It often comes up in this forum, that if you can't prove something, you shouldn't claim it. We all say that we would be a little less dismissive if someone could come up with some cold hard facts about vampirism.

With this in mind, I want to ask each of you, what you would have to be confronted with in order to believe in Vampires, or that someone is a Vampire? This would of course have to be your personal interpretation of the word Vampire.

Would you want to see someone fly? Take over your mind in a hypnotic way? Have someone bite you and wake up the next day feeling drained? Subject them to the mirror test?

Would you want to see a media report about unexplained phenomena in graveyards at the dead of night?

Would you just want a discussion with someone containing theories about vampirism you can't refute?

Or would it not matter what happened, the logical part of your mind would refuse to believe it?

I'd like to see how sceptical we all are, exactly.

For me. Hmm well, I have had an encounter with an individual that was as close to vampirism as you can get, but that's a story for a rainy day. Plus, I never believed he was anything but human, but with some extra abilities I can't really explain.

I'd like to see someone exhibit some Anne Rice-esque speed, one minute you're talking to them, the next minute they're gone, right before your eyes.

So come on people: what would it take?

Personally, it would take seeing a vampire, a true vampire... not one of those run of the mill not vampire HLV's.

It wouldn't nessesarily have to be in person. Television, a major news report, something of that nature would suffice.

Short of that, we're left with a mere, "I say so, it's true!" arguement or circumstantial evidence, and so therefore I would never believe.

I'd make a shitty Apostle. Seeing is believing, to me.

...I don't reckon they'd be able to appear on film, that would be funny...an interviewr for all intents and purposes talking into space, as cameramen and sound guys run in the opposite direction. Good TV!

But you see, that's just given me an idea. It's possible to fake documentaries quite convincingly (ever see Ghostwatch?). Let's fake a Vampire documentary!

i WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Id love to for you to tell your story,its raining here. :popcorn:

For me to begin to even accept a possibility I'd need first proof that corpse reanimation is possible.

Well, technically it is...but this is not Frankensteins.com.

Ever heard of Crosse's Acari? Weird stuff.

No I haven't, got any info?

I do know that it's possible to reanimate Nematoads, but I thought that was the limit.

http://www.paranormality.com/mad_scientists.shtml

Ok, science wasn't quite what it is today... but it makes for an interesting read.

Yes, that was very interesting, thank you for the link.

However, I'd still contend that that is different from reanimating already dead tissue.

If I don't see and experience it personally I don't believe in it... hence the whole atheism issue.

Like most here I would have to see one for myself...

In order to believe, I'd have to see it with my own eyes. TV would be no good because they have the use of special effects.

I think if I saw this Vampire shot down (numerous bullets) in front of me, then get up. I might get very interested. ^_^

It depends what kind of vampires...and I guess like most, I'd have to see one.

It's really hard to have your own belief on what a vampire is, and be true to it (at least for me), if you do not already know. I would more deal with individual traits and such - not even worrying about the name applied. But I suppose if someone was adament about defining themself under the term, it would probably be possible for me to tell these days just by having an in depth talk with them.

Incidently, some of the traits and premises applied already to the term would not really take much convincing for me. It would just be determining whether the person in question could do what they claimed themselves (i.e. not lying, self-deluded, etc).

Demonstration would not be needed, save for perhaps if they spoke contrary to what I "know" -- wierd, I guess many of us are the same in this way after all?

I think for absolute stonewall proof I'd have to see something vampiric happening in front of my very eyes.

Like when I saw the Ohio Nutpire claim a victim...

*shudders*

I'd have to see it with my own eyes too. No matter how real it looks, tv can always fake a story so the news won't convince me.

Than again I'm not sure what I should be looking for in a vampire, since we don't know exactly what one is. Maybe just a simple driking-blood-from-victim's-neck situation would be enough though.

they're are people that do drink other peoples blood, which is scary really, but i don't know if you would call them vampires

it would take nothing to convince myself of vampires.As a matter of fact,i'm claiming my rights as a vampire.I dont care what any one says.everything is based off faith.do ibeleive i can fly?hell no.

lets see what would it take to convince me?
hmm ...
having my neck riped open by the teeth of a heinous monster and being draind of my blood, then with my last concious thought befor being left for dead, I might think . o O (oh wait they do exist)

Seeing it for myself. Knowing one intimiately (not sexually) as a being. And not the human vampires that drink blood. A true immortal.

becoming one.. that would convince me. As for plain blood-drinkers.. well lawyers do that.

Well you could always go to South America and get bittin by a Vampire Bat.. Then you can say you were bittin by a vampire.... and have proof to show it..

I might get convinced through conversations only...but it'd take a very persuasive person, and quite a while, to get me there. I dont really see what typical vampiric acts could convince me, unless it involves flying, inhuman strength/speed, no mirror reflection etc... But even in those cases it'd probably have to be pointed out, humans are in general rather oblivious. When we see something impossible, we chave a tendency to look desperatly for a rational explanation, or fend it off as a 'I must have been dreaming' situation.

There are several words other than vampire that leap to mind...

ya I would want the vampire to show me his fangs then bite me. Then I'll wait and see.

Why don't you tell us your story? :)

i couldn't be convinced. why even consider something like this when they don't exist?

yes please NightVision can you tells us your story my curiosity has sprung up :imu:

Well, I would need a) a great quantity of alcohol or B) a gun pointed in my direction.
Both would do the trick.

Is there anyone here (when I say here I mean in this thread etc) who believes in God/Goddess/Deity/whatever/etc but says they would have really convincing proof to believe in vampires?

I think that if one was truly a vampire their presence might be enough to convince me, the weight of their aura and their ability to pursuade would be a strong sway to make me believe. I do have a great deal of logic in my mind though and more than likely I'd require a demonstration of their various powers as well.

It would take an actual encounter with a real vampire and a demonstration of his/her supernatural powers, but vampires aren't real.

Thread cleaned. Please stay on topic folks.

I highly doubt that I could be convinced at all. But for the sake of the question, seeing some guy grow fangs and pounce with catlike superhuman strength on somebody, bite their necks and draining their blood, that might convince me. O' Hollywood, give me thy vampires...

Anything short of miraculous just wouldn't cut it. *shrugs*

I think vampires are the kind of thing that (at least right now) can't be proved. But at the same time, I think vampires are the sort of thing that you just have to have faith and believe in on your own.

But I guess... if I didn't believe and needed proof. I'd have to see someone proved as dead and then "arise from their grave".

If there are vampire then it can be proven right? What kind of vampire are we talking about the kind that ppl stand around and drink peoples blood?Or the kind that has abnormal strength and speed? If you go around drinking peoples blood i don't think you to be a vampire i think your one of the people who one of my friends know lol. If your one of those immortal ones with the strength and speed thing i would have to see it for myself that might convince me. And i would love to hear the stories of everyone here who calls them self a real vampire.