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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*
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? (Nov
2004)
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. Those of us who consider ourselves vampiric don't always look at things from the same viewpoint due to our life experiences. As such, the views and opinions 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 - you are responsible for using your own reasoning and judgement, so judge wisely.
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