• bortsampson [he/him, any]@hexbear.net
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    2 days ago

    I’ve long connected the folklore of vampires with the predations and tyrannical whims of the ruling class of medieval Eastern Europe.

    It’s speculated that the accusations of blood draining, impaling, servent torture, and virgin killing against aristocrats and royalty came from rival political families. These stories were spread to common folk and likely became the influence for vampire folklore. It was an early form of a psyop on the public to roust support for ouster or execution.

    • UlyssesT [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      2 days ago

      Oh, I knew that.

      What I contend is that the reason such propaganda resonated among the peasantry and lasts to this day is because of how much of that propaganda felt true enough, even if it was for convenient ends.

      • huf [he/him]@hexbear.net
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        1 day ago

        there’s that rich dude TODAY who gets his son’s blood injected into him. of course the vampire resonates today, THEY’RE LITERALLY AMONG US

        • UlyssesT [he/him]@hexbear.net
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          1 day ago

          He’s not the only one, either.

          College kids get coerced into “donating” plasma “for research” and a lot of that plasma goes straight into billionaire veins because of totally-not-evil startups with names like “Ambrosia.”