this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2023
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AskBeehaw

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 10 months ago (2 children)

They make poor Guillermo take care of their styling.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 10 months ago

ah yes, i forgot about the familiars

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

Bah! You beat me to it!

[–] [email protected] 22 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I have several hypotheses:

  • the same force that stops them decaying also stops their hair from ever getting mussed up, falling out, or growing longer

  • only we can't see their reflection, they themselves can see it

  • vampires are essentially a representation of a parasitical upper class and as such they look like idealised wealthy aristocrats

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Loved the second hypothesis. I feel a lot of potential there.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I was rooting for #2 but sadly I am convinced it's #3

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (3 children)

4th hypothesis: Vampires are actually people infected with rabies.

People with rabies avoid mirrors or it causes a strong reaction to them. It was even used as a diagnosis tool, if a person can watch herself in a mirror this person does not have rabies.

Other similarities between vampires and rabies:

  • Biting, the infected wants to bite other people and the bite can turn the other person into a vampire/rabies infected. People with rabies can also end up with bloody saliva that drips from their mouth.
  • Vampires can transform into bats/dogs/wolves according to the culture. These animals are all a vector of rabies. Also infected animals and infected people behave similarly.
  • Garlic and Sun, people infected rabies get hypersensitivity to strong light or smells.
  • Hydrophobic, the infected are becoming completely hydrophobic, they can't drink or get close to water.
  • Night activity due to insomnia
  • hypersexuality .....
[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I didn't know the thing about mirrors and rabies. That's fascinating.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Me neither, I discovered that while I was digging in the rabbit hole for my previous comment.

What I find fascinating with this theory is that it would means that vampires actually "existed" for real. People had tangible proofs that someone was a vampire.

With the help modern medicine we now know what is the cause of rabies, however without modern medicine knowledge "Vampire" could be a very viable diagnosis.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

I always thought lycanthropy was fantasy rabies.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

I'm absolutely convinced!!!

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago

They use the buddy system, duh.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

It's only silvered mirrors that don't work for them. Most modern mirrors use aluminum now.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Its why theyre always in dark rooms with candlelight, so you cant see how scruffy they are

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

That'th what an Igor doeth

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Well, you're digging into the mechanics behind the metaphor. Vampires are the Rich Monster. They have wealth, status, charm, everyone thinks good of them. But they are greedy, corrupt, bloodsucking. But they don't know that, they don't see themselves at all. Rich people are often incapable of self reflection.

If you dig into the mechanics of the metaphor, you miss its purpose. The plot of many stories is not the point of the story at all. And such is the case with vampires

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

They groom in pairs.