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In what way has the idea of vampires, the lifestyle of vampires, or any other thing about vampires and/or vampirism changed your life? Has it changed your life for the better? And if so, in what way has it changed?

You know, this is a tuff query to answer...I am vampire, but I do not live my life by the influence of any type of pre or modern vampiric fancy.

To better the self is to gain lifes experiance through trial and error. If one so chooses to use any lifestyle as an excuse of personal betterment, is up to that individual.

But, I do not see a reason why any sort of lifestyle should have influence over the way an individual thinks. I think this would be scenerio of simple peer pressure.

I started reading Vampire novels at the ripe old age of 7. What these myths have done for me is given me metaphor that I can use to look at my world differently that I was raised to look at it. By exposing myself to some things that are viewed as evil, I have learned the lines by which I choose to live- and not because I was told this is how it should be. I was able to see (sometimes first hand) what others do in their lifestyles and be fully able to say, "Thank you, but no thanks."

This has allowed me to more firmly be who I want and feel I should be, rather than allowing the pressures others inflict on my person to sway my wants.

Over all I would say it has made me not only a stronger individual, but it has allowed me freedom to choose who I am.

Thank you sahahria. This is exactly what I was looking for. This kind of knowledge.

I think that is one of the most powerful metaphors Vampires give us- Truly when you think of the death of the body and the immortality of the spirit that encompasses what we call a vampire; we are nothing more than viewing ourselves in a removed state that exudes power.

Regardless of where or when of the story the underlining message is the same, even when you view it from the older myth. The primary difference I see in the older views is then it was viewed as "ungodly" to empower yourself or to stand outside of the social norms. Now it is something that is praised, which could be a good argument for the changes in the vampire myth itself. As we have empowered ourselves our "monster" is no longer so monstrous, but is our hero/saviour.

It has changed my life for the better. I have become a stronger individual. It makes me think outside the realm of possibility.

I would have to agree it's given me a stronger sense of self and the ability to stay stead fast to my convictions. It has also given me the chance to meet many people I might not have otherwise. It also brought me my truest love of my life and if nothing else it should me the strength and belief in absolute true love. That alone for me was everything and changed me forever for the better.

I feel many people take on a way of life to help make them stronger, even if they do not actually live the full blown way of the vampiric lifestlye, yet believe it also.

I feel it is the individual as to if it helps them to be stronger individual or a follower in the lifestyle. just an oipinion

QueenSuccubus,

I agree completely with you on your opinion. I am just trying to find out in what way has vampires, or the mythology of vampires, or the vampire lifestyle helped individual people in dealing with every day life. Did it give people courage? Does it help in dealing with other people? Things like that.

I think vampirism now a days starte to become a psychic commune and then changed into the taste oriented society than the dire base, thsi will manipulatethe present culture and the society will moved to little dark side where the taste of bad act will take place instead of psychic living. blood taste and pain pleasure and goth freakiness will lead to errd freaking the key point to lead the downfall of other light side societies.

The ideas of vampires haven't exactly changed my life as I have always liked things dark and different and vampires definitely fit that. VR has changed my idea of how most vampires and people who like vampires meet up or learn about each other. It is a great experience and I love VR, the people on VR, and my wonderful coven.

A good question with some provacative responses from Saharira, Soulshroude and Venumstings. Most of my early exposure to the dark side was scary, and vampires were definitely evil. I slept for years as a child with scarves around my neck and my hand firmly clamped on top of that. At the same time as I was watching those intense old movies and reading Poe, we moved to a new area, and I was bullied at school. It all became too much. If I had to have devils swarming around me, then I wanted them on my side: Come on in!

Nothing happened. No vampires bit me, nor slimy creatures crawled up my legs to enter vulnerable orifices, but I had faced my fear. I also put large rocks in my backpack and swung it at the heads of gang girls.

I do think that the Vampire as the Undead is a mighty metaphor for the Living because it challenges us to question how we would live a life given unparalled opportunity.

The very secretiveness of protecting one's true nature runs counter to the position that lifestyle does not influence a person. Sequestering away your true self sets one apart, and a good question to ask is WHY? What is it that is preventing a sense of belonging? Humans are social creatures, members of the pack, but a vampire is a solitary creature, and represents another aspect of our psyche: the Outsider.

The push/pull of the psychic vs the physical is another metaphor for our existence, and the exact one that every major religious philosophy has sought to addresss/control. Again with the Vampire and its changing mythos we are confronted with the eternal question of how shall we be.

Bloodmother,

Thank you for the wonderful answer. That is percisely the type of things I was thinking when I made up this question.

The idea of the vampire gave to me a calm in situations that could possibly be tense. It also gave me more confidence in my interactions with others, because I do feel like an outsider, perhaps much like a vampire might feel.

Bettering the self. This is the ultimate aim of all self-aware creatures, is it not? And yet there are so very many who can see beyond their simplistic carnal needs. All intelligent beings have an innate need to be correct in their thought and opinion. The very concept of being correct or more correct than the next 'intellectual' being is a comfort to our menial existance on this earth. Beyond the petty argument of right and wrong, there are very few who will understand how to make themselves better through any method of existance.

How does the vampire make for a better self? It's all in the concept. Vampires are hunters. They are elitists. They see themselves as above others. Simply put, it rather closely mirrors my own natural thinking.

I define myself as a vampire, for I am an energy manipulator and more than a little bit of a psychic (psychotic). The vampire simply is the closest descriptor to match my personality, my being, my thinking, and my overall perception of the world around me.

I don't necessarily believe that there are any who are "real vampires", other than the lifestylers who deem it appropriate to their life to feed on blood.

I know that the attributes of the psychic vampire, the one who can drain energy and successfully manipulate others, are the attributes I inherited. I use them as I deem fit and stay mindful of consequences. But I don't "vamp out" to stand out in the crowd as the proud member of a subculture.

I look normal, am a professional woman, I smile ingratiatingly where it's necessary, and even back down when its appropriate or is the path of least resistance.

But underneath it all is the vampire that finds subtle ways around the rest of the mundane world and is rather shameless to admit that I don't consider anyone else's wellbeing immediately useful... unless their wellbeing is tied to my own in some way.

Is this a better self? Well we ought to define "better". The term indicates that we are asking to perceive as individuals what makes for good, better, or best. And on the whole, though others are likely to disagree, the vampire indeed is a part of me that makes me "better".

I've been thinking about this thread a lot, trying to figure a way to answer it. I've composed a few responses and deleted them. When it all comes down to it, I keep coming back to this:

Mark Rein-Hagen says something simple, By becoming a monster, one learns what it is to be human.

Now, that pertains to the 'game': Vampire: The Masquerade. But, I still think it speaks volumes to people who are followers of the myth and legendary fictional vampire.

If you've learned something, I think that usually coincides with a bettering of yourself.

when i was 13, i read the trial of socrates. wrote down what i considered the point of it (and of life) on a scrap of paper... and i still have it on my wall. what i wrote down was "know thyself".

that was 24 years ago.

and i know as much as ever, no matter how cool i think they are, that i am NOT A VAMPIRE. neither are you....

Images stirs me with her post (once again), It is a question of application, if for example a person does not believe in "God" then one is going to "Hell". What application does believing that those who identify as vampires are as they claim to be vampires? What is the "penalty for not subscribing to the Quote: "Possibility that someone can be a vampire." Unquote?

Thank you imagesinwords and JenovaX for you contributions to my thread.

This post has nothing to do with believing you are a vampire. I am just trying to see if any of the attributes or strengths (mental obviously) or attitudes of vampires have helped anyone here with anything in their own lives that they might feel be an area of themselves that needs a little fixing or improving. If this is unclear someone needs to message me and let me know so I can rephrase this.

Dabbler,

I don't think what you said had much, if any, relevence to this topic at all. Please don't add to a topic just so you can say you did.

I was referring to application, if a vampire is as a vampire does.. then what I said is relevant. What does one gain by being a vampire? I could have been clearer, you are correct in that.

Dabbler,

I understand now. But I wasn't meaning that the person had to become a vampire to gain this betterment. I meant that the ideal of, attributes of, and myth of vampires might help some people with certain areas of their life. I ws just asking in what ways has the vampire helped people, normal people, be better people.

I found the one I have been searching for decades through and because of the night culture she is now my soul and blood mate. Universus Cruor for ever!

So the application of ones Interest in vampires? I would say paying attention to those that would drain one of anything (vampire definition # 2) validates knowing vampires, and how to avoid being a "victim", of vampire like practices. Learning to drain resources, at first may be "fancy" and all but eventually one can exsaust the pool. Getting the most out someone is hardly a Boastful Advantage to one that imitates vampires in social any social context.

I'm not any better better for having been exposed to fictional vampires than being exposed to Spiderman.

A human gained super abilities, and the struggle with reconciling that with a still normal world around them.

I still like them though. And I think I am probably better for having been exposed to these ideas, but it's just not exclusive to vamps that way. I think fictional vampires just fall into a category of super beings, and through them, yes I feel like I get a different perspective.

Thank you, Chiaroscuro, for your response. You are right. Any hero in almost any sense could inspire a person to better themselves.

Dabbler,

I understand waht you're saying. You're looking at the question in a completely different way than what was intended, but your response is valid under the context of the way you are perceiving the question. Thank you for adding.

The lifestyle has taught me to research and listen to others, yet I strive for my own agenda.