questions → why can't vampires see themselves in the mirror?

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Why can't vampires see themselves in the mirror?

Feb 6, 2012 3:10 PM

Some people came up with some ideas but I don't believe any of them are accurate.

Answer: Vampires don't have souls, so they can't see their reflection

My response: Dogs don't have souls either but they can see their reflection. Also, I can see my dining room table in the mirror and it doesn't have a soul either.

Answer: Vampires don't reflect light, thus its aversion of it and danger to it. Thus not being able to reflect light and as such when you look at him through a reflected image in a mirror, the image isn't there.

My Response: Our vision is based on reflected light. If the Vampire doesn't reflect any light, we couldn't see them with our eyes regardless if a mirror was involved or not.

Also, can you see their clothes in the mirror?

cengland0 cengland0

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vote-for12vote-against

Who says dogs don't have souls?

thumperchick thumperchick
vote-for21vote-against

In the old days, mirrors were made by affixing a glass sheet to a silver backing. Silver is thought to be a pure metal and is the bane of many supernatural creatures. Vampires couldn't be seen in mirrors because they silver would not reflect them. Vampires ought to be visible in modern mirrors. The clothes thing is a good logical question, but nitpicking at superstition is a pointless endeavor. And if any creature has a soul, dogs most certainly do.

moondrake moondrake
vote-for-1vote-against

@thumperchick: Okay, even if dogs had souls, I mentioned that I can also see my dining room table in the mirror (I knew someone would bring up this point so I had to add that to my question).

cengland0 cengland0
vote-for6vote-against

On the subject of the canine soul, here's a hilarious oldie goldie. It wasn't a real sign war, but it's still pretty danged funny.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2271155/posts

moondrake moondrake
vote-for2vote-against

@moondrake: Wow, thanks for sharing that link. I didn't realize the "Dog has Souls" was so controversial.

cengland0 cengland0
vote-for9vote-against

For the same reason that they can't enter without an invitation - because it's required by the plot.

capitalggeek capitalggeek
vote-for3vote-against

@moondrake: Thank you! For both answers. Your vamp/mirror theory is a good one, and that link made me chuckle.

thumperchick thumperchick
vote-for12vote-against

Because vampires don't exist.

inkycatz inkycatz
vote-for6vote-against

Vampires also cannot cross running water as they are unclean, and they are fearful of red roses. This is due to an old belief that all roses were originally white, and they were stained with Christ's blood making them red. Here's another odd bit of vampire lore: In some vampire myths, it is thought that if you throw a handful of seeds in a vampire's path he must stop to collect and count them. What's up with that?

moondrake moondrake
vote-for2vote-against

@inkycatz: LOL You get my vote for BEST ANSWER!

gthuffines gthuffines
vote-for2vote-against

I think they have it wrong. Every vampire I have ever known could see him/herself in a mirror.

adadavis adadavis
vote-for3vote-against

@moondrake: Oddly enough, they are supposed to have to untie every knot they come across as well...

politicsisevil politicsisevil
vote-for3vote-against

@politicsisevil: So, vampires all have OCD. Who knew? And no treatment, because clinics are only open in the daytime.

adadavis adadavis
vote-for2vote-against

Vampires must have souls, or the Ghost Rider Penance Stare wouldn't work on them. DUH!

sadsephiroth sadsephiroth
vote-for2vote-against

Also, what about Morbius, the Living Vampire?

sadsephiroth sadsephiroth
vote-for3vote-against

Because they're blind.

No, wait, I'm thinking of umpires...

wingnutzero wingnutzero
vote-for2vote-against

I always took it as a way of helping them hunt. If you can't be seen in a mirror, then the only way to be seen is to actually be faced by your potential prey.

@moondrake: I've also seen the part about counting things. Have you read The Journal of Professor Abraham Van Helsing by any chance? That's where I saw it. It does make you wonder about The Count on Sesame Street. Maybe he's evil!!!

captainsuperdawg captainsuperdawg
vote-for2vote-against

@captainsuperdawg: I haven't read that one but I have read lots of vampire stuff. I liked vampires before vampires were cool. Long before Anne Rice started writing about them, back when Hammer films were the definitive genre material. I do like the modern sexy vampires (Damon Salvatore, Eric Northman) but the old fashioned ones are cool, too. Have you seen Shadow of the Vampire? It's a great tongue in cheek sendup about the filming of the 1922 German classic Nosferatu--wherein actor Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe) is a real vampire and director Friedrich Murnao (John Malkovitch) is placating the old monster by feeding him actors after their scenes are done.

moondrake moondrake
vote-for2vote-against

@moondrake: I've always liked the supernatural/horror stuff for a while as well. I haven't seen Shadow of the Vampire but I'll have to see if I can find it anywhere, as Netflix won't stream it :-(

captainsuperdawg captainsuperdawg
vote-for2vote-against

@moondrake: what's up with that? MOM SAYS I'M A GOOD DRIVER

kamikazeken kamikazeken

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