From: david.vaughan@rose.com (david vaughan)
Subject:  Re: I'm a hypocrite
Organization: Rose Media Inc, Toronto, Ontario.
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 22:25:51 GMT
X-Gated-By: Usenet <==> RoseMail Gateway (v1.70)


Date Entered: 12-13-92 17:10
M >Ah, but you've just demonstrated my point!  You refer to your
M >"fevered adolescent dreams", who shows that how you see the
M >whole idea of vamipres.  Discussion of the topic and reading
M >vampire books is one thing, but to actually be confronted by a
M >real vampire, in one instant shattering all your beliefs,
M >would be another thing entirely.  No matter how much anyone
M >WANTS to believe in vampires, until you meet one it just isn't
M >possible.  I state again, that if such an occurence did take
M >place THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL you would be able to refuse the
M >"gift", as you put it.

Such a shattering experience might also send you fleeing in terror, or 
drive you mad.  Indeed, I think that such would be the probable result 
for many modern persons who suddenly had to confront their beliefs and 
fantasies become reality.

As to fevered adolescent dreams, I had two particularly strong 
adolescent dreams.  One was to travel through space a la Star Trek or 
Star Wars.  I would still accept a ride on the Enterprise on the drop 
of a pin, although now I would also want to wrangle a spot for my 
fiancee on the trip.  The other was to have superpowers.  This, in the 
end, was an adolescent power trip, and I would now turn down a chance 
to become Super/Bat/anythingman.  The dangers and responsibilities of 
this in reality would be too much for me to handle.  I would probably 
spend more time in analysis than I would on the streets fighting 
crime.  Adolescent dreams must give way to 'the wisdom of age' as part 
of the maturing process, and a sense of practical reality is an 
important of this wisdom.  I believe that I would be capable of 
resisting the offer on a number of grounds, assuming I stayed coherent 
long enough for the vampire to make an offer.

As to the whole issue of the desirability of vampirism, I must admit 
that I am not overly enamoured of the idea of being undead (this is 
NOT the same as being immortal.  The undead DO DIE, but then come back 
to life in an altered form.  To me, immortality implies never dying, 
and maintaining roughly the same kind of existence throughout 
eternity.)  I do like going out at night, and enjoy darkness at least 
as much as light.  However, I do not have to be a vampire to enjoy 
this.  I do find the idea of immortality at least somewhat appealing, 
but am, at the same time, very aware that immortality could quickly 
become an eternity of being fossilized into routines and ideas long 
out of date.  I have already commented on the desirability of 
superpowers, and would put the powers of the vampire into this class. 
Ultimately, however, my reason for not finding vampirism desirable is 
that I am not a taker.  Vampires, even Rice's, must take from others 
in order to continue their own existence.  They are greed personified, 
beings who desire immortality so much that they are prepared to steal 
part of someone else's life in order to achieve it.  I am a giver (my 
fiancee thinks I give too much, I don't think I give enough), and 
would find becoming a taker, at least on a conscious direct level, 
very difficult.

A final note to those who think that attitudes towards vampirism are 
old-fashioned.  They are.  I first encountered vampires in Marvel 
Comic's 'Tomb of Dracula' series, and then moved on to the novel and 
the Dracula films.  Although I first heard of Rice when Interview came 
out in 1977 or so, I didn't actually read it until Lestat came out.  I 
love Rice's novels, but they don't make me want to become a vampire. 
Indeed, the reason I like them is that, ultimately, they aren't about 
vampires.  They're about fighting to maintain humanity in a savage, 
inhuman world.  The different attitudes of Louis and Lestat to 
vampirism simply reflect different approaches to coping with the 
darkness, and savagery that are a part of everyday human existence 
(Louis = trying to be aloof from the darkness, Lestat = trying to 
control the darkness).  I have seen the vampires, and they is us.

David Vaughan,
Hamilton, Ont., Canada
david.vaughan@rose.com
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