h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I, too, doubt the existance of vampires. However, the mythology surrounding them fascinates me deeply. I've read about the creatures since early elementary school and have yet to stop. Current favorite vampire literature is Dana Gioia's libretto, Nosferatu. A true gem it is, solid verse with extreme pathos and an interesting 'vampyr.'

However, focusing upon the topic at hand: The Possibility of Vampires.

Since there is more than one version of the vampyre, it is a feasible idea in theory. Of course the creature would have to have incredible powers of adaptation, long periods of inactivity, invisible 'fangs' or stinger, and the ability to blend in, which would include being to able to withstand sunlight.

Such a myth does exist, but I can't remember what culture off hand. However, if you want a literary example, try the novel/story collection, "Vampire Tapestry" by Suzy Mckee Charnas. The predator/vampire is realistic and feasible in his creation and existance. Of the set (6 stories total, I believe. A friend has my copy), 'Unicorn Tapestry' is the most widely known and the easiest to find. Personally, I find the Charnas Vampire the most likely to actually exist.

~Lily~

OK - big difference between piano legs and soulless blood-sucking walking undead, folks. Very weak link between the whole evil death thing and the whole xxx thing, but hey, any excuse will do... DAMN THE CHURCH! DAMN THE PRIESTS! I HATE RELIGION! BRAINWASHING CHILDREN SHOULD BE ILLEGAL! DAMN 96% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION!!!!

Could it be more accurate to say that you hate Christianity?

Another innocent mauled for life by the children of the lord?

Lord, save me...from your followers.

I think that the number is clser to 98 percent

In terms of do vampires exist...well...the more accurate question would be *could* they exist. Then the answer would be a firm no (well as far as I know about biology and history and religion). But *do* they? Well, as much as anything is real in your mind. There is no harm in believing in a story! It's a fantastic myth. One taken from ugly murder to extraordinary beauty by some modern day writers like Poppy Z Brite and Anne Rice. It's all just a matter of perception!

On the other hand, biologically speaking, a virus would make a good culprit. Rabies, for example, makes victims fear/avoid bright lights, and prone to attack/bite people. Pus , if you get bit by someone with rabies you're going to start actng that way too. Is rabies a virus? It might be bacterial. I'm not sure.

There are loads of biological explanations for the myth of the vampire... haemophilia, light-allergy...rabies is a good one though!

would it be just-plain-mad to add, possesion???
i.e. by an evil spirit or lager?

Demon possession (real or not) has never been linked to vampirism AFAIK. But Anne Rice's explanation for the cause of her vampires originates in a mischievious spirit in Egypt that found out how to tuch the mortal world...

And of course we can't rule out simple insanity i.e. the belief that if you go about killing people and drinking thier blood you'll live forever. Supposed to be a historical one like that, Countess of Something, bathed in the blood of virgins to maintain her youth&beuty. Don't know if it worked, they executed her before she was old enough to tell.

Erzebet Bathory...

Welllll...it wasn;t entirely for youth and beauty. It was more a sadomachoistic streak and bloodlust coupled with an obsession for her looks than something as simple as *youth and beauty*...

But then that's going down the whole apth of the history of blood and blood letting and blood lust etc etc...is that relavent? Spose it is!

hhmmmmmmm, I am now reminded by the entry aforementioned.....featuring insanity?
Plus.....how ironic, and what a shame for the mad-and-not-so-old-to-tell-if-it-worked bat!

muwhaha!

???? ????

i'm talking about the countess mentioned above.
and eh, yeh, i had 2 read thru the conversation again to find that out, so me no blaming u.

firsty

Still confused.

okay.

yuh.

right.



PS. You can get free counselling on the NHS.

LMFAO!
Thanks for the offer!
I'll keep it in mind, tho 1 o my best mates is training 2 be a psychologist.......a criminal psychologist(no not on the run!), so maybe i'll need her help one day!
:D

they are Vampiroids, wanna be sad people who pretend they are: drink blood, dental implants, contact lenses, and black clothing. they are all in need of Clinical and mental help (In my personal opinion)

I have to say, not came across many of those myself.

What you're describing seems more like those interested in the gothic style of clothing. They are frequently followers of the supernatural and the occult, but for most of them thats it.
The dark clothing is in their opinion sexy, and deadly attractive.

Now..the drinking of blood....hmmmm, i wonder....where on earth do you go on your nights out? The local satanic blood baths?
I'm a bit of a goth, but mostly interested in the supernatural and i've never heard of people actually drinking blood. Sure, there's the ppl who cut themselves, perhaps drink their own blood, but then thats mad, and not to be confused with the perfectly sane, insanely sexy, healthy gothic person.

FirstManSlayer

Right, let's get this straight. There are people out there who DO drink blood, have fangs installed in place of their ordinary incisors, dress up in black clothes, worship gherkins - you name it, somebody does it. Let's get back to the question of vampires.

Bear in mind that most of what we see on program(me)s like Buffy is based on stereotypes created in Stoker's Dracula or other works of fiction. When we say - do vampires exist? - what we mean is, does the supernatural cause the dead to wake up and start biting people? The answer, as all the non-mental-cases in this conversation (just me then) know, is no.

However, it is possible that Stoker had some inspiration for Dracula from more than just Vlad the Impaler - perhaps ancient legend. So let's talk about that instead. Where does the idea of vampires come from, if not old Vlad?