That was super interesting, I love talking about this sort of thing. Really appreciate the thoughtfulness of your reply.
It seems like our conceptions of vampirism differ in how far from human-ness vampirism takes the host. In my mind, vampirism takes the host just far enough away from human-ness that they can never live like a human again, but not far enough that they wouldn’t want to. The reason it’s a curse is because they’re so torn, kind of like drug addiction in a sense. Being addicted to meth is probably torment, but doing meth is ecstasy, so a meth addict might viscerally want to go back to a normal life but at the same time viscerally never want to give up what they have. I think breathing, among a lot of other things (like wearing clothes, drinking wine, conversation, etc) are totally unnecessary physiologically, but absolutely necessary to maintain the appearance of a human, which in turn is necessary for the psychological well being of a vampire. I think without these things (or without blood too) they convert to the monster form, becoming more and more distorted as time goes on without their needs met. Their mind also becomes more and more animalistic, but only to the point that they are confused and scared, never fully immersed in the monster mentality. Like they’re aware of how much brain function they’ve lost which is terrifying. Due to how blood deprivation and social deprivation have essentially the same physical toll, I think their “psychic” nourishment is as important as their blood intake and thus not breathing could be not only the medulla oblongata panicking but also a form of supernatural psychic damage to them.
Also, I’ve never seen Buffy. Should I watch it? I absolutely loooove vampire movies and shows. I’ve exhausted everything that is obviously going to satisfy me already so I need to look to others for more recommendations. My favorite vampire movies are Only Lovers Left Alive, Byzantium, Interview with the Vampire, and the original Dracula. Hbu?
That was super interesting, I love talking about this sort of thing. Really appreciate the thoughtfulness of your reply.
It seems like our conceptions of vampirism differ in how far from human-ness vampirism takes the host. In my mind, vampirism takes the host just far enough away from human-ness that they can never live like a human again, but not far enough that they wouldn’t want to. The reason it’s a curse is because they’re so torn, kind of like drug addiction in a sense. Being addicted to meth is probably torment, but doing meth is ecstasy, so a meth addict might viscerally want to go back to a normal life but at the same time viscerally never want to give up what they have. I think breathing, among a lot of other things (like wearing clothes, drinking wine, conversation, etc) are totally unnecessary physiologically, but absolutely necessary to maintain the appearance of a human, which in turn is necessary for the psychological well being of a vampire. I think without these things (or without blood too) they convert to the monster form, becoming more and more distorted as time goes on without their needs met. Their mind also becomes more and more animalistic, but only to the point that they are confused and scared, never fully immersed in the monster mentality. Like they’re aware of how much brain function they’ve lost which is terrifying. Due to how blood deprivation and social deprivation have essentially the same physical toll, I think their “psychic” nourishment is as important as their blood intake and thus not breathing could be not only the medulla oblongata panicking but also a form of supernatural psychic damage to them.
Also, I’ve never seen Buffy. Should I watch it? I absolutely loooove vampire movies and shows. I’ve exhausted everything that is obviously going to satisfy me already so I need to look to others for more recommendations. My favorite vampire movies are Only Lovers Left Alive, Byzantium, Interview with the Vampire, and the original Dracula. Hbu?