Does Idaho Shame Its Vampire Community?

Renfield's Syndrome

The obsessive psychological urge to drink blood is known as Renfield's Syndrome. While the disorder's causation remains unknown, Olry and Haines from the University of Mississippi Medical Center tells us Renfield's origin springs from Bram Stoker's 1897 "Dracula."

Stoker introduces Renfield into the storyline as a supporting character who is telepathically connected to Count Dracula and mentally ill. Later, the middle-aged character is described by Stoker's character, Dr. John Seward, as:

"Sanguine [in] temperament; [having] great physical strength; morbidly excitable; [manifesting] periods of gloom, ending in some fixed idea which I cannot make out."

 

Yet somehow, despite the fact that this is modern day Boise and not an 1897 science fiction novel, the vampire community is "awakened" and thriving in the Treasure Valley.

If you think I'm speaking satirically, I assure you I'm not. According to the Guardian's "Interview with a real-life vampire: why drinking blood isn't like in Hollywood" published in 2015, vampirism is a shadow culture unlike anything mainstream society knows.

Sanguinarians & Psychics

Blood-sucking bites? Those aren't a thing. The power naps in caskets and an aversion to the waking hours? Also not a thing.

The thousands of people who self-identify as vampires satisfy their blood lust with "inch-long incisions made by a sterilized scalpel on a fleshy part of the body that doesn’t scar." These individuals are known as sanguinarians, or blood vampires. A second type of vampire is known as a psychic or energy vampire. These individuals extract the "life-force" from others.

Vamps in the City

We've established vampirism is very real for those who belong to the macabre community at large. And as far as we can tell, the vamp camp seems quite content with their shadowy existence. But what about Boise's own? How are local vampires doing?

According to Lawn Love's new study, "2022's Best and Worst Cities for Vampires," our vampire neighbors need us. Out of the nation's vampire-friendly cities polled in the study, Boise ranks 103/200. Metrics included: food and drinks; lair safety; deterrents like sunshine and garlic enthusiasm; community; and entertainment.

You decide: does Boise's place on "2022's Best and Worst Cities for Vampires" indicate an inherent rejection of the vampire community's right to life free among us?

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