Are Orcs really evil?

I was reading the Orc 40K Codex last night and found the Orc's to be a rather likable bunch who follow the mantra Might is Right. While they have a affinity for a good fight or racing cars, hint (redneck bar bashing on NASCAR night), I found nothing inherently evil about the Orc's. They will fight Chaos Daemons and Man alike. All things being equal I think they would prefer fighting Chaos Daemons instead of man. Man just happens to be closer so it is easier sport.

They do like to kill and they do it for sport which in itself is evil. But is that any worse than the Imperium planning on wiping out the Tau home planet so they can repopulate it. If there hadn't been a little thing called a Warp Storm getting in the way Tau would be home to humans.

I found them no more evil than the men who surround them. Since Orc's write no history and man does it is no wonder they have gotten such a bad rap.

I don't think Orks are inherently evil. They were created by the Old Ones to fight against the C-tan and thier Necron forces. Now the C-tan are evil which would suggest that the Orks are not. They are what they are and that is strictly a warring race. They don't care who they fight, they just need to fight something it's in their genes. I think they have to fight in order to survive as a race.

I agree. The humans should plant an unstable Psyker on their planets to draw in Daemons to keep them happy. Since neither side can compromise and loves nothing better than to kill it is a match made in heaven.

The Orks are getting their match made in heaven... It's called tyranids.

But something tells me the Orks will outlast all of the races unless the tyranids can adapt fast enough or figure out the ork mentality of war to be able to combat them properly as there isn't much strategy with orks and what they have is sporadic at best. Also I beleive orks reproduce/repopulate faster than anyone including tyranids.

Yep, if I was an Orc I would give those Tyranid's a taste of used Fungal Beer before I got out my choppa and took off a claw or two.

Warmonger wrote:

They are what they are and that is strictly a warring race. They don't care who they fight, they just need to fight something it's in their genes. I think they have to fight in order to survive as a race.

I think you just described the Demons. Just doing what they do.

I don't think Orks really qualify as evil, because fighting is in their nature. In the fluff it's even pointed out that fighting is a physical need for Orks just like food and air is to humans. (i.e. Orks that don't have regular fights atrophy very rapidly) You don't condemn a lion for eating a gazelle because it's in the lion's nature to eat the gazelle. So you really can't condemn the Orks for doing what is in their genetic code (somewhat literally).
I'd say Orks are pretty much true-neutral in terms of alignment, simply because they don't contemplate morality the same way humans do.

The real question is IF orks are not evil, why isn't there a Chaos Space Ork book yet?

Just because one is not Evil, does not make one good.

but still... why not corrupt the fungus?

Maybe this quote will help:

"Blessed is the mind too small for doubt."

Not to call orks stupid as they all are technically psyker by fluff. But orks aren't... shall I say advanced? To really be corrupted.

Just my take on it.