What is with this 'Twilight' thing?

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   Proud Momposted 15 years ago

   We put my daughter in public school recently only to find out about this Twilight craze.  Apparenly, kids are thinking they are vampires and biting unsuspecting kids on the neck!!  I just don't understand!

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      sassychicposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Honestly they are doing that?
      I have read almost all the books. There cute for a young to middle teenage girl. But kids biting eachother? that's outta hand! what the heck?
      
      I personally liket he books and all but what grade is your daughter or son in?

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   AEvansposted 15 years ago

   That is nuts!!! To many vampire movies and games , good grief maybe technology is moving to far over the edge. If our son tried that he would be in so much trouble, I don't think he would ever be un-grounded.

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   Proud Momposted 15 years ago

   Do you know anything about the craze?  I was blind-sighted!!

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      BDazzlerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      OK, more seriously ... there is a sub-culture that embraces, role-plays etc. the entire vampire horror genre.  Depending on the the individuals involved it can range from harmless game of "let's pretend" to a full embrace of believing oneself to be a supernatural creature of the night.

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         Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         e
         
         What would be some clues that a kid is beyond pretending?

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            ajcorposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Many moons ago my neice went through this ugly goth thing where she started living in her bedroom, painting her face white and her brown hair bwas dyed black, she was almost a loner except for her fellow goths at school - but eventually she grew out of it and is now the proud mother of a little girl and living a normal life....must say that  the biting thing sounds worrying with it's potential for the transfer of disease.

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   BDazzlerposted 15 years ago

   Vampires suck!

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      Patty Inglish, MSposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      "Do you know anything about the craze?  I was blind-sighted!!"
      
      Junior high and middle school kids sometimes became enamored of vampires as well in the 1950s - 1970s, but there were fewer media to reinforce the phenomenon. After Hammer Films got involved, there was more. Then the vampire novelists emerged and Anne Rice and others made it more popular. And some goths went over to vampire obsession, etc. etc. on to Twilight.
      
      I think it has to do with puberty and the sexuality that young people have nowhere to put.

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         Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Goth has been a real problem around here.  The schools are trying to crack down on it, but it's getting beyond "a distraction" and actually causing harm.  I guess this would be one more step in the wrong direction?
         
         Are the Twilight books sexual?  I'm going to have to do some research here.

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            Patty Inglish, MSposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Nos Feratu and Dracula, some of the originals, were extremely sexual figures and sex never had to be mentioned. The bite was/is sexual, powerful, sexual-power, as well as vampire's nourishment.

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               Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               So in your opinion, Patty--is this out of hand?

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                  Patty Inglish, MSposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                  Biting someone on the neck, an erogenous zone, is always out of hand, unless it is between consenting adults. But if Twilight is lighter fantasy and kids are simply pretending, then ignoring it may be best - until a mark is left or blood is drawn.

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                     Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                     What would be the best way to figure out if it's a reality thing or pretend for them?  BTW--one of these "biters" is also asking other kids to bring her ammunition for a gun.  I just have to think this is all drama.  But I'd hate to have to live with the consequences if it wasn't.

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                        Patty Inglish, MSposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                        A GUN?!  Call the kid's parents and the school principal.
                        
                        Pretending or not? - you'd have to see them interact and note whether it was light banter behavior or abusive, or sexual, or exploratory, or just what.
                        
                        How old are thse young people?

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   SweetiePieposted 15 years ago

   Wow, biting each other?  Kids can be pretty cruel though and I was teased for not following many trends back in the eighties and early nineties.  For instance, my parents never saw the point of paying 100 dollars for a pair of brand name tennis shows such as LA Gear, so many kids would tease me about that.  The teasing got pretty bad, but then around 1990 there was a news event where a boy killed another boy over his brand name shoes and jacket.
   
   After that event our teacher started informing the students about the ridiculous obsessions regarding brand name foot wear and designer names.  I think after that some of the students started to realize how ridiculous it was to tease others who do not wear expensive designer labels. Ironically, by the time we got to high school many of these same students were into going to second hand stores and creating vintage outfits. 
   
   Maybe you can talk to the principal or the teacher at your school if the biting thing becomes an issue there so they can talk about it.  The book Twilight is good because it is encouraging young people to read, but education about boundaries and not biting people would be helpful.  I hope the biting is just an isolated event.

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      Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I read a poem on Russ Baleson's hub that I loved.  One of the lines said something about standing apart from the world and wondering if the world is standing apart from you.  Isn't that beautiful?  Kids can be cruel, can't they?  I'm sorry about your experience!
      
      We don't allow our kids any reading (or watching for that matter) about anything having to do with witchcraft.  As the adult, I try very hard to stay informed on such things, but this one caught me off guard.  There are so many great books out there, I'm disappointed that it takes one of this magnitude to get them to read.

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         SweetiePieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Personally I just have no interest in the Twilight series because I think it is boring.  I have just heard from so many kids and parents say it gets their kids to read, so in their cases it might be good.  However, I do understand not wanting your kids to read this book if you find the material objectionable.  Personally I just think stories about vampires are boring and I would rather read historical fiction or something more endearing.

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   Dame Scribeposted 15 years ago

   A little of kilter here lol ...when I was a teenager once upon a time ..if I got in trouble or doing that teenager *babbling* thing we do.... my mom would sit me down with a book and I would have to read for a minimum of a hour straight, lol ...l would end up spending the rest of the day... off somewhere, reading I go hooked on reading. Oh..and this *Twilight* thing..yeah...it is just a fad ...and will most likely pass in time though the biting thing is strange

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   Teresa McGurkposted 15 years ago

   Get them to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the TV series by Joss Whedon)-- not only does it make the vampires out to be immature and cruel, it also pokes fun at any pretentious high school behavior and encourages kids to research materials rather than rely on hearsay.  The Goth kids in Buffy are always shown to be silly, too.
   
   It's even a funny show.

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      Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      You make a good point!

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         Patty Inglish, MSposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I agree!!

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   Proud Momposted 15 years ago

   You had a good mom, dame!!

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   Proud Momposted 15 years ago

   Not only am I concerned about the behavioral ramifications with this, but transferring bodily fluids in this manner is dangerous!  She knows not to share drinks, "swap spit", or do the "blood sisters" thing that we used to do as kids.  But how do you tell her to watch out behind her for fangs to the neck?????

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    kerrygposted 15 years ago

    They're not sexual until the fourth book - in fact, there's a very strong abstinence message through the whole series and Edward and Bella both remain virgins until they get married.
    
    Other than the people who don't want their kids reading books with any supernatural elements whatsoever, the loudest objections to the Twilight series I'm familiar with actually come from feminists, because Edward is a classic stalker personality and Bella starts begging him to turn her into a vampire so they can be together forever roughly three weeks after they meet.
    
    I agree with Theresa. Buffy is better on virtually every level than Twilight, so it makes me kind of sad that Twilight is a much bigger craze. I'm taking some hope from the fact that a lot of the girls I know who are obsessed with Twilight have had their interest piqued in Bella's favorite books as well. Since these include Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, etc. one can only hope that when they meet Mr. Darcy they'll recognize him for the real romantic hero that he is, and forget about the stupid sparkly vampire.

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       Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Interesting, kerry.  Have you read them all?

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    kerrygposted 15 years ago

    Only the first, but I've read detailed recaps of the other three and follow the fandom closely because I think it's hilarious.
    
    I have a hub about the Twilight phenomenon, but am not sure how useful you would find it, since it focuses more on Twilight haters than Twilight lovers.

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       darksideposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       And I'm off to read it.
       
       I haven't read the books but I saw the movie and talk about a bore-fest.
       
       Most boring vampire movie ever.
       
       And not just because I'm a guy, my wife thought it was worse than I did.

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       Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I think I'll go check it out!

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          Pestposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I am following PM...PM!  change your avatar!!!  That baby is too damn cute!

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             Proud Momposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Can't help you out on that one, Pest.  Sorry....

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    kerrygposted 15 years ago

    My guess would be that the biting is probably just joking around (though definitely ask your daughter to let you know if she sees ANY indication that it's something more serious or inappropriate), but I would definitely talk to someone in authority about the gun!

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    r2punksposted 15 years ago

    i think it's like another harry potter only it is more romantic based and the audience is more toward teenage girls rather than kids. I observed teenage girls have huge spending powers, see for example the album sales of Britney spears and Beyonce. It's a younger audience either way and they will tend to imitate the characters/idols more easily.

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    RKHenryposted 15 years ago

    Any True Blood watchers?

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       kerrygposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Yes! I've never read the books, but my husband and I enjoyed the show a lot.
       
       I devoutly hope no 5th and 6th graders are watching it, though!

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          RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I hope not.
          
          My nose is always in my classes and studies.  Books?  True Blood is based off books?

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             kerrygposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Yup, the Southern Vampire Mysteries, by Charlaine Harris. I hear somewhat mixed reviews of them, which is a big part of why I haven't got around to reading them yet. With a 2 year old running around underfoot, I read almost entirely nonfiction these days - much easier to put down and pick up - so I count myself lucky to read one novel a month and want to spend it on something I know I'll like.

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                RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                Thanx for the info.  No two year olds around here in my neck of the woods.  Thankful too. [Smiles]  I haven't figured out how to post happy faces yet. [sad face]
                
                Im diggin this place.  Thanx.

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    sassychicposted 15 years ago

    Hey one thing I want to point out. Yes children should not be biting in school our any of that sort. If the child has ADD, ADHD, Asbergers, DOWNSyndrome, Autism, Kabuchy Syndrome they may communitcate different ways and not understand the consequences of there actions as recognizable as others. In this case scenario it seems as if there's none of that stuff included. BUT however the case please dont judge a child if they have these differences. They are human too and deserved the best.
    
    
    If you guys are interested in learning more about Autism read my hubs! I work with children that have these disabilities and have a strong background about these behaviors and such!
    
    Now secondly yes even if a child is talking about a gun jokingly or not, they should have positive reinforcment put upon them. At an age like that it's not a joke at all and should be taken seriously or under further direction.
    
    Lastly this is so weird! A funny fictional novel series can get this twisted outta had?
    Werid!

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    gwendymomposted 15 years ago

    PM, I have read all of the books in the twilight series and I love them. These books are meant for teen readers. There is no sex in the series until the fourth book after (SPOILER ALERT) Bella and Edward get married. The books are not violent in nature, in my opinion. I would compare them to the Harry Potter books. Books of fantasy. The kid that is biting other kids is probably playing, but I would first tell your daughter to ask the child to stop  and then either talk to the parents of this child or the school principal. I hope everything works out.

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    RKHenryposted 15 years ago

    For those who don't want their kids to watch this movie, I noticed last night that it is on Direct TV's PPV.  Starting on channel 125.

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