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In response to a post from another forum asserting a variety of problems
within the vampire community and to the proposal of the formation of a
council to review terminology in an effort to "all be on the same
page".
If I had a Dollar/Euro for every "Council" that has been formed
over the years...
There are current existing entities that favor of such unilateral ideals
but in practical application often lack the discipline, stamina, desire,
networking ability, non-exclusionary mentality, proper attitudes, clear
organized goals, and foresight to see any such project to a viable working
order - the passions of the few are often not realized through the labors
of the many. As a whole this Community, Subculture, Group, Culture, Nation,
or the like must recognize the need for cohesiveness, adherence to basic
fundamental ethics, and establish clear understanding of what purpose
our Community serves both to the outside or mundane society, ourselves,
and us as individuals. If we are not willing to encourage an expansion
or betterment of knowledge, self-improvement, understanding of the vampiric
condition, and promotion of tolerance both personally or as a collective;
then what good is it for us to spend time rambling aimlessly about the
hypocrisy of our own people. By our own admission the majority of the
Community operates independently of one another without any sincere desire
to be aware of what the other is practicing, believing, or advocating.
At best we attain only a pseudo understanding of the climate and workings
of other Groups, Forums, Houses, Courts, et. al. from the sensational
or "public" spectacles that surface with infrequency. The subsequent
broad and many times superficial assumptions we then form are often used
to level judgement about the validity and worth of an individual, path,
or group without regard for an evaluation to determine the quantifiable
balance of their constructive versus destructive endeavors.
This Community needs to shift their focus back to curbing negative perception,
advocating education in areas of the World where the only support structure
is based on sole extremist viewpoints; often with fantastical or religious
overtones, and learn to communicate with even the most gauche among us
without regard for personal and terminological disagreements over what
composes the "true" repertoire of the modern or living vampire.
A universal dictionary that is "officially endorsed by the vampire
Community" will not be the product of a group of commonly acknowledged
and respected individuals sitting down and forming such because we are
not yet at the tipping point majority where our populace have learned
the necessity for working together to benefit outside of the concept of
"self". There is a disturbing lack of respect leveled by the
solitary and affiliated communities for one another along with an ever
widening gap between sanguine and psi feeders over what should and should
not be recognized, sanctioned, or discussed. There are numerous flamboyant
lifestylers patronizing clubs and online forums pretending to understand
and identify with vampirism who haven't the vaguest conception to what
they speak; while many of these same individuals indeed possess a vampiric
nature but have fallen victim to poorly chosen or enigmatic terminology
and behaviors. This more often than not results of having resigned to
the appeal of the stereotype, being embraced by the first "vampire
group" that chose to take the time to listen without being quick
to reply with a "see this article, take two Tylenol, and don't talk
to me again because I'm an elder with loftier duties", and from a
feeling of disconnect from the general Community that reject them based
subjectively on the face value of their phrasing or lack of tenure; all
of which give rise to further enabling of the problem.
The final point I wish to convey concerns otherkin and the influence
of other subcultures with our Community in recent years. It should not
be our role as vampires or even individuals to openly judge either the
conceivable or ostentatious claims made by those who identify in a metaphysical
sense with animal, astral, angelic, or otherworldly archetypes or spirits.
Such should be left to the individual to discern for themselves and discuss
amongst other like-minded individuals on available forums and discussion
groups. Vampirism is widely held as a condition of the physical body with
overtones of spiritual and sometimes metaphysical influence. Many of us
have a hard time grasping at the plausibility of some of these claims
much in the same manner as mundane individuals have difficulty understanding
vampirism. It's important to admit to ourselves that by not having a strong
foundation of cooperation, terminology, and rooted core ideals within
our own vampiric community that subjection to widespread outside influence
by such said subcultures inherently erodes the underpinnings of our culture
and flings open the door for criticism, personal reevaluation of our own
condition, and muddles the message we wish to perpetuate to both those
awakening and to the public. There are far too many individuals who choose
not to identify to the term "vampire" because of the convoluted
and often transitory conditions we've imposed on such definition and from
our associations. Still others refuse to accept "vampire" as
a classification of otherkin and vice versa. Perhaps a clear line of demarcation
should be established or carefully advocated by the Community as to what
conceptual infusions into vampirism from other subcultures we are willing
to entertain. Though the point we must all be cognizant of, is that we
deal day in and day out with physical ailments wrapped in ethereal ideas
within the context of a Community that lacks any recognized enforcement,
discernable leadership, or cohesive belief structure.
The pervading apathy and pursuit of individual power throughout the Community
indeed chips away at the support institutions that instruct, counsel,
and care for the awakening and also existing members who have lost touch
or began to question their nature. Additionally the resolve of those who
do genuinely care is eroded every time we see elders and respected vampires
hiding behind club kids and the pervasive drama, albeit personal or Community
related in origin; or to have given up on the Community altogether and
abstained from any direct contact. In effect such persons are finding
solace in the current public perception of our Community, articles written
that blur the lines between fantasy and reality, poorly researched psycho
analyses of clinical, psychopathic, and moreover sycophantic individuals
who form the basis for written guidelines for use in law enforcement (Dawn
Perlmutter, et. al.), and television specials that leave the public even
more confused as they are expected to sort the sprinkling of truth from
the illusion. It is no wonder the public and even those among us hold
a skewed and myopic view of real or modern vampirism.
If as a Community we decide there is a sound basis for obscuring the
"truth" of vampirism from the mundane world and keeping to ourselves
in a highly secretive society then we abandon any rights to complain when
the deviant or misguided among us make our lives difficult through their
actions. No where is it written that we are prohibited from contacting
television programs in advance and presenting them coherent and organized
information regarding the vampire community, no where is it written that
we can't establish offline yearly and bi-coastal / international meetings
to discuss matters of importance to the Community, no where is it written
that we can't maintain local contacts with law enforcement or media who
if aren't sympathetic, are at very least willing and available associates
in times where negative attention regarding an event in our Community
can be quelled or subjection to harassment, et. al. of our fellow vampires
can be swiftly addressed. The status quo of accepting the broken elements,
bad apples, and at times deliberate misinformation needs to be abated
for any real changes to take root.
One of the core reasons others and myself have invested extensive resources
in the VEWRS & AVEWRS is to critically evaluate the state and diversity
of the Community absent of the lens of overt bias so that logical suggestions
for repair, modification, and investigation can properly be established.
Instead of holding fast to an isolationist stance within groups, forums,
Houses, Courts, et. al., those in leadership positions, as have been proposed,
must look beyond themselves and decide which areas their talents and efforts
should be invested to improve upon the Community. Expanding this, what
should have always been a natural role, could be a proposal for all established
groups, forums, Houses, Courts, et. al. to take up a singular cause germane
to their local Community and either work in concert with other entities
on existing global projects or establish an individual campaign that favorably
highlights the good nature of our Community. There is a high cyclic rate
of turnover within the OVC due in large part to new and old members alike
losing interest from a lack of challenge to grow personally, support one
another, or be actively involved in something of intrinsic value or direct
impact to our Community.
While the figure below would be most effectively expressed in spherical
form, the outer and inner cores as well as the influences from other established
groups display a vivid example of why dealing with the Community as a
whole is often difficult and at times inane. However, we must concede
a right of legitimacy, if even in small measure, to each of these groups
as they shape the backdrop of the vampire community. The ultimate challenge
of our Community will be if we can directly focus and wind tight the core
to hold together this ever-evolving sphere before the centrifugal motion
tears us apart. Unlike some other subcultures, in terms of maturity and
clear organization, we are but at an infantile stage and we need not delude
ourselves to the contrary. Make no mistake, it would not take but a couple
of well orchestrated acts of defiance and violence both within and outside
of our Community to have us examined through and through, others to throw
up their hands and walk away, and the remainder to go so far underground
as to stagnate any hopes for those who are left lost on the outside.
~ Merticus, Jan 2007
This article is presented as part of an ongoing
effort to present other views outside of, as well as within, the online
vampire community. As such, the views and attitudes contained in this
article are entirely those of the author(s), and may not necessarily
be shared by SphynxCatVP. The webmaster is not under obligation to update
or otherwise keep current the contents of this article. Most
importantly, only you can decide for yourself whether this article or
any of the author(s) other views are useful or applicable to you - use
your own reasoning and judgment.
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