• liv@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I have several hypotheses:

    • the same force that stops them decaying also stops their hair from ever getting mussed up, falling out, or growing longer

    • only we can’t see their reflection, they themselves can see it

    • vampires are essentially a representation of a parasitical upper class and as such they look like idealised wealthy aristocrats

    • BastingChemina@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      4th hypothesis: Vampires are actually people infected with rabies.

      People with rabies avoid mirrors or it causes a strong reaction to them. It was even used as a diagnosis tool, if a person can watch herself in a mirror this person does not have rabies.

      Other similarities between vampires and rabies:

      • Biting, the infected wants to bite other people and the bite can turn the other person into a vampire/rabies infected. People with rabies can also end up with bloody saliva that drips from their mouth.
      • Vampires can transform into bats/dogs/wolves according to the culture. These animals are all a vector of rabies. Also infected animals and infected people behave similarly.
      • Garlic and Sun, people infected rabies get hypersensitivity to strong light or smells.
      • Hydrophobic, the infected are becoming completely hydrophobic, they can’t drink or get close to water.
      • Night activity due to insomnia
      • hypersexuality …
        • BastingChemina@slrpnk.net
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          1 year ago

          Me neither, I discovered that while I was digging in the rabbit hole for my previous comment.

          What I find fascinating with this theory is that it would means that vampires actually “existed” for real. People had tangible proofs that someone was a vampire.

          With the help modern medicine we now know what is the cause of rabies, however without modern medicine knowledge “Vampire” could be a very viable diagnosis.

      • vzq
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        2 months ago

        deleted by creator

    • raccoona_nongrata@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      Another hypothesis; old mirrors used silver. So it could be argued a vampire might be able to see their reflection in other things that aren’t silver.

      • liv@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Ah that’s a good point. Maybe they just use windows or large pools of water.

        Or cellphones.