Q6. I need to interview/photograph real blood drinkers - can you fix this?

> We are tv/video/investigative journalists doing a documentary profile on "vampirism" and, basically, we want the real thing and to be able to both interview and view the taking of blood by humans. You realise this is only to promote greater understanding.

...........................One thing we constantly try to make clear is that a fascination with any aspect of "the vampyre" does not necessitate the drinking of blood, and any such assumption is just trite and obvious. Our researches have led us to think that it is difficult for humans to gain any amount of nutrition from the consumption of blood as it is a) hard to digest and b) incomplete in terms of the variety needed in a healthy diet. On the other hand we acknowledge that many humans knowingly consume blood in the form of sausage and similar products and in Britain this is known as "Black" sausage - indeed a lot of us have no qualms about admitting eating and liking this. Some societies let blood from their animals to consume it and one example is where Masai tribesmen, who are herders of cattle, will take blood from their animals for nutritive and also rirualistic purposes.

Taking blood from another animal, especially a human, implies several health hazards and precautions regarding the avoidance of disease are obvious. We are aware that there are people who experience an erotic pleasure in sampling blood from a sexual or sensual partner and this is less the business of "drinking someone dry" and more the pursuit of breaking taboos and experiencing symbolic and fetishistic pleasures. Since this is the business only of people who engage in such mutual pleasuring it is not possible to condemn it, especially in a society which tolerates brutal practices like boxing and dog fighting in the name of sport. On the other hand, we categorically say that, for a person to be interested and involved in the vampire genre does not imply in any way that they need to indulge in blood drinking.

Those who do carry out such private practices have asked us to protect their identities especially since the society we live in is not as tolerant of individualists as our "protectors" would like us to think. Unnecessary exposure has led people into physical intimidation and danger and also loss of employment and livelihood. For this reason, we will not seek out blood drinkers for the press. If your researchers are any good (and most of them are pretty poor, no?) they will be able to find what is out there.

After all, do you want it on a plate?...................................