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Consider what the word "Vampire" means to most people, especially
those with a steady "diet" of Hollywood movies and popular vampire
fiction. It means a human (or human-like) person who takes the blood/vitality/life-force/etc.
of other people to feed themselves. Because they don't understand why
an apparently "normal" looking person would need to (much less
want to) drink blood, and for no apparent medical reason, it scares them.
It's too far outside the realm of most mundanes. After the panic wears
off, the definition hasn't changed, but now they think....is this person
psychotic? A possible homicidal maniac? Dangerous to their fellow coworkers
and people on the street? Thoughts like this doesn't exactly put a person
at ease, especially if they have any idea what psi abilities a vampire
can have. :) Many people new to the vampire community usually ask at one
point or another why many of us insist on staying in hiding. "Why
not just explain it to people?" they ask, "Surely they would
understand, once you explain it to them!"
"But why can't you just buy a town and have everyone move there?"
some ask. People think ONE vampire in a place is scary enough. Can you
imagine how bad the reaction will be to knowing there's hundreds, possibly
thousands, all in one place? Not to mention the self-styled "hunters"
and "slayers" who will look at it as a prime target. *shudder*
To put it in perspective, millions of people kill each other over differences
in skin color and religion every day. They're fighting and dying over
a CONCEPT. A belief. Hell, people get killed over something as intangible
and unprovable as whether or not aliens exist in the universe.
If people are so willing to kill each other over differences in who they
pray to, or the color of their skin, they are *definitely* NOT ready for
us!
Personally, I can't wait for the time when humanity stops seeing things
in terms of "male or female" and "gay vs. straight"
and similar divisions, and starts seeing everyone as just "people"
- when only a person's capabilities matter, not what they do or who they
do it with in their spare time. Sadly, I don't expect to see society reach
that level of sensibility in my lifetime. *wistful sigh*
Coming "out of the coffin" depends on many things, mainly to
do with a person's risk level by doing so.
Will they risk losing their career?
Will they risk losing their family? (and do they want to take that chance?)
Will they risk losing their children? (Pagans/Wiccans run the risk of
losing their children in a court case simply because of religious prejudice...add
vampirism into the mix, and it's even worse!)
"I am a vampire" are not words that can EVER be un-said.
WHY DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND?
It is easier to fear and/or hate than it is to understand, or at least
to accept the existence of, that which is different from their normal
experiences. Most people find the subject uncomfortable, if not unnerving
or disgusting, and will avoid it if possible, and condem it when they
can't.
BUT PEOPLE BELIEVE IN
MIRACLES...?
Most of those people's religions are the type that consider vampires
to be evil, which is worse than "simply" being mentally ill.
No, it doesn't make sense. Yes, we have to deal with that double-standard
anyway.
BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS EXPLAIN IT, RIGHT?
Sadly, the truth is that most of the time they STILL won't understand,
even if you do explain. Parents want to send their hapless children
off to get psychiatric counseling or put them on medication. Employers
suddenly decide that you're too much of a freak to keep on staff, or
too freaky to consider hiring if you've just admitted this in an interview.
Coworkers suddenly develop excuses for not wanting to chat or even be
in the same room with you, and start spreading ugly rumors behind your
back. (Hell, that can happen anyway, but being known as a vampire adds
a LOT of fuel to the office politics fire.)
WHY DON'T YOU FEEL THEY'RE READY TO KNOW?
In the USA presidential election of 2004, a total of eleven (11!) states
had initiatives on the ballot to ban gay marriage, and in some cases,
strip domestic partnerships - not just gay/lesbian, but male/female
domestic partners as well - of partner rights, such as the ability to
share medical plans, visit their partner in the hospital, have one partner's
estate passing to the other on their death, and more. Not just "no
gay marriage" but a LOT more, if anyone had bothered to read the
fine print.
All eleven states approved the ban.
If the US can't even give gays, who are obviously human, basic human
rights, especially ones enjoyed by male/female marriages, what do you
think they're doing to do with people like us, who consider ourselves
something most people - who aren't familiar with the concept - believe
"inhuman"?
Think about that.
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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