I went to high school in a town of about 10,000 people --it was painfully small to the point of suffocation. I'd rather be a comparatively little fish in a Great Lake than than a massive one in a household aquarium. The last thing I need is people who don't need to know believing everything is their business. The worst thing about living in a town that small is the sole AA group where my father sponsored a couple of my class-mates who were court-ordered --the concept of "what's said here stays here" doesn't amount to anything when your father is airing the family's dirty laundry to classmates who didn't like you much to begin with.

The thing about my area is not really the number of people living there but the age and the attitudes of the people as being my main problem with Courtenay. Sure the Comox Valley (the larger surrounding area of my town) has according to my research - a decent sized population of 60,000-72,000, but that's not the point I'm making here. When most of the people around me are either growing up or growing old in a predominantly conservative, heavily-Christian environment that when compared to even Victoria (where I went to university) it just seems all the worse. Sure, maybe some of the older locals remember punk, metal and goth, but for them to actively see someone into any of it is completely another thing for them.

I can almost see how a town of 10,000 or less would be more intolerant; but for an area with six or even seven times the population to act in the ways I have seen is just not acceptable.

Now, Vancouver and other bigger places aren't perfect either - they even come with new dangers such as gangs. However, I still don't think Courtenay is ever going to charm me into staying in the community out of choice. It will feel so good to get out of here.

I would have to agree Orlok, the first day I went out goth in Hamilton I seemed to get noticed but everyday after that there has been little notice at all. Maybe it's because the resident punk are outshining me with massive spikes and hawks? Dunno. Either way I'm feeling pretty comfy here which is awesome.

Point stands :p

Everyone: Do you believe in any type of fantasy creature (ghosts, spirits, fairies, vampires, unicorns, chihuahuas, what have you)?

Not really. Ghosts however, I dunno- I'm in the middle and need proof to go either way. I can't say if ghosts do or do not exist, but I'd need to witness an actual sighting to totally convince me they're real. I've been told tonnes of stories by friends and family but I'd kinda need to see it for myself to make a judgement. I wouldn't call chihuahuas a fantasy creature... (unless I'm confusing the word with another term)

I don't believe in fantasy creatures, but I do like to suspend my disbelief in ghosts from time to time so I can enjoy that shivery, spooky feeling you get when you enter a (supposedly) haunted place.

The rational part of me still doesn't believe in ghosts, but the fun part of me says: "There be GHOSTS here! Wheeee!"

-- Nephele

Not really, although a part of me doesn't see why they shouldn't exist (and I've seen chihuahuas and I find all the rest vastly preferable to those yappy little creatures )

I guess this quote sums up my feelings about them (remove the word "ghosts" and add either spirits, fairies, vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc):

Too many. I believe they are all real. Most of these entities you may not want to exactly "meet up" with like a wendigo or a werewolf transformed, but yes, I believe in demons, angels, gods, Elder Gods, the cake being truth, vampires, demigods, harpies, mermaids (which probably are literally just fish with human-like features), aliens, other dimensions . . . the whole nine.

Uh... My father is Dracula. Heh...Heh...

How are those fire balls coming along? Your dad sure likes to throw volleys at the Belmont clan.

Yes, he sure does. I learned the Hellfire technique a while back when my father taught me. I'd say I can use it quite proficiently. See for yourself. Here is a picture of me using them.

http://creativeuncut.com/gallery-02/cv- ... card5.html

But in all honesty... I'd rather use my mother's sword. It is really special to me. Ahh... yes... The Belmonts. That sure bring me back.

@Alucard: Just like when Harker paid me a visit to my castle.

Haha! You have a castle, huh? I'd love to visit. By the way, how would you say that encounter turned out?

Fixed that for you. ("Fantasy" tends to have connotations specifically for fiction without a clear influence from religion or folklore, whereas at least half of what you named does have such a connection. The more you know, and all.)

Yes, but I also tend to intermarry this belief with scientific ideas, including the hypothesis of a multiverse in the field of physics. Basically everything that is, was, and will be is contained within an intricately layered reality; most of this reality, at the current time, cannot easily intermingle with our layer in a form easily detected with our current technologies, but those layers may have the skills to occasionally make contact with ours. Some people may be more perceptive of these layers due to use of entheogens, or possibly even mental afflictions, but at the current time this is an untestable hypothesis (at best).

Basically, yes, I deeply believe in the existence of several pantheons of deity (even though I only give active worship to one pantheon), spirits, nymphai/fairies and spirits of the dead who may be communicated with (though I don't believe every deceased spirit is ever made available for communication —but then, I'm subscribing to the ancient Hellenic [Greek] model of Elysium/Hades/Tartaros for the treatment of dead souls), even though I realise how ridiculous mainstream sensibilities make it seem. But I can also find enough ideas in the field of science that are compatible with this belief, even if I do mingle in some other ideas that are, at best, on the fringe of even those ideas.



I think ittybittybat was simply making a joke at the ex[ense of chihuahuas.