People Who Really Think They Are Vampires

[jaguarr]

So, I'm watching a show on Biography channel this afternoon called "Uncovered: The Secret Life Of Vampires". They talked quite a bit about the history and folklore of vampires, which was interesting even if there wasn't much presented that I hadn't heard before. Then they started delving into people who practice vampirism as a lifestyle. Some were just infatuated with drinking eachother's blood in ritualistic fashion, some fancied themselves psychic vampires. A little odd, perhaps a bit delusional. But there were a few of these people that seemed convinced that they were actual, real vampires with powers of persuasion and the ability to hypnotize people or drain them of their "life force" at will. The most notable of these was a guy named Don Henrie who was apparently on some reality show on Sci-Fi Channel. Watching this guy talk, as well as some of the other people who shared similar ideas about themselves being not really human, but supernatural beings, I was fascinated.

I get the idea of identifying with something so strongly that you integrate parts of it into your life or even your spirituality. Hell, I identify very strongly with the jaguar as a totem animal, but I don't think I'm actually a jaguar. At what point does your grip on reality slip away to the point that you may actually think that you are really a supernatural creature from folklore? I think there are a lot of people that do interesting things with energy work and we all know people who can drain us mentally or emotionally that might constitute being "energy vampires", per se. But creating a lifestyle around these kinds of things and touting yourself as an actual vampire, drinking blood, running around in goth and bondage gear and wearing fake fangs all the time? Seems a bit much to me.

So, for the sake of discussion, what do you folks think of people who believe themselves to be vampires? Are they really vampires? Delusional headcases with fantasies of grandeur far beyond their reach? Candidates for mental health evaluations? People who have taken escapism from ordinary life way too far? And what of the people who buy into these peoples ideas about themselves? This Don Henrie character seems to have a lot of followers. What does it say about those folks?

This should be fun. Let's hear everyone's thoughts on all this.

jag

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Could be more than one if not all of the things you have listed I think.
Really vampires, I don't think though.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

They're *******s, plain and simple

 

[Colossal Spoons]

I'm convinced that I'm really a mutant. Most dormant mutant abilities manifest at puberty; but since mine are taking so long, they must be badass right?



Right?

 

[tzarinna]

Gone too far indeed.
For the longest time I wanted to get vampire teeth, but well, I wised up.

 

[jaguarr]

I'm convinced that I'm really a mutant. Most dormant mutant abilities manifest at puberty; but since mine are taking so long, they must be badass right?



Right?

Either that or your balls haven't dropped, yet.


Here's Don Henrie trying to convince everyone he's really a vampire, as well as a story about some other freak that kidnapped a girl for the purposes of drinking her blood:



jag

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Where's Blade when you need him?

 

[demento]

I caught that show on History a while back. Based on what I saw, some people definitely take it far too seriously, to the point of being dangerous to others. And I don't know if it's the norm amongst those who participate in that subculture, but the pseudo-intellectualism of the 'vampire' interviewees was annoying, bordering on ludicrous.

 

[jaguarr]

Where's Blade when you need him?

Haha! The idea of locking this Don Henrie guy in a room with Wesley Snipes and broadcasting it on television is not a half bad one.

jag

 

[Mike_D202]

I saw a special last halloween on people who think they are real vampires. A group who claim to drain the energy/life force out of others were put to a test. They put they're hands on a metal faceplate that measures heat; a normal person's hand showed up as just a blue handprint. But when one of those guys put they're hands on the faceplate and started using they're "powers", it looked like dozens of small tentacles were around the fingers and hand. It was pretty interesting.

 

[demento]

I saw a special last halloween on people who think they are real vampires. A group who claim to drain the energy/life force out of others were put to a test. They put they're hands on a metal faceplate that measures heat; a normal person's hand showed up as just a blue handprint. But when one of those guys put they're hands on the faceplate and started using they're "powers", it looked like dozens of small tentacles were around the fingers and hand. It was pretty interesting.

It's called a plasma ball. You can buy one at Spencer Gifts for $14.99.

 

[Whirlysplat]

Seen it or something like it. I laughed, a lot.

I'd love to be a vampire though. Not a ****ty Buffy one or an emo Anne Rice job,
i'd love to be the type that sleep all day, seduces some teenage virgin before going on a kill spree. You think about it, most monsters, meh. However immortality and virgins. Hehe .

 

[jaguarr]

I caught that show on History a while back. Based on what I saw, some people definitely take it far too seriously, to the point of being dangerous to others. And I don't know if it's the norm amongst those who participate in that subculture, but the pseudo-intellectualism of the 'vampire' interviewees was annoying, bordering on ludicrous.

I would agree. There was a huge amount of arrogance and air of superiority that was really unwarranted coming from these people. It's probably what irritated me the most about them. They seemed to think they were just incredibly intelligent and smarter than everyone but didn't really say or do anything to support that belief from my observation. I suspect it's that confidence and arrogance in themselves that enables them to get some people to buy into what they are purporting. Some people will believe just about anything if the person with the message has enough conviction, confidence and belief in what they are selling. That's how things like Jonestown come to pass, after all.

jag

 

[SWAT]

... Aids!!!

 

[NickSox]

I would agree. There was a huge amount of arrogance and air of superiority that was really unwarranted coming from these people. It's probably what irritated me the most about them. They seemed to think they were just incredibly intelligent and smarter than everyone but didn't really say or do anything to support that belief from my observation. I suspect it's that confidence and arrogance in themselves that enables them to get some people to buy into what they are purporting. Some people will believe just about anything if the person with the message has enough conviction, confidence and belief in what they are selling. That's how things like Jonestown come to pass, after all.

jag

That's the scariest part. Weak willed people hearing this crap and buying into it. Thats what I hate most about all this political stuff on tv. Some people cant think for themselves.

 

[Mike_D202]

There was also a pretty big investigation with a new reporter that went missing who was investigating the "real vampires" in New Orleans.

 

[jaguarr]

There was also a pretty big investigation with a new reporter that went missing who was investigating the "real vampires" in New Orleans.

Got a link? I'd like to read about that.

jag

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

That's the scariest part. Weak willed people hearing this crap and buying into it. Thats what I hate most about all this political stuff on tv. Some people cant think for themselves.

Yup.

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=295466

 

[Mike_D202]

I'll find the a link.

 

[Captain Planet!]

They're all going to get HIV and die.

 

[demento]

I would agree. There was a huge amount of arrogance and air of superiority that was really unwarranted coming from these people. It's probably what irritated me the most about them. They seemed to think they were just incredibly intelligent and smarter than everyone but didn't really say or do anything to support that belief from my observation. I suspect it's that confidence and arrogance in themselves that enables them to get some people to buy into what they are purporting. Some people will believe just about anything if the person with the message has enough conviction, confidence and belief in what they are selling. That's how things like Jonestown come to pass, after all.

jag

Yeah, I think that's definitely part of the reason why they act the way they do. It's pretty amazing that they take the whole bullsh#t vampire fantasy to the degree that it becomes a 24/7 lifestyle. I mean, those interviewed may be pretentious and arrogant but they're obviously not stupid people... which makes you wonder if there is some kind of chemical imbalance involved. Hmm, I wonder what the clinical depression rate is among 'vampires'...?

 

[Whirlysplat]

They're all going to get HIV and die.

Vampires have already died.

 

[jaguarr]

Yeah, I think that's definitely part of the reason why they act the way they do. It's pretty amazing that they take the whole bullsh#t vampire fantasy to the degree that it becomes a 24/7 lifestyle. I mean, those interviewed may be pretentious and arrogant but they're obviously not stupid people... which makes you wonder if there is some kind of chemical imbalance involved. Hmm, I wonder what the clinical depression rate is among 'vampires'...?

They may not be stupid people but they're also not as intelligent as they'd like to think they are. I mean...they do think they're actual vampires with supernatural powers. They can't be THAT smart.

jag

 

[Whirlysplat]

They may not be stupid people but they're also not as intelligent as they'd like to think they are. I mean...they do think they're actual vampires with supernatural powers. They can't be THAT smart.

jag

Unless, they are fooling us into thinking this way and are real Vampires.

We should keep an open mind to the supernatural.........

 

[Captain Planet!]

Did you guys know Stan Lee is a vampire well over 200 years old?