The Nature/Cause of Sang. Vampirism

[Molly]

Personally, I am completely undecided on what has caused me to be what/how I am, but I'm curious as to what theory, if any, anyone else may believe in. I am especially curious about theories I may not yet have encountered.

Here are the sets of theories I am aware of so far:
1) Prana/Chi/Life Energy: we require the blood for the energy it contains to fill a void in, loss of, or inability to create our own life energy
2) Genetic Medical Condition: there is some nutrient in blood which our body needs and is able to process from this unusual nutritive source (comparable to diabetes, anemia, color-blindness and/or homosexuality)
3) Psychosis: we're all just nuts!
4) Psychosomatic: We believe so strongly (or have such a strong need to believe) in our vampirism, that the belief itself causes the symptoms (similar in cause/effect to "hysterical blindness")
5) Addiction: we started out as fetishists or just had unusual interest in blood, but once we began to consume blood, we became addicted to it, and "Twoofs" "the Beast", etc are nothing more than typical withdrawal symptoms.
6) Non-human Soul: Non-human Vampires once existed, either here on this world or on some other world or plane of existence. Our soul began there/then and has been reincarnated in our current form, or is/was "meant to be" there/then, and this is what drives us to "act like vampires" even though we technically are not.
7) Non human genetic material: Either "real vampires" once existed and mingled with humans and we are the diluted result, or we (or someone in our family tree) have been the recipient/victim of genetic tampering.
8) Incorrect Diagnosis: Vampirism is not, itself, a condition, but is a collection of unrelated physical ailments that just happen to all be present in a statistically small portion of the population. (Anemia+High Niacin Levels+?, etc.)

If you do believe in any particular theory over the rest, please be kind and explain your chosen theory. An explanation of WHY you chose that theory would also be appreciated. Also, if you are aware of (or have come up with) a theory not listed here, please share it!

Thank you!

Edit Reason: added a theory set

[Tannaidhe]

I believe in a combination (or perhaps cohabitation) of your theories 1 and 6, with, perhaps, flavorings of 2 and 7.

I think, basically, that sangs and psis are just varieties of the same thing; we're all after the same substance, chi/prana/whatever-you-want-to-call-it. Psis can 'pluck it from thin air', so to speak, whereas sangs must drink blood physically, and the energy they need is 'piggybacking' with the physical substance. This does not imply, in my eyes, that either group is 'superior' or 'inferior'... it is just two different methods of acquiring the same thing.

I also think that vampirism is in the 'soul', not necessarily the body. if my first point, that it is energy we need, is correct, then it would lead one to the assumption that it is some sort of energy we are deficient in. And, it is my belief that the energy field that we are/we create, is in essence our soul. It is what makes us individuals, and it is what provides that bridge from a lump of inert flesh to a living, thinking being. Therefore, I feel that this need for this particular type of energy comes from the soul. Now, there may be some merit to genetics causing a predisposition for a particular body to have such a soul, thus the tendency for vampirism to 'run in families', but it also explains why that is only a tendency, rather than an ironclad fact of life.

I do not, however, think that vampires are, genetically speaking, 'not human'. Just as it would be ridiculous to say diabetics are 'not human'. We simply have a different set of needs (and in our case, some abilities) than 'normal' humans. Speaking from a mentality standpoint, however, I do think that vampires are indeed somewhat seperate from humans. However, I am not going to really expound on that, because it is difficult to say what I think without sounding highly elitist, which is not my intent at all.


Now, to contradict myself to a point, I do think there are those facets in the vampires community that fit a number of your other theories (namely 3, 4, 5 and 8). These I do not consider 'true' vampires... but the problem, at least in these online communities, is telling who is 'truly' a vampire, and who simply thinks they are. Online, that is almost impossible to tell, and thus most communities online have adopted a policy of "we won't help you 'diagnose' whether you are a vampire or not, but if you say you are, we will accept it". It is an unfortunate reality that, especially among 'misfit' teenagers looking for a place to 'fit in', we are a highly attractive community, and so many will try to convince themselves that they belong with us.



Of course, all of this is only a matter of my opinion. Even Terran and I have some amount of friendly disagreement on exactly how these things work. I suspect we will never know... someday, perhaps, but doubtful in our lifetime.

[Molly]

I agree that we will likely never know in our lifetime, though I certainly wish differently. I am still completely undecided as to what it is, but I also lean toward the idea that not all who consider themselves vampires are of the same ilk, and think that one or two of those theories may apply to each of us, but not necessarily the same theories for each. The only theory I completely discount is the genetic tampering theory. I suppose it is possible, but so unlikely it may as well not be possible. (If that makes any sense.)

Do you suppose I should have included the virus theory in the list? It's my understanding that there are still people out there that believe it, despite it being a product of fiction. *thinks* Nah. Then I'd have to include immortals who can fly, turn into bats, and the whole "drink the blood of a vamp to become a vamp" thing.

[Tannaidhe]

There are still a few adherents to the 'virus' type theories, yes, but I don't think it's within the realm of being reasonable, so I see no reason to have included it.

Everyone seems to have their 'pet' theories, which may or may not coincide; I don't necessarily think that means that each of us comes by it in a different way... just that we don't know 'the' answer. The reason I included different 'groups' is because I don't think that everyone who says they are a vampire are. They are either mistaken, misdiagnosing themselves(are actually Otherkin, Therian, etc.), or just trying to convince themselves they are when they aren't anything 'different'. This is not to say that I think there are multiple types of vampires, but multiple types of people in the vampire community. It's a subtle but important difference.

[Molly]

tannaidhe said:

It's a subtle but important difference.

True! I definitely agree that not everyone who claims to be a vamp is a vamp.

But, I do see it as quite possible that some fall under the solely metaphysical (1 &/or 6), while others fall under the physical (2). And, even if that were so, and they had completely different reason for needing the blood, they would still, IMHO, be "true vampires." Because for me, the definition is the Physical Need, twoofing and beasting aside. An addict may be miserable without their "drug of choice" but the physical symptoms of addiction typically wane after only a few days, where for me (and from what I've read many others as well) the physical symptoms of "going without" (weakness/pain/etc) tend to just keep waxing until the need is met

They need to do a study on the addictive properties of human blood, though. Because, while I most definitely experience what people call twoofing and beasting, in reading descriptions, they do sound an awful lot like withdrawal symptoms.

Maybe we are a combination of 1,2 and 5? *shrug* Dunno.

[Tannaidhe]

Personally, I see no reason why a 'metaphysical' need (such as example 1) couldn't have physical effects like you described if not fulfilled. After all, metaphysical experiences (meditation, astral travel, etc.) can produce very physical effects, especially within the body (relaxation, sense of peace, etc.) so why couldn't it work the other way around, *not* having it would cause negative effects like a purely physical need would?

Although I do agree that there seems to be, at least for a good number of vamps, a sort of 'reverse order' withdrawal.. meaning classic withdrawal symptoms, only instead of like a normal withdrawal starting strong and growing weaker, it starts weak and grows stronger.

This is all stuff that science seems to be very far from answering in any real way, because science doesn't believe in anything metaphysical... though I have seen a few studies done on the effects of meditation, which is a (small) step in the right direction.

I still think (and note I say 'I think' not 'you're wrong' ) that all vamps are just variations on a theme. Just as the symptoms and solutions of a disease will vary from one person to the next (diabetics can all learn to recognize a sugar-crash in their body, but the actual manifestation symptoms vary widely, and the solutions to it also vary from person to person, and what works perfectly for one may not do *anything* for the next) I think that we are all after the same thing in the end, but we all have different ways we have to get it, and different symptom sets if we don't.

But of course, we are still relegated to guessing and theorizing, because science won't even look at it yet beyond 'you're just crazy', or *naybe* as a physical addiction (which doesn't explain the psis and hybrids).

[Molly]

tannaidhe said:

Personally, I see no reason why a 'metaphysical' need (such as example 1) couldn't have physical effects like you described if not fulfilled.

Nor do I. Let me see if I can clarify what I meant...

When I said "But, I do see it as quite possible that some fall under the solely metaphysical (1 &/or 6), while others fall under the physical (2). "

What I meant was that I think it's possible that for some the root cause may lie solely in the physical - similar to whatever causes some pregnant women to crave things like clay, dirt, or laundry soap, which is currently *thought* to be caused by some sort of nutritional deficiency. (www.childbirth.org/AskACBE/pregnancy/preg35.html and www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/13/1065917326488.html?from=storyrhs)

[Tannaidhe]

My only problem with pegging it as a nutritional deficiency of some kind, is how *little* most blood vamps consume. I mean, most from what I have heard consume about an ounce or less, some as little as once a month. I suppose there might be something in *really* trace amounts needed there, but I just don't see it myself. Of course, this could just be me missing something, lol.

Always entertaining and interesting to bandy such thoughts around though!

[Molly]

That's actually a good point, although I don't think humans get much out of eating dirt or clay either.

Personally, I cannot imagine having a whole ounce available for my consumption. I'm lucky if I get a few drops here or there. Hubby offered once, and I only took a little. Then within a few days he was right back to saying we are all nuts. He is very much the kind of person that if HE hasn't experienced it, then it doesn't exist. There is precious little that he believes in.

[Tobias]

Those are all interesting theories, and a lot of them I hadn't heard about. Thank you for providing them. Now I shall post a few that I have read about that made some sense to my literal mind, lol:

1) We (vampyres) are the next step up the evolutionary ladder.
2) We are only a pause on the way to the next step up the evolutionary ladder. Sort of a half-step up.
3) We are de-evolving back to the way we once were, back when we needed every advantage we could get just to survive from one day to the next.

I don't follow any one set theory, but the number 1 of yours, Molly, is one I lean towards the most. What are yall's thoughts on these three I posted? I'm curious as to what you all have to say.

[Tannaidhe]

Those really kind of tie in, or simply another aspect of, the kinds that Molly posted. They aren't really an either/or proposition. And as for what I think of your three, I think it's option number 4! lol I think, personally, we are neither higher nor lower on the evolutionary scale, simply different. Rather like how the two 'early hominid' groups existed at the same time, but only one evolved to become us, I think vampires and 'mundane' humans exist next to each other, not ahead or behind one another.

[Ethar]

When I did "feed" regularly my body did have a strong need for it. If I decided not to do a weekly "feeding" I could tell the difference. I think it may be a genetic thing then again nothing has been proven. It has been years since I "fed" human blood but the occasional raw steak does make me crave the real thing. So whatever it is there are those of us out there who our bodies do need blood from some source.

[maria]

hey!!! can someone just help me??? i want someone who realy knows about vampires....i'm from greece....so i don't no so good english....i tried many times to find a website to find someone to help me but nothing...realy i need help....i read all those symptoms....and i have them all and some more thinks that i don't know if those are somethink inportant....(sorry if i made mistakes at the writing) if you will tell me that you realy know about vampires and you can help me.....i will so you anythink like videos or pictures of me to see proofs or somethink to believe me...i can so you videos when i'm in the sun what's happening from before i will go out at the sun and all the time i will be at the sun.... ! please someone has to talk with me.....

[maria]

if someone realy cares....just help me if it's a realy website...i have prblems years now.......pleasse....