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Bizarre teen trends have been horrifying parents for generations, but health officials are warning that a vampire-inspired biting fad could be dangerous, not to mention disgusting.
Teenagers obsessed with the “Twilight” vampire saga, or those simply fascinated with fangs, reportedly have been biting each other -- hard – and then licking or sucking the blood.
“These are kids who think they are real vampires,” said Dr. Orly Avitzur, the medical advisor to Consumers Union, the agency that publishes Consumer Reports magazine.
Avitzur said conversations with teens and sessions spent trolling vampire-related teen Web sites convinced her that the trend was taking hold. Indeed, groups like “I drink blood,” a category at www.experienceproject.com, and “I want to be a vampire” at the site www.43things.com are filled with apparent posts from young people with a yearning for blood.
“Having that thick, warm copper-tasting blood in my mouth is the best thing I can think of!” wrote a teenager identified as “GothicGirl10” this year. “Sometimes my boyfriend lets me feed off him. I let him feed off me as well.”
Such talk alarms medical experts, who warn about the dangers of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV, as well as the risk of nasty infections. Typically, 10 to 15 percent of human bites wounds become infected.
“If you break the skin, your mouth is pretty dirty,” said Dr. Thomas Abshire, a pediatric blood and cancer specialist and spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The human mouth flora is dirtier than a dog or cat’s.”
Equally worrisome is the motive behind the acts, the idea of branding or owning another person, the experts said.
“If you think about it, there is such glamorization in those teen vampire movies, they make it seem so sexy and appealing and intriguing,” Avitzur said. “It’s all mixed up with passion.”
But at least one teen who likes to bite says adults have got it all wrong. Michael Kaplor, 16, of Dallas, says he was biting his girlfriend intermittently for more than a year because the intimacy of it, not for any gothic obsession.
“It’s really gotten a bad rap because of this whole vampire thing,” said Kaplor.
In reality, he said, a lot of teens bite – and leave marks – for the thrill of it.
“You feel it for a considerable amount of time afterwards,” he said. “It’s the way you receive happiness.”
Some people do draw blood, but that’s where Kaplor draws the line.
“Kids don’t understand how dangerous blood is,” the high-schooler said, “especially if it’s not your own blood.”
Do you know teens who’ve turned vampire obsession into a real-life drama? Tell us here.
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This just in: teenagers act weird.
News at 11
This just in: teenagers act dangerously, put own lives at risk.
More news at 11
Still the same story, though.
Really? You want them the 'get AIDS and die'? nice.
Mopman you are one twisted puppy. Shame on you.
If one of these "kids" grows up trys to bite me they will be getting two .40cal shots to the chest and one to the head.......
Stand by for the next fad: staking !!! Oh and if you decide to go the firearm route make sure you've got your Silver Bullets !!
Silver Bullets are only for Werewolf's, not vampires. You would need garlic or wooden bullets for Vampires. LOL
Not much of a supernatural Nut, but I know Lost Boys and Siver bullet (MOVIEs) by heart...
I just don't know what to say - this is way past "weird" It's scary.
gotta agree with ya sean -- responses way weirder than the article.
Oh please, this "new fad" has been going on for years............. I guess it was a slow day and they needed an article.
Agreeing with Blondeness on this one. I have a friend I fell out of touch with 17 years ago because he started hanging with a a goth/vampire wannabe group who drank each others blood. Nothing new here just renewed interest because of the latest Hollywood explotation of some woman's vampire fantasy put on paper.
Not news, and hardly new. CSI did a show on this like 5 years ago...
Yeah, the episode was called 'Suckers' (and it was definitely being used as a homonym). Season 4 episode 13.
Ummm, how about 'irony' or 'ambiguity' instead of 'homonym'?
People, kids, adults, children, whatever on DRUGS or mentally unbalanced and getting the 'programming' will emulate 'reality' or what is projected onto their retinas. Besides this being a pornographic tv SERIES akin to Dallas or Dynasty - there is real live NUDE S&M, FLucking and it all has a dramatic script to it...but it still is unhealthy, immoral and a disease to Americans. Energy is real. We all have it. However, the powerful are MASTERS of control. The people that eat this up - well it is like the Piper and the rats... But give it to the masses and soon they will all be roiling, this is what the HEALTHY entertain themselves with-NOT!
Quit being so dramatic Roberta - stuff like this has been happening for a long time; parents need to look for signs of anything odd. The world is not ending, and TV is not programming anyone. Remember when Elvis was the "devil" because of his dancing? Guess what, the world is still running and morality is still intact.
HAHAHA that's the best joke I've read all dy! Morality is still intact' HAHAHA are you serious? Like Lady Gaga, Lindsy lohan, and all of these other moral bulwarks that fascinate us? Or our stellar trends in family stability?
Look in the mirror first, that's what I say. I personally don't like anyone you listed, but it is MY responsibility to not watch, spend money on or allow my kids to be "overtaken" by what they stand for. For every person you mention, you can find over ten thousand who are good people - THEY JUST DON'T GET THE PRESS FOR BEING GOOD AND NORMAL.
Only the weak allow this stuff to bother them, then they make excuses. Don't be weak.
So true PJ. A person's morality is up to them in his world, and we all have our own moral agency. The numbers don't lie though. Society in general is in a clearly defined deterioration. At least in the past you didn't feel guilty about letting your kid watch cartoon network.
Immorality in Hollywood is nothing new. Or anywhere else, for that matter. Eddie Fischer and Liz Taylor? Monroe and Kennedy? The list is endless. Wherever there is money, power or the perception of power you will find a lack of morals. Been that way since Adam and Eve.
Anutherone - you are correct, but it is all relevant - back in the day, Tom and Jerry (cartoons)beat the crap out of each other, and when someone got lit on fire or blew up, they grew dreadlocks and turned in to a Black person. Every maid was black and talked like a slave. How "moral" was that? You see, every generation has its crap; it is part ofhuman existence. We should be accountable for ourselves and kids and not use excuses. We cannot control certain things, so we should control what we can only and let the rest die off.
Terribly immoral for a cat to beat up a mouse and vice versa. I will give you that old cartoons were quite racially insensitive : (
Roberta, do you even realize your little paranoid rant makes YOU sound "on DRUGS or mentally unbalanced"?
PJ PJ. you think too much. here's a good advice - don't. you got the tom and jerry allegory completely assbackwards. the blowing up and looking like an african native or feathers falling in place to resemble a native american was only for comic effect. the real underlying message is that tom, the blue cat, signifies the upper ruling class of blue blood. while on the other hand jerry, the brown mouse, symbolizes the struggling lower class or black and brown people. the cartoon is both comedy and social satire. however it may also be thought of as something inspirational for black people since in most cases jerry gets his way. so it actually supports and empowers black people, especially children. it tells them that even though you're small and not in the favor of the house owner you can still make it.
of course what i just said is a whole lot of bullcrap. but heck at least my explanation makes sense.
Someone's right...Uh...What??....MEDIC!..
I think what we need at this point is to do a study to determine how many racialslurs are subliminally hidden in Tom and Jerry, ho many caucasian, African American, Native American Aisian, and other American children catch on to the hidden messages, how it affects them directly and subconciously, and then we can do the same study on adults. Anybody want to volunteer to take a month off work to watch cartoons? Which government Agency do I need to contact for grant money? I think abot $15 million should do the trick!
huh?
exactly queen
Man you guys think way too much about cartoons. I just thought they were funny. They used to be my favorite. Why does everyone over analyze things? Maybe that is what is wrong with our society.
And you wonder why the size of the human brain is shrinking,
Ummm...I can guarantee you 99% of the stuff you read kids saying on an internet forum is false and just part of a role playing thing. I'm sure some out there do do this stuff...but a lot of it is just fantasy writing. Chill out.
Well said.
That's what I was thinking. I know for a fact that kids are becoming more and more narcissistic and with that comes a greater amount of exaggerating to sound cool. I figure about 60% of the things they say they do is bunk. Hell, how many of us knew virgins in high school that bragged about all the chicks they banged?
And I can guarantee you that 99% of statistics are made up on the spot and 95% will never be backed up with any proof whatsoever while the 4% use bogus sites to show proof that never exists and the last 1% actually use legit articles and proof.
^_^
when I was a kid, I was a blood brother with my best friend, and there were these same stories going around then about blood bourne diseases. Man kids act silly when they are teens, every generation has a set of teens who are different than what society wants for them. And guess what, normally those teens outgrow the phase and become productive members of society
My friends and I did "ketchup sisters" in place of blood. Talk about silly!
BeachBum...that is adorable!
And anyway, what if it is true? They get septicemia and die in 48, maybe 72 hours, big deal. Now if they get HIV, that's different -- someone has to pay for that and they'll live and maybe even reproduce. Not a good outcome.
This obsession with vampires among some groups of teens was around waaaay before these Twilight movies. Quit blaming movies, games, etc for all the stupid things teens do. It's not the movie's fault, the movie merely found a way to make a ton of money off the already-existing obsession.
Mopman,
if you are going to take the time to quote something you should probably make sure you quote it correctly. Also, what kind of sick human being would wish HIV onto someone? That's horrible you should feel ashamed of yourself. You should also hope that you never become severely ill because karma is a real b!tch. Take your ignorance elsewhere. Moron. Teens will be teens, sucking someones blood is disgusting but it's not much different than having unprotected sex.
eah42...You are hereby sentenced to hang by the neck until you cheer up...
@mopman411
You are a VILE human being. The very fact that you are counted among my species makes me SICK.
Seek some empathy. Find some sympathy. Look beyond yourself.
Or may the fate you call upon others visit you ten-fold.
LOL
Eww mopman, you're sick, disgusting, vile. You wished horrible things on someone. I hope ten times that many horrible things happen to you. (Of course, I'm not sick, disgusting, vile, because the standards I just applied to you don't apply to me. And besides, unlike you, I am the epitome of empathetic. Just ask me, and as soon as I finish berating you I'll tell you all about it.)
Personally, I don't see that the world would be harmed by having a few less freaks of any age. Some of the perpetually confused hysterics could go without my lamenting them too.
Don't worry, disgusted. Mopman probably isn't counted among your species. You'll have to find something else to make you sick.
:-)
Point taken, Tippety. But I never said I refused the right to hypocrisy. ;-)
LOL
You get 5 stars for honesty and a sense of humor, Disgusted.
It is good to see that some of you have a point to make and can do so with humor, objectivity and sarcasm while still listening to another opinion. The people who rant just to hear/see their words in black and white don't offer nearly as much reading pleasure. Thanks to tippety and Disgusted for making me LOL. :)
I am a big fan of vampires... you know, the monsters? The people who sold their souls to the devil, or through some evil twist of fate were cursed through a bite or by birth? Who are either very evil, or if 'good' struggle with their predatory nature all the time and have to drink bottles of blood or whatever. Those great villains or anti-heroes. Not these namby pamby new vampires with no weaknesses and no evil nature let alone a struggle with one...
Anyways, these teens who are obsessed with vampires, who convince themselves they are vampires, etc. make me embarrassed to like vampires. Vampires are just fiction! Just like those depraved hentai fetish fans with no respect for women who think they exist to please them sexually make me embarrassed to say I enjoy me some manga or anime from time to time.
Anyways, this obsession with being a vampire and drinking blood has been going on for a (relatively) long time. Its silly, its retarded, in my opinion it is dangerous for those around the 'vampires' but it is old news. But sadly, it is growing, and there are a lot of adults who participate in it too. There are even people who think they are 'spiritual werewolves'. Spiritual as in they don't transform but are werewolves on the inside heh heh. Unless you are a Navajo Bear Shaman you aren't a were-anything guys.
I love reading about Vampires - like actual history (or, well, invented history) of them and the origins of the story. They like to screw things up by turning into a chapter in pop culture. So in a few years instead of going to the library to pick up an old book about original vampire beliefs and stories, they'll just add Twilight to their Netflix list.
@PGH... How old are you?
the idea of a vampire as this powerful, charismatic and complicated creature of legend has turned into a sex symbol and stupid little androgynous hypersensitive sparkly idiots. I loved reading about a more mature creature that exudes charisma, power, and general badass-ery. The characters that are complicated by nature and a sense of mystery, that's what a vampire of the old legends are.
if anything, these new age writers are all about corny lines and stupidly pathetic story.
I'm 24 (dunno if you wanna call me old) but I appreciate books that are more mature and mysterious than this newage prettyboy crap. Anne Rice's Interview with the vampire and queen of the damn is much more true to the figure of the vampire.
This is rather disgusting, not to mention risky. These kids can get very sick. Although I've heard of "real life vampires" who do suck blood, and that there's a safe way to do it. Not sure if it's true though.
A ""safe" way to suck someones blood?! You are kidding, right?
And mopman - you need some help - true - this blood sucking thing is pretty gross - but wishing HIV, AIDS and death on people is just all around wrong.
Get a grip! It was just something I heard, I never said I believed it. Who knows if it's true or not, and NO I'M NOT KIDDING I REALLY DID HEAR ABOUT THAT. So RELAX.
You seem a little tense and defensive - I was commenting on the idea that there is a "safe way to suck blood" - not wether or not you belived or thought it was true - I think maybe you need to "get a grip" - not every posting is an attack.
Never said it was an "attack", but you seemed almost angrily shocked at what I wrote, and if you come off that way, what did you expect? For me to think it's all sweetness?
I wasn't the one yelling in capital letters - still don't see what you got so mad about
I didn't get mad. I just said something that I heard about, and you're the one who wrote in all exclamation points. If you want to respond fine, but keep it together. I never said it was true. And if I did get mad, it was that smartass little "you're kidding right?" Well guess what I wasn't kidding so don't talk like that. Like I said, angrily shocked.
The most the human stomach can handle of actual human blood is less than maybe a couple of ounces, but that is with the serious side effect of nausia, vomiting, and extreme vertigo. This does not even come close to the danger of HIV transmittable infection through the blood or saliva, or those disease such as Hepititis A and B which maybe transferred.
There is nothing romantic about sucking blood, and nothing cool or goth about it. There are fools who believe that they are "unique" individuals and firmly believe that the taking of anothers blood gives them power or pleasure. This is not the case. Does not give you power or pleasure, it just makes you real sick either physically or mentally, and I don't have time to explain to your teenage daughters and sons, and the idiotic ADULTS that practice this form of barbaric power trip.
You want to get yourself infected, or through your actions, infect others, that's fine. I can't wait to hear your stories of how your friends died because you transmitted your HIV or actual BLOOD DISORDERS to your best friends and lovers.
Personally if you do, I know for a fact your an idiotic moron.
This was all going on 10 years ago when I was in junior high school. Just fruity kids being fruity. In my day they were called goths. Now they're emo or vampires or whatever. It's stupid, potentially dangerous, but nothing new. Or cool for that matter.
This is absolutely not a new thing -- emulating vampires has been around for a very long time;drinking blood? Far older. However, as a 'teen' fad ? Thirty years or so, I'm guessing.
Really? What kind of a moron would do something like that. You think of Cults doing that. Not too sure wht twilight is so cool anyway. The first movie was unwatchable. Horrible acting. Vampires that sparkle? What? If you guys want a decent vampire show, go watch the fisrt few seasons of Buffy the vampire slayer. And stop sucking other people's blood. You are vampire wannabees. Not cool.
Bleckk! I don't even like licking my own blood off a cut on my finger. The only reason I do it is so I don't "paint" everything within arms length until I get a boo-boo badge. I can't imagine going out of my way to lick someone’s blood. I haven't even thought real hard about the number of infections that could be passed around. Even worse what if one of the involved is an unknowing hemophiliac?
It is very difficult to be an "unknowing hemophiliac" as a teenager. Anyone short of clotting hormones is sure to be found out as a child at an early age. Even a bit of dental work will cause bleeding that is hard to stop. Injections bleed for a long time.
Nevertheless, the human bite is perhaps the most infectious of any animal we are likely to encounter and localized infection is common in untreated bites. Much better you should be bitten by a cat or (non-rabid) dog.
Sad but true. Dogs and cats saliva actually have case amounts of natural occuring antibiotic. A human bite can't be said to have the same effect, and actually can transfer any number of dangerous occuring organisms from a host.
Well I only have a few things to say to, ALL WHO READ THIS:
EITHER "YOU'RE UNEDUCATED AND A DISOBEIDENT CHILD/ADULT" OR YOU'RE AN EDUCATED
A — _, JUST THE THOUGHT OF ALL THE IMPURITIES SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF, BUT ALAS, IF YOU
CAN'T EVEN COMPREHEND THAT BIT OF INFORMATION --------THEN YOU ARE NOT, (NOR WILLING TO)
USING " COMMON SENSE". IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS.
A little hepatitis C for everyone!!
Now we need only introduce a blood disease into the ranks of Twilight fandom, and let nature run its course.
If we're particularly lucky, a lot of Bieber fans will be caught up in the action, too.
Oh SNAP! Can we call it The "REAL" Bieber Fever
Moral of story: People are F%&#&$@ stupid.
Yes, Cascadia, people are stupid, but teens are even stooopider. Remember the Disney movie about twenty years ago in which kids were lying on the yellow line in the middle of the road? Remember that a few teens tried that and got run over? Sometimes I wonder how any of us survived our teen years. Well, there are always a few that don't. As an ecologist, I can tell you that these years of adolescence are the most dangerous in any animal's life, even without vampires.
People… We’re #ucked! This country is well on the way to “Idiocracy”! … unless of course “…there’s an app for that…”. Now pass me my G*d Damned “Brondo”… “It has electrolytes!”
Remember hickeys? I'd bet "love bites" date back to at least forever, maybe longer.
I was thinking the same thing!!!
This really isn't new. Teens have been biting, drawing blood, and licking that blood off each other since I was a teen and that was 15 years ago.
Btw, I am in no way endorsing it. I'm just saying it isn't new.
Agreed. It's not a new fad at all. I think people are most adventurous when they are teens and that's why this stuff goes down. It's just fantasies being played out. I've known plenty of "family values" types that are into kinky stuff too (bondage in particular).
It's about fantasy and fantasy is sexy. True...nobody wants their teenagers to be mixed up in this nonsense (I know I won't), but the fact remains that people have been doing this for a long time.
...anybody ever hear of an old "granny" vampire... just asking.
82AllAmericans
Yes I know one, she is 89, Do you want her contact info?
Just a warning to you, She is a handfull and extremely posessive!