Vampire lifestyle
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The vampire lifestyle (or vampyre subculture) is a lifestyle, involving a number of customs and beliefs, followed (in various fashions and to different degrees) by a subculture of people who are attracted to contemporary vampire lore and who seek to emulate it. While some older occult and tribal cultures have rituals and customs similar to the modern subculture, the vampire subculture itself is largely a social creation within Western culture, seemingly drawing from the rich recent history of popular culture related to cult symbolism, horror films, the fiction of Anne Rice, and the styles of Victorian England. It has been noted that the Vampire subculture has stemmed largely from the Goth subculture but also emulates some elements of the S/M subculture.[1]
Active vampirism within the vampire subculture includes both blood related vampirism and Psychic Vampirism - which involves 'feeding' from pranic energy (see Energy vampire). Members of the subculture take on a variety of 'roles', including both "vampires" and their sources of blood or pranic energy.[2]
Criminal Actions
Vampirism, or select elements of vampire subculture have been criticized for fueling the fantasies of people who are psychotic or otherwise severely mentally ill. Some self-proclaimed vampires have murdered in order to drink human blood, such as Brisbane's notorious Tracey Wigginton, who was called a lesbian vampire murderer by the press. There have been some reports of crimes committed by people who believed themselves to be vampires: for example, the "Kentucky Vampire Clan" was a vampire role-playing group in Kentucky whose activities spiraled into murder.[3] Activity of this manner is variously encouraged[4] and discouraged[5] by members of the subculture itself.
Health Risks
For one person to consume another's blood presents a serious hygiene risk to both parties, with a major risk of sepsis from human bites and the possibility of transmission of blood-borne diseases including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.[6][7]
Notably members of the vampire subculture who actively practice blood exchange in this way are often very conscious of these difficulties and practice monogamously only after appropriate medical testing has been completed.
See also
References
- ^ A. Asbjorn Jon, 'The Psychic Vampire and Vampyre Subculture', in Australian Folklore, 12 (2002), pp,143-148 (p.145). http://www.une.edu.au/folklorejournal/ ISBN 1-86389-831-X
- ^ A. Asbjorn Jon, 'The Psychic Vampire and Vampyre Subculture', in Australian Folklore, 12 (2002), pp,143-148 (p.145). http://www.une.edu.au/folklorejournal/ ISBN 1-86389-831-X
- ^ "Florida v. Rod Ferrell "The Vampire Cult Slaying Case"". Court TV. June 22, 2001. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
- ^ Razor The Tormented. "Vampyre Morals". Reapers of Blood. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Temple Law". Temple of the Vampire. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
- ^ "Human Bites". American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. November 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
- ^ Sowadsky, Rick (November 3, 1999). "Can you get HIV from drinking another persons blood?". Forum on Safe Sex and HIV Prevention. The Body. Retrieved 2006-11-26.