If you're familiar with my posts, if you know me, you probably also know that I have a blood fetish, which is sexual in nature.
But that's not the only reason why I'm drawn to blood.
The other reason is that....I feel the need to [i]consume[/i] human blood, and this aspect of me is not sexual. So, there are two sides of the same coin: the coin is blood, and one side deals with the sexual part, while the other side deals with the need to consume blood which has nothing to do with sex, although the two sides could both be present with specific people. I will talk about all of that in this post, in the form of a FAQ post.

[b]So, are you a vampire? What does the term vampire represent to you?[/b]
I reject this label. I used to call myself that, but now I reject this word. The reason why I reject it is because I really don't want to be misunderstood. People tend to think of vampires as fictional characters. And they are. Saying "I'm a vampire" people could misunderstand and think I'm convinced of being Count Dracula or Nosferatu, or even worse, Edward Cullen. Or they might think I'm being psychotic. So, I try to avoid that term for this very reason. But the term "vampire" could also be used to refer to the Vampire subculture, which just happens to be an offshoot of the Goth subculture, and I don't belong to the Vampire subculture, and I honestly wouldn't like to.

[b]What do you think of the Vampire subculture?[/b]
Generally, I don't have positive opinions on most of those people. Why? Well, first of all, it seems like most of them just do it as a "cultural thing", or just for fun or just because it's "dark". I doubt they actually feel the [i]need[/i] to consume blood. And when they use fake fangs, dress in black and all that stuff, they kinda distort everything and look fake. I mean, that's cool they way they dress, their imagery and all, but it's not what being a true blood consumer is about.

[b]So, what is the term that you prefer?[/b]
Sanguinarian, or simply blood consumer, blood drinker. Vampire could be ok, but it's often misleading and sounds fictional.

[b]Why do you feel the need to consume blood? Do you feel this need all the time?[/b]
I don't know the exact reason why I like blood and feel the "thirst". I call it "the thirst", that's the sudden need to drink blood. It usually happens all of a sudden and can vary in intensity. I don't feel the need to consume blood all the time. I can go for months without feeling this need. That's when it's "dormant". It's still there, but it doesn't openly manifest.
I can't find a scientific explanation to why I need this. I doubt it's merely psychological, I'm sure there is a physical reason too, like a combination of both. It is not psychotic, I'm not mentally ill, I just sound, look and act perfectly normal.
I'm pretty sure it's some kind of medical condition, a birth condition that manifests during your life, but the causes and where this all comes from are still unknown.

[b]When did you find out you need to consume blood?[/b]
I was 16. I don't remember details, but I just remember I started to feel this urge, and also started to get health problems: an increased sensitivity to the sun and sunlight (photosensitivity), but also to bright lights and bright colors. I started to feel worse than usual when in the sunlight. When these symptoms show for the first time, especially the urge to drink blood, this is called "awakening". It's when you realize what's going on. It simply means symptoms start to manifest, often suddenly and violently, usually during adolescence. This is when the urge to drink blood can be very bad and when it's hard to control yourself. But self-control can be learned and it will lead to a very normal life.
The sight of both fake and real blood made me figure out something was going on, and it was also thanks to two music videos. I was so obsessed with a certain bloody scene...that was surely a sign.

[b]Are there many sanguinarians in the world?[/b]
I think we're a minority, but yes, there are real people who really experience the same things I do. We're humans, just like everybody else, but we happen to have this relatively unknown, and certainly uncommon condition. There are websites explaining this stuff, but I don't trust them. Some make the whole thing a commercial thing. Sure, there's a lot of real info out there on the web, but I'd prefer to meet other people like me in other situations. It's pretty hard though, since people tend to hide it, and I hide it too. I made big mistakes in the past though and came out to some friends. It led to serious issues, so it's not a smart thing to do unless the person you're talking to is extremely open-minded and accepting. It's not a smart choice to tell your friends and family, unless they're the most accepting people on earth. It's just not safe, so I'll only tell people I actually trust.
Also, some people exaggerate things. While it's true that sensitivity to the sun is an extremely common trait, and it happens to every sanguinarian posting on the web, actually, it's not that bad, and many other nons are sensitive to light. I know many people who feel sick in the summer, just like me, ok maybe a little bit less, I admit, but it seems to be pretty common and I doubt they're all sanguinarians. My father won't go out without wearing sunglasses, for example, and my mother feels very weak when it's hot outside, but many other people who are not related to me feel this way.
So, I think that's not necessarily related to the need to consume blood. And the reason why I get burned easily is because I'm just pale. I certainly don't melt or die out in the sun.

[b]Is it true you have supernatural powers or special abilities?[/b]
Absolutely not. No, I can't read people's thoughts, I can't fly, I have no super speed or super strength and I'm not immortal. That stuff is fictional. I'm not like those vampires in Buffy the Vampire Slayer or in Twilight.
Special abilities? Many sanguinarians writing on the web say that they have heightened senses, especially at night, and that they're stronger and faster than average people. Again, I think they are exaggerating a little bit. While it's true that I have a pretty good night vision, that I prefer the night, and that I'm a naturally very strong and fast person despite my size, I don't think I have special characteristics that other people couldn't have. I'm strong, ok, and I'm also fast if I run and want to be fast, but it's nothing completely out of the ordinary.
However, it's true that I get stronger and I feel physically better after consuming or seeing blood.
So yes, some people really tend to exaggerate things a little bit, making us sound almost psychotic.
I used to have some delusions about me being some kind of superior being, until I started to think more rationally.
And for the record, I love garlic, my image is reflected in mirrors and a wooden stick into my heart or silver bullets would kill me just like they would kill any other human being.

[b]How do you feed? Is animal blood and human blood the same?[/b]
Unfortunately, I can't feed right now. I consume my own blood whenever I can, but some other person's blood would be much different, of course.
Animal blood and human blood is not the same, not at all. Sometimes eating meat helps me, but still...not the same thing. No, animal blood can't replace human blood. The difference is obvious to me.

[b]So you consume your own blood? Isn't that enough?[/b]
I do and no, it's not enough. It's kinda like tricking my own mind, actually. I feel better for a moment, the thirst goes away for a moment, but then it's there, again. It helps with the taste of blood and temporary relief, but it doesn't make me feel [i]great[/i]. So no, it's still not enough. It's not that simple, I wish it was.

[b]Have you ever tasted someone else's blood?[/b]
Yes, but only once, during my awakening. It happened in school, when a friend got injured and she cleaned her finger with a tissue, so I grabbed that tissue and started to lick it. It was a minimal amount of blood but still, it made me feel good. it was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. That happened when I was going through my awakening and couldn't control myself.

[b]Is your need for blood sexual?[/b]
No, not in this case. It's only sexual when I fantasize about someone I'm attracted to. Consuming the blood of someone I'm attracted to wouldn't only satisfy my need for blood in general, but it would also be a sexual experience. Two in one, it'd be like killing two birds with one stone. And it would also be one of the most powerful experiences in my life.

[b]Are you a devil worshipper?[/b]
This is a very frequent question. There is nothing satanic in my passion for blood. Religion has nothing to do with it. I surely love satanic imagery, but it's not related to my condition and there's nothing "evil" in me.

[b]Would you kill or simply hurt someone just to get their blood?[/b]
NEVER. I would never hurt anyone for that purpose. Whoever does that is just a criminal, and I'm not one nor do I intend to become one. So no, I would never jump on someone and bite them or bullsh*t like that. That's just stuff psychopathic people do, and I'm not one.
I wouldn't even encourage someone to cut themselves and let me have their blood. I'd never do that either. I don't want anyone to hurt themselves. And consent is the key. I would actually prefer someone to have their blood drawn in a safe way and then put it in vials, kinda like donating blood but for feeding purposes. These are called "donors".

[b]Do donors need to be specific people, belonging to a specific gender or age?[/b]
No, there are no specific requirements other than good health. All that matters is that they are healthy, that means, no blood-borne diseases. So, all that matters is that they are healthy individuals.
If we talk about the sexual fetish side, then yes, in that case it's obvious that it can't just be a random person.

[b]How do you deal with the thirst when it comes?[/b]
I just wait until it goes away, or try to find other solutions that could help, such as eating meat or looking at blood. The sight of blood sometimes triggers, but sometimes relieves the thirst.

[b]Do you fit the vampire stereotype?[/b]
If by "vampire stereotype" people mean someone who would love hanging out in cemeteries at night, who wears black sunglasses when he goes outside and hates religion and religious objects then yeah, definitely. Also, showing me a crucifix or sprinkling holy water on me don't make me scream in fear or paralyze me, but that would surely piss me off haha. But it doesn't mean anything, and it's not related to blood, of course. That's just me, hate it or love it. Also, I'm not a walking dead with no soul, although sometimes I do admit I look like a walking dead.

[b]Do you find fictional vampire characters on tv, or folklore offensive?[/b]
No, not at all. Folklore is extremely interesting. Vampires in movies and tv series are just ok, I mean, it's just fiction. They are based on the folkloristic image of vampires.
The only representation of vampires that piss me off is the one in the Twilight saga. Ok, the movies are nice, but seriously....they ruin the whole image of "bad vampires" and make them ridiculous romantic idiots. Skin shining in the sun, seriously?!? And all this romantic stuff and the soft guy Edward is. Nah. I don't really like that. I only like the Volturi in that saga.
And if you ask me what's my favorite movie about vampires is, I'll definitely answer
"30 Days of Night".