the hivemind might not be able to forcibly make carol join them (for now), but that doesn't mean they aren't trying to pressure her into assimilating.
punishing her for looking for information, for displaying the "wrong" emotions, leaving her lonely and isolated, having mr. diabaté tell her that they're just "looking for a change of heart", not even allowing her to talk to someone over the phone—all of this is to try and break her.
they want carol to stop insisting on her autonomy and individuality as a person, they want her to "accept" the new situation, to become easy to control and manipulate. literally conversion therapy all over again. anyone who grew up in an abusive household recognizes this tactic, and it never gets any less dirty.
of course we still love you carol :) our feelings for you have not changed carol :) we just want you to be the way we want you to be :) all you have to do is betray yourself :) and then the pain will stop :) and everyone will be nice to you again :) it's so easy carol :))))
the hivemind is neither inherently good nor evil, but they are choosing to act like this, to gaslight (and i mean gaslight in the real sense of the word and not the internet haha sense that trivializes it) and manipulate carol, to hurt her for being who she is.
if it came down to it, and she ended up being a real, tangible danger to the hivemind as a whole, they WOULD stop her, everything else be damned.
