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blackwolftale May. 21st, 2009 09:57 am)
blackwolftale May. 21st, 2009 09:57 am)Are werewolves supposed to kill vampires?
No.
Is this something out of role-playing, ala White Wolf?
Yes.
I don't think that werewolves (and other sorts of weres) are supposed to fight vampires. They are not mortal enemies. Please do not get confused with the fictional world created by White Wolf. Yes, the creative team at White Wolf has outdone themselves by creating such a believable world ("The World of Darkness"). But this world with werewolves, vampires and other assorted creatures, is NOT real. It is a fictional world.
Often, I hear people going on about killing vampires and they are instructed by Gaia to protect the earth. Okay. Fair enough. But let's not get real weres and role-playing wannabes confused.
Real weres do not go around killing vampires. Many are peaceful folk who would rather go about their own business. They are -- in so many ways -- the people next door. Unassuming. Law-biding. Furthermore, many keep their paws/claws firmly planted on the ground. We are not some powerful vigilante force, sent out to destroy "vampires" or "the minions of the Wyrm".
It is this difference that makes me wonder about the number of role-players who go something like "Kill Vampires!" or "I am a ten-foot tall Silver Fang and I turn into a Crinos when I get angry!" Okay, let me clarify something: many weres role-play. It is a fun hobby/pastime and for me, I use it to meet my friends and unwind. However, it is NOT my life. My day-to-day living does not resolve around role-playing and my life is not defined by the lingo and jargon derived out of role-playing systems.
That is why I shake my head and sigh to myself when I see wannabe 'weres' (and I am stretching the definition of 'were' very thinly when I say this!) who do not even understand the meaning and significance of being a were-creature. We do not turn into muscle-bound warriors. We are not Gaia's defenders (although many weres are pagan and worship the Goddess Herself). We definitely do not go around advocating killing vampires as our duty. Yes, many of us are short-tempered but we do not act like Hulk when we are angered. Role-playing "werewolves" spoil the image and reputation of real werewolves.
There are many role-playing weres who seem to have blurred the line between fiction and reality. You find such individuals going to message boards. They are quite easy to spot. For example, there is a certain fellow who goes around, advocating killing vampires. He is quite fanatic about it, filling the messages with quite startling revelations. But he turns potty-mouthed when other people oppose his 'preachings'. Werewolves and other were-creatures are branded 'Traitors' by this certain fellow.
Okay. Rrrriiiight. There is something not quite okay with the 'killing-the-vampires' thing. It reminds people of Werewolf: The Apocalypse, where werewolves are the sworn enemies of the vampire Kindred. This fellow starts calling people who ask him questions(a logical step, I think) 'Traitors' : "Expected from a Traitor".
His world seems to be taken straight out from the World of Darkness, given a few minor tweaks here and there for 'authenticity'. However, I hasten to add that this world is a world dominated by this fellow alone. Worse, his literature against vampires is equally as dodgy! *rolls eyes*
For curious people, you can drop by at Werewolf.com.
Yes, we are faced with an obvious delusional role-player who spreads hatred by his sheer ignorance and schizophrenia. More of this role-playing tosh can be seen at Otherkin Resource Board (where this individual has has produced another silly slogan "Vampires are not Otherkin", after venturing into the forum).
This only shows the level of delusion (self or otherwise) the man has... or his age, both chronological and mental.
I personally feel that he is a role-player who has obvious mental and psychological problems. His world seems to be constructed around a mish-mash of White Wolf and other fictional fantasies. But what scares me (and is still raising the tiny hairs on my arms) is that he has managed to influence some impressionable young weres who seem blind to his delusions. This is role-playing gone seriously seriously wrong. This is role-playing that has been twisted and perverted.
It is both disgusting and perverse.
Fortunately, many weres are alerted to this fellow's 'exploits' and are wary (if not downright amused and bemused). We need to learn how to discern the real from the fictional. We need to separate what's real wereism from the fake.
"But Saber... I role-play too. Do you think that's bad? And I am a were!"
As I have said much earlier, many weres role-play for fun. I role-play. Role-playing is harmless...if you are able to exercise the faculty of discernment. What makes me mad are role-players who want to be werewolves and accuse real weres for not being 'loyal' or (worse) 'Traitors' (when we refuse to toe the line!). These folks have massive blinkers on and they are blind. Furthermore, they have no connection to the wolf (or other animal) whatsoever. So, it's cool to be a werewolf. But if you go around spouting "I am a Silent Strider Philodox called Always-Running" and talk about the various werewolf Tribes as if they are real ones... think again. I don't think real weres have tribes. Packs, yes. But no...we don't transform into muscular Crinos when we are pissed off with our enemies.
"Werewolf: The Apocalypse is so cool and many of the stories seem so real!"
Yes. It is a cool playing system. But like other role-playing systems, it is only a game. The reason why many weres (especially young ones new on the path) find the W:TA world so alluring...is that they are confronted with stories that are similiar to their own testimonies. The legends in the books stir something in them and they feel good about it: "Oh wow, they understand me!" Yet, a game is --in short-- a game. The stories and tales (taken from a diverse range of mythology and folklore ) are *true* but there are half-truths embedded in there. Exercise discernment and sift out the truth from the lie.
I would like to end by saying that I am NOT advocating "Don't role-play". It is healthy when you role-play but keep your feet on the ground and for goodness's sake, don't construct your life around a fictional reality.
Appendum: 1) There are heaps of websites dedicated to Werewolf: The Apocalyse. Type in 'werewolf' and you will probably find "World of Darkness" sites. These are gaming sites and when I role-play, I find them useful for the construction of my character.
2) Wereism is not a game. It never is. It is part of your life, as important as breathing and taking. You don't go rolling dices to determine how you will move.
3) William Shatner summed it well when he scolded the Star Trek fans on Saturday Night Live (and of course, they bristled with indignation when he did so): "Get a life!" If you are a werewolf (or any other were-animal), go out. Enjoy the sunshine, smell the breeze. Enjoy your senses! You don't need a role-playing system to determine your life! You are you, an unique individual! Don't live a fictional life. Go and grab Life with your paws!
4) If you are a role-player 'were' who seriously needs to re-examine who you really are or justify your position, go ahead and email me at sabersger@yahoo.com. I do enjoy a conversation or two. *grin*
No.
Is this something out of role-playing, ala White Wolf?
Yes.
I don't think that werewolves (and other sorts of weres) are supposed to fight vampires. They are not mortal enemies. Please do not get confused with the fictional world created by White Wolf. Yes, the creative team at White Wolf has outdone themselves by creating such a believable world ("The World of Darkness"). But this world with werewolves, vampires and other assorted creatures, is NOT real. It is a fictional world.
Often, I hear people going on about killing vampires and they are instructed by Gaia to protect the earth. Okay. Fair enough. But let's not get real weres and role-playing wannabes confused.
Real weres do not go around killing vampires. Many are peaceful folk who would rather go about their own business. They are -- in so many ways -- the people next door. Unassuming. Law-biding. Furthermore, many keep their paws/claws firmly planted on the ground. We are not some powerful vigilante force, sent out to destroy "vampires" or "the minions of the Wyrm".
It is this difference that makes me wonder about the number of role-players who go something like "Kill Vampires!" or "I am a ten-foot tall Silver Fang and I turn into a Crinos when I get angry!" Okay, let me clarify something: many weres role-play. It is a fun hobby/pastime and for me, I use it to meet my friends and unwind. However, it is NOT my life. My day-to-day living does not resolve around role-playing and my life is not defined by the lingo and jargon derived out of role-playing systems.
That is why I shake my head and sigh to myself when I see wannabe 'weres' (and I am stretching the definition of 'were' very thinly when I say this!) who do not even understand the meaning and significance of being a were-creature. We do not turn into muscle-bound warriors. We are not Gaia's defenders (although many weres are pagan and worship the Goddess Herself). We definitely do not go around advocating killing vampires as our duty. Yes, many of us are short-tempered but we do not act like Hulk when we are angered. Role-playing "werewolves" spoil the image and reputation of real werewolves.
There are many role-playing weres who seem to have blurred the line between fiction and reality. You find such individuals going to message boards. They are quite easy to spot. For example, there is a certain fellow who goes around, advocating killing vampires. He is quite fanatic about it, filling the messages with quite startling revelations. But he turns potty-mouthed when other people oppose his 'preachings'. Werewolves and other were-creatures are branded 'Traitors' by this certain fellow.
Okay. Rrrriiiight. There is something not quite okay with the 'killing-the-vampires' thing. It reminds people of Werewolf: The Apocalypse, where werewolves are the sworn enemies of the vampire Kindred. This fellow starts calling people who ask him questions(a logical step, I think) 'Traitors' : "Expected from a Traitor".
His world seems to be taken straight out from the World of Darkness, given a few minor tweaks here and there for 'authenticity'. However, I hasten to add that this world is a world dominated by this fellow alone. Worse, his literature against vampires is equally as dodgy! *rolls eyes*
For curious people, you can drop by at Werewolf.com.
Yes, we are faced with an obvious delusional role-player who spreads hatred by his sheer ignorance and schizophrenia. More of this role-playing tosh can be seen at Otherkin Resource Board (where this individual has has produced another silly slogan "Vampires are not Otherkin", after venturing into the forum).
This only shows the level of delusion (self or otherwise) the man has... or his age, both chronological and mental.
I personally feel that he is a role-player who has obvious mental and psychological problems. His world seems to be constructed around a mish-mash of White Wolf and other fictional fantasies. But what scares me (and is still raising the tiny hairs on my arms) is that he has managed to influence some impressionable young weres who seem blind to his delusions. This is role-playing gone seriously seriously wrong. This is role-playing that has been twisted and perverted.
It is both disgusting and perverse.
Fortunately, many weres are alerted to this fellow's 'exploits' and are wary (if not downright amused and bemused). We need to learn how to discern the real from the fictional. We need to separate what's real wereism from the fake.
"But Saber... I role-play too. Do you think that's bad? And I am a were!"
As I have said much earlier, many weres role-play for fun. I role-play. Role-playing is harmless...if you are able to exercise the faculty of discernment. What makes me mad are role-players who want to be werewolves and accuse real weres for not being 'loyal' or (worse) 'Traitors' (when we refuse to toe the line!). These folks have massive blinkers on and they are blind. Furthermore, they have no connection to the wolf (or other animal) whatsoever. So, it's cool to be a werewolf. But if you go around spouting "I am a Silent Strider Philodox called Always-Running" and talk about the various werewolf Tribes as if they are real ones... think again. I don't think real weres have tribes. Packs, yes. But no...we don't transform into muscular Crinos when we are pissed off with our enemies.
"Werewolf: The Apocalypse is so cool and many of the stories seem so real!"
Yes. It is a cool playing system. But like other role-playing systems, it is only a game. The reason why many weres (especially young ones new on the path) find the W:TA world so alluring...is that they are confronted with stories that are similiar to their own testimonies. The legends in the books stir something in them and they feel good about it: "Oh wow, they understand me!" Yet, a game is --in short-- a game. The stories and tales (taken from a diverse range of mythology and folklore ) are *true* but there are half-truths embedded in there. Exercise discernment and sift out the truth from the lie.
I would like to end by saying that I am NOT advocating "Don't role-play". It is healthy when you role-play but keep your feet on the ground and for goodness's sake, don't construct your life around a fictional reality.
Appendum: 1) There are heaps of websites dedicated to Werewolf: The Apocalyse. Type in 'werewolf' and you will probably find "World of Darkness" sites. These are gaming sites and when I role-play, I find them useful for the construction of my character.
2) Wereism is not a game. It never is. It is part of your life, as important as breathing and taking. You don't go rolling dices to determine how you will move.
3) William Shatner summed it well when he scolded the Star Trek fans on Saturday Night Live (and of course, they bristled with indignation when he did so): "Get a life!" If you are a werewolf (or any other were-animal), go out. Enjoy the sunshine, smell the breeze. Enjoy your senses! You don't need a role-playing system to determine your life! You are you, an unique individual! Don't live a fictional life. Go and grab Life with your paws!
4) If you are a role-player 'were' who seriously needs to re-examine who you really are or justify your position, go ahead and email me at sabersger@yahoo.com. I do enjoy a conversation or two. *grin*