Post by Lon-Dubh on Oct 31, 2007 16:59:55 GMT -5
Hello and welcome to the first About Vampires class. Yes, all you people out there who paused to look at my screen name and realized I am indeed a werewolf, you are being taught about vampires by a werewolf. I hate to sound sardonic, but the only statement I can make about that is: Deal with it.
On a considerably lighter note, this class will consist of me “teaching” lessons centralized around vampires. That may be anything from vampire history (according to Stephenie Meyer as well as traditional vampires) to vampire anatomy. Also, if anyone has a question about anything about vampires, feel free to post under my lessons and ask. If that question has an immediate response, I’ll just post the answer. If the answer is complex, I’ll probably centralize a lesson about it.
One more thing: these classes are a neutral territory. Don’t take this opportunity to post insults about other races this. Not only is that a disgustingly infantile thing to do, this section of the Forum is purely educational.
The First lesson: Why don’t vampires, being immensely stronger than any human could hope to be, simply take over the world? It would end the problems of trying to stay discreet in kills, and give vampires domination of the poor weak humans, something that it seems would be in the nature of most vampires to enjoy. The answer, however, has a lot more to do with vampire psychology than anything else.
Vampires are the perfect hunters. Attractive to their prey, with practical physical invincibility on their side. What you have to remember is that it isn’t just humans that consider vampires hunters, it is vampires themselves. They drink off of humans, and very few of them show remorse for their actions. This in itself is a telling factor.
It all has to do with the general fact that vampires view humans as little more than cattle. Domestic, weakling animals that pose no threat to themselves, and do not have the same thoughts and emotions as they do. (Conveniently forgetting the fact that they were once human also.)
Because the main premise of Mrs. Meyer’s books are centered on the Cullens, its easier to forget there’s a whole other world out there. We get the briefest glimpse of it when we are introduced to the Volturi, but most people don’t connect the strange, “evil” vampires of Volterra with the Cullens. The fact is, vampires in general are evil. They feel no remorse for the humans they kill, because they consider them as lesser beings. That being said, is precisely the reason why they don’t take over the world.
I used the analogy before that human is to vampire as cow is to human. Humans are a mere food source to their stronger (though considerably more unscrupulous) counterpart. So the answer to the question, is: Who wants to be Queen (or King) of the Cows?
Could you go out, get a herd of cows, and proclaim yourself their dominant leader? Absolutely. But you wouldn’t, because you just wouldn’t see any point to that action. We find that statement as rather absurd, who ever even considered instating themselves the cows’ leader? Wouldn’t it seem pointless at the most, and useless at the least? Absolutely. It’s a lot of work to waste on an animal that’s just going to end up being killed for your next meal anyways.
That is precisely how vampires from Meyer’s novels in general regard humans. The Cullens, of course, do not. But you have to remember that the Cullens are the exception, not the rule. So that little piece of vampire psychology comes down to this: A vampire doesn’t want to rule humans any more than you want to rule cattle. Sad, but true.
Feel free to post any questions about this topic, or another one, in the space below. I’m also open to suggestions for lessons, so don’t be shy.
On a considerably lighter note, this class will consist of me “teaching” lessons centralized around vampires. That may be anything from vampire history (according to Stephenie Meyer as well as traditional vampires) to vampire anatomy. Also, if anyone has a question about anything about vampires, feel free to post under my lessons and ask. If that question has an immediate response, I’ll just post the answer. If the answer is complex, I’ll probably centralize a lesson about it.
One more thing: these classes are a neutral territory. Don’t take this opportunity to post insults about other races this. Not only is that a disgustingly infantile thing to do, this section of the Forum is purely educational.
The First lesson: Why don’t vampires, being immensely stronger than any human could hope to be, simply take over the world? It would end the problems of trying to stay discreet in kills, and give vampires domination of the poor weak humans, something that it seems would be in the nature of most vampires to enjoy. The answer, however, has a lot more to do with vampire psychology than anything else.
Vampires are the perfect hunters. Attractive to their prey, with practical physical invincibility on their side. What you have to remember is that it isn’t just humans that consider vampires hunters, it is vampires themselves. They drink off of humans, and very few of them show remorse for their actions. This in itself is a telling factor.
It all has to do with the general fact that vampires view humans as little more than cattle. Domestic, weakling animals that pose no threat to themselves, and do not have the same thoughts and emotions as they do. (Conveniently forgetting the fact that they were once human also.)
Because the main premise of Mrs. Meyer’s books are centered on the Cullens, its easier to forget there’s a whole other world out there. We get the briefest glimpse of it when we are introduced to the Volturi, but most people don’t connect the strange, “evil” vampires of Volterra with the Cullens. The fact is, vampires in general are evil. They feel no remorse for the humans they kill, because they consider them as lesser beings. That being said, is precisely the reason why they don’t take over the world.
I used the analogy before that human is to vampire as cow is to human. Humans are a mere food source to their stronger (though considerably more unscrupulous) counterpart. So the answer to the question, is: Who wants to be Queen (or King) of the Cows?
Could you go out, get a herd of cows, and proclaim yourself their dominant leader? Absolutely. But you wouldn’t, because you just wouldn’t see any point to that action. We find that statement as rather absurd, who ever even considered instating themselves the cows’ leader? Wouldn’t it seem pointless at the most, and useless at the least? Absolutely. It’s a lot of work to waste on an animal that’s just going to end up being killed for your next meal anyways.
That is precisely how vampires from Meyer’s novels in general regard humans. The Cullens, of course, do not. But you have to remember that the Cullens are the exception, not the rule. So that little piece of vampire psychology comes down to this: A vampire doesn’t want to rule humans any more than you want to rule cattle. Sad, but true.
Feel free to post any questions about this topic, or another one, in the space below. I’m also open to suggestions for lessons, so don’t be shy.