The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Here is a general question that I would like to see everyone's response to. With the evolution of modern society do you believe that your lifestyle as a vampire, lycan, witch, or wiccan has become more acceptable? Why or why not? Would your parent and/or friends in the real world be understanding of this type of lifestyle?

my dad accepts my choices as being pagen my mouther does not.......my friends who are mostly christian accept me for me and religon isnt a big aspect on our friendship.......... i do belive some in society dont care its who you are that makes friendships not what you believe in.......but do i think society in general is more understanding ......no not really......

My family has accepted my choice to follow the Wiccan path as well as my interest in vampirism with a fair amount of grace. My friends on the other hand..basically laughed and thought I lost my mind! I feel that these alternate lifestyles seem to be more widely accepted only because more of us are speaking out publicly. However those who follow mainstream religions/lifestyles still tend to be stubborn when it comes to acceptance of others who dont practice as they do...and I found that they generally don't even wish to understand anything that doesn't flow with their beliefs.

I think my parents would accept it to a certain extent. They would ask why i chose to become a Wiccan(I just... started?) Then they would probably think it was odd or think is was probably think that it was a phase like the whole goth thing. My friends actually think that me being a Wicca is cool, haha.

My family has already disowned me due to my sexual preferences. I have made a family outside of people who are my own blood, they are all either pagan or vampiric. I although I am not a practicing wiccan myself am deeply spiritual on many levels and I am a psy-vamp.Society on a whole well I think they still under the misconception of what wicca and pagainism and even the goth /vamp cultures really are they see us as a bunch of trench coat mafia types willing to go into schools and kill people. The ones in our subculture that do this well it is less then 10% so like all things they see one bad apple and label us all sicko's and freaks and don't want to bother finding out the truth of things.

This thread in the general forum began as a question of that same nature in the modern vampire community but I believe that it bled over into overall acceptance of different culture, beliefs and society.

Society's look upon our lifestyles and beliefs...

My parents do not know about my vampire side. If they did know they would think that I was crazy. My friends used to be included in the circle of knowledge but I was made the butt of jokes and ridicule so I pretended that I stopped and went underground.

Also discussed here in relation to subcultures and again this bled into general prejudice:

Whats your point of View

Hello and good evening,
Would should arrogant and selfish people except someone who is different in many ways, but not all bad. Maybe younger adults to teenagers could except such things but the older you go the more insignificant people you meet. Could my parents or friends expect something of me like this, you ask? Friends: Yes Parents: My mother yes but my father could not believe such blaspheomy... Thank you for listening and asking such an intelligant question...

I don't think we have come as far as we think we have. I don't have a family that accepts me. I hide it from my work. And I am happy. But for the rest of them I am wrong.

In my honest opinion, the world has become far more liberal than the conservative prude it once was. So, as more things become the norm, the mores of society, less things are shocking. 100 years ago, homosexuals would have been stoned to death. Now? We're all for gay rights, and some parts of States are fighting to allow for gay marriage. Paganism, satanism, wiccia.... all of the previously "devious" religions are becoming more acceptable, if not fully understood.

So yeah, I do believe we are becoming more accepting of those that differs from our values these days.

I think most would say its only acceptable in the movies or in a book. Those who do not accept what others accept are just blind to the fact or do not want to see the truth. There are others like you out there, and those are the ones that accept you for who you are. And if they can't , well then they should not be your friends.

I sadly have to hide my beliefs from my family. Living in the south my family are devout baptists and totally untolerant of any form of the craft. I hate that I have to hide it, but life would be much harder if I didnt. So in response, No. I dont think life has become easier or that society has become more tolerant, BUT I do think it depends on where you live. There may be places that are more tolerant then Georgia. I would think that New York or California would be more tolerant then Georgia.

I think that it is more acceptable now than it use to be but there is still people out there that don't understand certain aspects of vampires, wiccans, etc. and people fear and judge what they don't understand. I think no matter how much time passes there will always be closed minded people who don't want to understand anything besides what they know and have been taught. Besides if someone can't accept u for the way u are, u are better off finding new friends.

I think it's a little more acceptable but not much. My family would not accept it at all.

In some ways I have been accepted more now than when I was younger,, but I still have those individuals that look at me like im gonna eat their children when they see my tats and realize I am a Satanist. And there have been drilling companies that have refused too hire me because of what I am. I think that society still has a long way to go in order to escape the ignorance that is,, and finally realize that we are not bad people.

Well..I tell you..'I' being a goth..sen to be enough or too much for anyone to accept.
It's sad really.
Normals,or yuppies..just can't understand..
the meaning of the word..'diffrent'.
There is no acceptance in a world without your own to guide you.

In some sense, yes, it has become more accepted. As many of the facets of Vampyrism and the such have been seen and even evolved into a psudo religion, it has been seen as tolerated when hefted out into the open by large groups of individuals. Yet, when placed on a smaller function and a more personal basis in which there are a few individuals of a certian aspect in which is confronted as "not normal" in a region that is primary a very hard or orthodox Christian religion or Montheistic religion, then the aspect of being a Vampyre within a house becomes bad and people take measures to make the people in the house suffer.

Yes, it is tolerated, we aren't burned, but when looked upon it on more modern times, no, no we aren't tolerated and only Law, keeps religous zelots from burning many as the perverbual stake.

- Sin

A priveleged few know that I am a Witch and practice magick and am into vampirism and have accepted me for who I am on the inside, it matters not to them what my beliefs or practices are, but as for work, no they never knew.

I think we have a lot of work ahead of us still.

i for one could care less who accepts me or not, i am not here to impress others i am here for only myself, yeah it sounds thoughtless and mean, but its the truth , i don't care if others can not accept me for who i am, why , as i see the question asking? because this world is filled with far too many judgemental people.

I don't think I'd call it more accepting but rather a larger group of people that don't react to it as long as it doesn't effect them. Indifference is the word I'd apply rather than acceptance.

More acceptable than in years past....and as was stated, geography and demographics helps as to the acceptance of 'our kind'

My family has not a clue, except where did they go wrong with their eldest daughter that likes to dress up and go to conventions and likes all things dark?

i believe that things like being wiccan are becoming more so accepted but due to the fact that it is becoming more common....

of course there will always be those who wont except you any way around because you are different, but thats just the way this stubborn world is.....there will always be at least 1 person who will not accept you for who you are......

oh...also...i love how they are so quick to judge but yet they wont even take the time to find out the real meaning of what you are....guess that shows how "perfect" they are.......(since most that judge like that think they are)

.... My parents keep telling me to shut up about vampires .. I talk to much about them .. I can't help it if I wanna be one ... my friends on the other are kinda scared of me ... one thinks I'll bite her .. lol ..

I believe that society as a whole has become more acceptant of all alternate life styles. Many of my friends and family (Mainly my brother) are Christian and may have a problem with me being a witch. My parents would not though, my Mom (Rest her Soul) knew I have always been into the occult.

yes to all of them .my family and friends all accept me as i am.

it is definitely more acceptable to be Pagan now than it was 30 years ago. i find people are often curious, occasionally derisory, but rarely intolerant. diversity is celebrated these days. Vampirism is another matter though. i only discovered very recently that one of my friends is a vampire - it's not something people shout from the rooftops. until recently, the common populace thought it was something restricted to hollywood fantasy and the odd occasional serial killer. now it is becoming more open, the public are getting worried, and i think less tolerant.

A bit wiccan is coming out so much more then it used to it's amazing

By people like family and friends it is becoming more of a trend for some reason. Therefore it is acceptable by some.

The most common to disagree with the appropriatness of paganism, vampirism, lycanthropy, wiccan, and any other kind of occult or paranormal existence is looked down upon by other religions and or beliefs...I guess old fashioned people and a lot of the government.

The argument has gone on a long time and still exists...whether a kid in school should be able to wear a pentacle necklace when another is allowed to wear a cross, whether a wiccan club can be established in a school when there is a bible study there already.

In my opinion it is all based on what one sees as normal or fit for themselves. There will always be someone to look down on something else as wrong but there is also support for things unknown and unfamiliar.

The answer I'd give is maybe. You can't really know what everyone else finds acceptable just who and what you and your friends and family do.

Well both my parent's were killed in car accident in 98' by a drunk driver so cant speak on them ...but my mom always new I had a thing for the dark side ...My friend's think im crazy for most part but as I said before I am who I am sccept me or dont it's your loss...I love who I am today!

Acceptance, No. People dont accept what they dont know. Alt. Lifstyles as a whole have become quite trendy in the last few years...Every thing from being Gay, Goth, Bi, Vampire or BDSM ...Please think ether we are nuts, sick or its just a phases and we will grow out of it. But these things are not a phase and for the most part are not even a lifestyle. All of these things that people call lifestlyes or phases for most of us is just part of who we are. Its not a switch that can just be turned off. Most people just dont understand that...

I have can not understand why people have issues with other peoples business...If you dont like what we have to say. If you dont like what we do or how we act. Then just leave us be...I feel for thoses of you that were strong enough to tell thoses who are to be there alway , IE..Family only to be walked away from. My heart gos out to you. Please take us as your family..You are too go for anyone that would just toss you to the curb because of who you are.

I believe the acceptance is also based where you are. I lived in NY...where talk of ghosts and magic made someone look at you like you were nuts. Then I come to WV...where they talk of Mothman, Bigfoot and pagans like its nothing. It was a culture shock but it was good to be able to express my opinion of them and not be looked at strangely

I definitely agree on location. In Griffith, it's a little more acceptable to talk about ghosts but not much else. I do not mind cause I don't think it matters to the town what I am or what I believe in.

My parents or inlaws do not know... i prefer to keep it that way.... no sense in causing unnecessary problems .... a few of my friends know and are cool with it.... as far as society they are always going to have some reason to look down on the religion of choice.... even though they try to pretend like it is all ok . never will we be fully accepted, regardless .

With education and understanding, each religion, styles and such things are slowly become more accepted. No one belief is wrong or right. It is an individual thing. Sadly people that hold much fear, subpresses the greater knowledge of the world. We live in such a diverse culture, and with that is different styles and types. I am who I am and I am proud of it. To each his or her own.

It is more accepted than say 5 years even.But my family would not get it nor would they wish to..my parents have been gone a long time now.I had an ideas that perhaps my Mum was a vampire, but never had the chance to ask her.
With all the life-stylers, books, clubs, forums it has brought us out into the"light" so to speak.And maybe because of good and bad publicity we are perhaps thought about more..not accepted maybe..but there are some who are thinking"mmmm maybe they do exist"And for people to actually just wonder and speculate..tis better than ignoring the issue all together.

It may have been accepted a lil more in todays society however there is more talk of devil worshipping and the apocolypse.....so either way things havent changed

yeah devil worshipping has bene going around more due to the belief that the devil has risen and that those who do not let their sins into gods arms will be punished for seven years straight of disaster. everything in the prophecies have been coming true so far. it makes me wonder. i on the other hand am not a vampire, werewolf, witch, but a lover i accept anyones lifestyle as if it was my own and i accept everyone for who they are.

Katye

I think in todays world it is more acceptable to be in an alternative lifestyle. While there might be some negative talk about devil worshipping, it is no where near what it was 50-200 years ago where it was criminalized and killed for being a pagan or wiccan...

Goth culture has also been more incorporated into society than previously. Through the media, we all see images of what vampires or witches are. Other than movies, there is almost zero reports of vampires preying on victims in the middle of the night or witches hexing good people. There are alternative stores in many communities-including religious one. We have come a long ways as a society to be more inclusive. I am not saying society is without prejudice, but we are improving.

Its a good thing that we are improvings. years ago when something mysterious happened they blamed it on vampires, spirits, the devil. like with the bubonic plague. it was with the fleas on rats, yet they believe it to be vampires the start of it.

There has been improvement, but not enough to make it much more acceptable to society than it was before. Society still has it's version of what is and is not right and they still press these views on everyone and you still get denied acceptance and the same treatment as others when you live a life style that society doesn't agree with. My mother is wholly accepting to who I am, though she is a bit creeped out by the blood drinking. My father would put me back in the nut ward if he ever had the chance because he hates me for not being the perfect church girl that he wanted. Anyone worth calling a friend accepts me as I am, those who do not would not be called a friend at all.
I don't see much change. People are not being killed for being different but they are tormented for being who they really are. Teenagers are made to feel that they are worthless for being different. Adults are put under pressure to fit into the mold to keep a job as well as to get one. At least this is how it is where I live. And I saw all the bull that went on because Johnathan Sharkey and his wife lived a life style that society didn't like. I just don't see that any good is coming any time soon. People will never be equal the way this world is going.

witches/druids/pagans are more excepted now but then you still have the bible thumpers out there waiting to crucify anyone who doesnt conform to thier ways.

Well my thoughts on this is that people this day in age are more open and or open minded to the idea of different lifestyles and or practices. I still know many who are catious of who they share this with. I always lean on the safe side. I know there are allot of people out there who still lean towards the side of disbeleif or the typical religious beleifs.

I was born with certian gifts and abilities. Instead of my parents embrasing the special side of me they locked me in a nut hut where I undergone several series of shock therapy. So from that point until about 4 yrs ago I kept that side hidden from the rest of the world. I would practice in the safety and seclusion of my room. I was later disowned by my grandma ( younger sibling and I was adopted by grandparents ) after that I really didn't care what anyone thought. No, I didn't practice for the public to see but when asked I, within reason, gave an explanation.

As far as today's society goes. For the most part people make fun of, judge, or belittle what they don't understand. Some have become more open minded and accepted the fact that there are many possibilities. I agree with what's been said here as far as our beliefs being accepted due to the fact that more and more people are speaking out about their "religious" preference.

I still have a hard time because of the fact that I'm finding it harder and harder to find those that are like me and understand what I go through when I have to fend of things that want to cause harm to me or my offspring.

As far as the social norms of our American culture are concerned wytchcraft is more acceptable today than when I was first involved over 40 years ago. The use of "Wicca" has helped get over the stigmata of the word "witch".
My family knows and accepts my religion, however I have no contact with them for other personal reasons. My children are heriditary wytches and accept my vampyre lifestyle.
Those of my coven accept me as a vampyre, even though they do not understand the spiritual beliefs associated with it. I am also an initiate of Ordo Templi Orientis which accepts all personal beliefs and lifestyles as a tenent of Thelema.

honestly with the amount of people coming out of proverbial closets(of all kinds) i think yes it may be slighlu more tolareated from place to place, however it has been my experiance that most of society topday is still closed minded, and there for not very accepting of different ways of life in which they are not accustomed to?

I think that since more people know about it and there is a larger group of us no matter what we may be It is not as shocking for people to here. I also think people are more apt to turn there head cause they do not understand what we are or what we do. I think the more we put our names out there the more people will be accepting to it.

I think that in general, it is more acceptable among certain groups of people. For me personally, my parents only know about my magickal side...and only so much of it. They don't know about my being a vampire, and if I tried to tell them, they would probably try to commit me. It's not that they are religious or anything either...just not very open minded to certain things.

I was raised catholic (irish heritage) and now I am wiccan my mother is not happy about my change but she accepts me for what I am . Most people dont really know what I am other than a very strange person but those who do know me accept me as well.

Whatever my belief, I would never want it to be accepted. Struggle fortifies, enhances and perfects.
Acceptance leaves behind.

Acceptance will never be because as long as the church is stillrunning things and now there even controling the government it wont ever be.

we're definitely not accepted and that's not about to change inluss al this hushing up ad secrecy is gone... but that's not possible untill we're accepted...

it's a vicious circle that we can porbably only very slowly get out of by reallly choosing some people you trust to teel them and then givre them info but the right info not tha cliche one and so it will eventually maybe in like 6000 years or so (yes really that long) we might be a little bit like accepted...and then still thre wil always be a group of people that rejects us...

sorry to maybe disapoint you but as you can read that's the simple truth here and now...

greetings

lostdarkangel - I totaly disagree.

I believe there has been alot of progress made to the acceptance of alternative lifestyles and beliefs not previously looked at as the norm.

Such progress may not be in overwhelming leaps and bounds, but it is there in both society.. and in many families and/or communities.

I can walk down the street as myself, and not worry about being burned at the stake as a heretic or witch. Progress.

I can take a vacation and dress as myself. Progress.

I can go to the 7-11 in my black robes.. get my nightly coffee.. and not get harassed. Progress.


I still think there is long way to go however. My mother is very supportive, however my father hasnt spoken to me in years. My aunts are accepting, provided I dont dress "that way" when going to their home. But they do go out with me, and they are very religious.

I think as well, acceptance of alternative lifestyle's are in direct reflection of the media exposure received. Of course, or media publicizes horrific events centered around alternative lifestyles (3 goth kids shoot up half their school, etc). However I have yet to hear of the positive influences we have in/on our communities.

I wanted to thank everyone for their opinion on this matter. They are all valued. I just wanted to see what everyone else's take on this issue was.