Do real vampires feel insulted by life-stylers?

On many of my online readings on vampirism, I came across the concept and constant reference to life-stylers. People that dress up as vampires from fiction and try to act as being part of a character and not really themselves.
I see there is a lot of a fuss around this subject, and while it seems like part of the community feels insulted by these people that only use the image of the vampire, others actually embrace it and use it as if it was their own.

I would like that anyone more knowledgeable of the community and real life vampires would give me their insight into this matter, as well as personal opinion.

Thank you.
Jonathan

Hello Jonathan.

I would not say insulted, no. What happens is that most of the people that entitle themselves as vampires, are in fact only humans using the archetype, wether out of fashion or because they like the archetype of the predatory beast, they end up being seen as posers or as you said, life-stylers.
Certainly true vampires are not fond of these people, but I don't believe they worry too much about it either. After all, those life-stylers enforce the secrecy of the real vampire community that is hidden in society, since people when looking for vampires tend to go out to those parties and clubs that are filled with life-stylers and far from where true vampires gather in secret. In this point, the life-stylers are a tool that can be used by vampires to their own profit and secrecy.

Personally, I don't feel that using the archetype of the vampire is all that negative, as long as we clearly know how to distinguish it from real vampirism and do not drown ourselves in fiction. If someone feels better about themselves and more empowered because of using a cape, putting some fangs on and posing on a pseudo-threatning and evil look, it is not a problem. There are so many kinds of different fashion and life-style communities out there, that some go as far as living or partying dressed up as fluffy stuffed animals. Are they wrong? No at all, as long as it makes them happy.
However we must draw a clear line between these people and real vampires. Vampirism is not about the show-off. It is not about using fangs or going on the TV portraying themselves as vampires. It is not meeting at a goth nightclub and call it a blood bar. A vampire is a being who's soul is not human. It is not about the clothing or their evilness. Most vampires are not even that easily recognizable, and they certainly live in secrecy and privacy.

So my final answer is no, vampires do not feel insulted by life-stylers... some might even see them as puppets for their own goals and desire of secrecy. On the other hand I do believe that many life-stylers feel threatened by real vampires and vampirism as a dark tradition, since they commonly lack the knowledge and in-depth spirituality about true vampirism and the occult, making them feel unprotected, maybe even inferior sometimes, as they became seen as the "fake" when compared to the real deal.

But let's wait for more opinions, this is just mine.

Maktub.

Life-stylers, RPG'rs etc.
The image of the 'Vampyre' seems to be quite alluring to many people. This image of haunting power and sexuality obviously was manufactured in Hollywood (and still is as can be seen with the silly vampire tv shows out now). But the image has been in the making for hundreds if not thousands of years before that. The Reverend Montague Summers (1880-1947) and his books The History of Witchcraft and Demonolgy, The Geography of Witchcraft, and The Vampire, his Kith and Kin, all helped to create these folk-lore myths and images that are used to role play.
On another thought, I find that many people with developed psychic energy abilities come to the conclusion they are vampires when in fact they are not. As stated in the AB (Asetian Bible) Sanguinarians and Psychic Vampires are the same and it is a matter of preference in feeding.
My final note concerns a psychological matter that the great Carl Gustav Jung addressed:

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Originating as a child who's infantile sexual urges become raised to unnacceptable levels, their ego defenses would reguluarly come into play and prevent the unconscious mind from becoming aware of these dangerous impulses.
When the child cannot experience adequate mirroring (the seeking of self objects that confirm and admire the child thus nourishing their famished self) its infantile grandiosity cannot be transformed into a mature psychological structure identified by its more realistic sense of self esteem.
These Narcissistic wounds lead to repressed wishes, anti-social impulses, morally questionable motives and fantasies of grandiose nature.
The vampire image serves as a scapegoat as it allows us to disown the negative aspects of our personalities. This in turn becomes Narcissistic rage and one seeks the utter destruction of others.
The vampire within ourselves projects its image onto others thereby justifying its own predatory intentions.

Thank you all for the answers.

In my opinion I would understand how a real vampire would feel bad, if not insulted, by life-stylers and wannabes. It is after all someone that is using their "culture", ways and all to be fake, pretending to be someone they are not. Using it to personal empowerment or not, personally I see it as a way of deceiving themselves. Living in a fantasy world that is not their own, in the case of them not being real vampires. We can see that all the time on TV, not only in fiction, but actual people pretending to be vampires in shows and documentaries. People that gather followers and fans that are too blind to see how that has nothing of vampiric in it.

Jonathan

I think that some people have an innate natural ability towards energy manipulation but they mistake themselves as vampires, psychic vampires to be exact. They don't realize vampirism is a condition of the soul as well.
Matter of fact I would bet that the majority of the 'vampire' forums are made up of these confused individuals and many role players.

A'nen Sedjet just made a great point that many fail to realize. Most people that entitle themselves as vampires, are simply humans that have a natural inborn ability towards energy manipulation, sometimes maybe some psychic skills. They are not really vampires, and they fail to understand that vampirism is in the nature of the soul.

And yes, when we mix all those confusions with role play, we get a completely messed up pseudo-vampire community. We can see it everywhere...

I fully agree with both of you. Many people confuse to be a Vampire with having psychic and/or energy abilities.

I am really glad to see that people in this forum are so mature about this subject and radically detached from most of the global ideas on vampirism that are so deeply driven from fantasy, role-play and dress-up.

Jonathan