Vampires certainly do exist, but most of them are in denial (probably to hide their shame). Technically, all practicing carnivores are vampires. I've known that for a quite a while now myself. It's all part of the grand deception that's being perpetrated down here in this underworld of make-believe and flesh and blood thirsty slaves, ha. No doubt in my mind that they exist what-so-ever, but you'll never get them to admit they are ~ they are SO in denial, the result of their biased selfish vampire beliefs I'm sure.

[edit on 3-4-2008 by Divinorumus]

I, for one, believe in bloodlust creatures. All these posts about a vampire-like virus is extremely interesting, and ill be sure to do some more research on that. But my beliefs are that vampires dont have to drink HUMAN blood, but could also consume animal blood. They can live among us. They arent injured by the light. They could live for generations, but they do not stay the same age. Not always do vampires come in family sets. I say all this from experience and knowledge. You may call me insane, but I know for a fact of some vampires. For whatever reason, I have some friends near the east coast that are vampires and half vampires. Half vampires are constructed when a human is bitten and the venom flows through the skin, and is then sucked out. The full vampire was bitten at age 4. Every week or two weeks she travels to visit her aunt and hunt for animals blood. Reading all this information, would having a constant craving for blood seem alright for you? I honestly would love to live forever with my friends, and hopefully they will bite me one day. I prefer to wait until age 17+ until I have a desire for blood, though. Im not sure, But I think Melissa De La Cruz is a 'Blue Blood'. She writes about the Blue Bloods in her books 'Blue Bloods' and 'Masquerade'. Her authors info states, "While Melissa is not a Blue Blood, she knows people who are....". In my opinion, that could make her a vampire. Even though she says otherwise, would she explain the truth and say she was? While breaking the Vampiric Code? And also, would a person say that vampires DO exist, because they are one? I think not. No one will find out truer than this: Vampires DO exist. And I plan to be one. Thats the most truthful statement of Vampiric existence you'll find out about, because only humans and mortals will say here whether vampires exist or not, and they cant possibly know because they arent a vampire. In fact, what Im saying might not be true. I doubted my friend for the longest time, until she had bitten her beloved. Now who is destined to be her Vampiric mate. I have done quite a bit of research on the subject of vampires. Ive read about the Richmond Vampire, and I believe there is still possibility that he is indeed a creature of the night. Ive read about different vampires all through the eastern hemisphere. Ive read 5+ books on vampires, each stating something different. So who knows? Some of my research says Vampires are angels. Some say they have hearts that dont beat. Some say they dont eat. Some say there is no way to kill them. No one knows for sure, that is human, at least.

I'm too weary to argue. So what if they do exist? They're not bothering us too much, apparently. (Unless you count chupacabras HAHA!) Maybe if they are around, htey're listening to our squabbles and laughing amongst themselves (stupid mortals...) I also don't blame them for not wanting to come out into the world, look at how people treat others who aren't the same(transgenders, atheists, goths, hippies, I could go on for a while). I personally hope that they do exist, even if it is just to shut up all those people who dispute everything just cause they can, who don't even have an opinion of their own.
But who's to say? Me? Maybe...

Well, they would either be laughing or crying because of the astounding idiocracy out there. I didn't see anyone mention garlic. (Or did i overlook someone?) As for the hunters, i really wish one would define the type they hunt, and what makes them so eeeeviiil to be hunt-worthy. It's not like they're shadows, is it?

"Vampires" exist in the folklore of practically every culture. Bram Stoker took those ideas, selected certain elements, and created a literary genre that appeals to modern readers but has little to do with actual vampire reports.

Most cultures describe a non-physical entity that survives death and avoids the ensuing dissolution of the ego by leaching the life-energy from other people.

When a person first realizes they are dead, they may try to avoid leaving the physical plane. Their "shade" hovers around the scene of death, or their mortal remains (like a graveyard or home). The eventually begin to exist less and less; and since they have no life-force of their own, they seek to "suck" it from the living.

Blood is an ancient metaphor for that life force. You can see this in the Bible, when God forbids the Jews to drink the blood of any animal, since "the life is in the blood" (Genesis 9:4).

Stoker took this global traditions of the "undead" stealing the life/blood from innocents to obtain (psychic) immortality, and created the gothic horror archetype, which has nothing to do with why our ancestors responded with the burial precautions they did.

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The last answer was an interresting one. Nice to know there are people here who know history. You put it very well, also.

[edit on 3-6-2008 by Levita]