselves by groups. It seems to be all nothing, be one of the throng or be a hermit, and should it occur when we are struck by paranoia in the face of a virus, what previously may have acted in our defense will not just tear us apart.

These lines of thought deal mainly with a virus or parasite that isn't evident to us, as the greatest threats are sure to be. In Shivers, however, it was quite apparent who was and who wasn't infected, though the infected acted so quickly that it soon didn't matter. In the end, what can we do to thwart the attempts of hostile take over of us and our friends and family? At best I might suggest to be vigilant, but try not to lose sleep. That would weaken the immunity system.

(You may have to turn up the volume)