Poll: Would you uphold the Masquerade?

[Thaluikhain]

You know those urban fantasy series, where the main character suddenly finds out that vampires/whatever have secretly been around all along, and now they are one, but extra special for some reason? And they have to not tell anyone, lots of random civilians get killed and half the "good guys" are murderous monsters?

Would you play by the rules, keep it secret and all, or would you inform the authorities?

...

Personally, I'd tell. Not go round telling everyone, but if I could discreetly visit the PM or something, I'd do it. Sure, you'd be in trouble from the other monsters if it ever got out, and lots of ordinary humans would want to kill you if they found out, but protecting citizens from inhuman monsters is one of the things the government should be doing, even if it's on the quiet to avoid panic and/or alerting the monsters that people know.

Also, I'd get to meet all sorts of important people and interesting SASR types.

 

[JoJo]

I'd keep it under wraps, knowing what the government (and society in general) is like, they'd probably jump to the conclusion that we're all dangerous and try to wipe us out or put us under strict controls. Not worth the risk personally.

 

[Jamash]

What would be the point of risking my own well-being by exposing the Masquerade?

People have already tried that in the past, from warning the world about aliens to trying to expose the fact that all governments and ruling classes are actually Lizard People in human disguise. All it achieves is derision, the loss of friends and employment and indefinite psychiatric care.

The point is, even if you were in the position to expose the Masquerade, why would anyone take you seriously and how would you, another crazy nobody with wild theories about monsters and conspiracies, even get an audience with someone powerful enough to do something about it? The Prime Minister's office probably gets dozens of letters a month requesting an audience because the sender has something of grave importance to tell, but can't mention it to anyone else because it's not safe and nobody would believe them.

Hypothetically the Masquerade could be true now, but nobody would believe anyone who claims it is, especially since it's a common plot device of so much fictional entertainment.

What if all the world's governments were controlled behind the scenes by Daleks, could you warn anyone? Of course not, because everyone would just think you're a crazy Dr. Who fanatic with a weak grasp on reality.

 

[Thaluikhain]

What would be the point of risking my own well-being by exposing the Masquerade?

People have already tried that in the past, from warning the world about aliens to trying to expose the fact that all governments and ruling classes are actually Lizard People in human disguise. All it achieves is derision, the loss of friends and employment and indefinite psychiatric care.

The point is, even if you were in the position to expose the Masquerade, why would anyone take you seriously and how would you, another crazy nobody with wild theories about monsters and conspiracies, even get an audience with someone powerful enough to do something about it? The Prime Minister's office probably gets dozens of letters a month requesting an audience because the sender has something of grave importance to tell, but can't mention it to anyone else because it's not safe and nobody would believe them.

Hypothetically the Masquerade could be true now, but nobody would believe anyone who claims it is, especially since it's a common plot device of so much fictional entertainment.

What if all the world's governments were controlled behind the scenes by Daleks, could you warn anyone? Of course not, because everyone would just think you're a crazy Dr. Who fanatic with a weak grasp on reality.

True, but I mean if you, personally were a vampire, it'd probably be much easier for you to prove the existence of vampires than it is for most people.

 

[Keoul]

I'd keep it under wraps.
It's not necessary for everyone to know, if the world is a stage then the supernatural is whats happening behind the stage and doesn't need to be seen or known by everyone, just those involved.

If not, there could be terrible consequences for both parties. Racism is still a pretty big issues these days, just imagine what would happen if people found out about vampires and stuff, there would be uproar at the very least and war in a worse-case scenario.

 

[Aris Khandr]

I'd keep it a secret, because people who don't tend to end up getting staked and left out for the sun. Which doesn't sound too awesome to me. Keep it secret, stay out of the way of vampire politics, and do my fangy, immortal thing.

 

[AWAR]

Well if you look like this you don't have much of a choice

 

[Doclector]

History's already taught us what happens when humanity discovers a variant of itself. No thanks.

So no, I wouldn't tell. At least, not anyone I don't end up having to tell.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

My answer depends entirely on context. Were I a vampire, as in the World of Darkness, I would uphold the Masquerade simply for self preservation. It is easier to hunt and live a long unlife if people don't believe such monsters are real. Were I a simple mortal, I would be conflicted. Revealing the secret would almost certainly get me killed but not doing so is nearly as dangerous.

 

[hazabaza1]

If it's VTM style there's a few ways I see revealing it going down:
1-I tell people, nobody believes me, I get put in a crazy house and then the other vampires kill me.
2-I tell people, everyone believes me, then they all kill me because I'm a vampire.
3-I tell people, everyone believes me, causing me to have initiated a human/vampire war in which I'll die no matter what because I'm either a monster or a traitor.

So no, I don't think I would.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Depends. I wouldn't *tell* people as it wouldn't work and people would just think I'm crazy, but I'd want to expose it somehow.

If just to learn how the mechanics behind vampires/whatever work.

 

[masticina]

You have thought this through right. Look vampires, vtm style, are all in it together. And vtm style also if allot people get killed the "good" vampires will be put in action to kill the wild rabbid dogs. Its how the society goes.

Keep it a secret and you help yourself and everybody else. What use is it to cause all ruckus to break out. Even anarchs wouldn't do that. Well there is one group who might.. but you are not a sabbat are you. That would be a problem mate if you are a sabbat.

 

[Rednog]

The Scourge and The Sheriff pretty much exist for that reason.
Heck in pretty much every game of VtM that I've played it is pretty much a mad rush to turn every local person with power, in your case the PM. Which would be pretty disastrous for you, and the next night you'd probably awake as a stake is pulled out of your heart to see your friends and family tied up before you, and they'd force you into a small room with them and make you rotschreck or frenzy...if they were being nice.

 

[Iron Gix]

as a member of the Sabbat, i think we know were i stand on this topic and as a Cappadocian i have my reasons. Vengeance!

 

[Zen Bard]

I think directly telling a top human authority figure about the "Masquerade" would be disastrous for everyone. It would start an all-out war between the humans and "Monsters" and would personally put you at the most risk.

They'd be coming at you from all sides. The Vampires/Werewolves/Witches/Whatevers would want to gank you for betraying them.

And the humans would want to kill you for FEAR of betraying them (and that tiny matter of you being one of the Evil Things yourself. Guilty by association and all that...)

No, keeping your mouth shut is probably the best course of action.

However, exposing the Masquerade is a different matter. If I really wanted to sow a little chaos, I might secretly leave little clues for the humans that lead them to the Monster den. Then I'd quietly slip away and let them duke it out.

If I can set both sides against each other a la "Fistfull of Dollars", that might create some opportunity for an upwardly mobile Creature of the Night...

 

[Lieju]

Depends on what the power-dynamic is like.

If the monsters exist in any significant numbers they need to have influence in the government and things like police anyway, or be used by the goverment.
Also whether the 'others' are a danger to humans, or need them to survive, or the other way around.

And how is the masquerade upheld? DO they regularly kill or intimidate people who get too close? That alone is reason to do something.

On principle, I think there shouldn't be huge secrets like that, but whether I'd try to expose it and how depends on the issue.

 

[Hagi]

Keep it secret.

Because if this is VtM, which I'm assuming it is since it's called the Masquerade, then anyone with the power to change things is either a vampire or associated with them.

You could go to the PM and tell him. He'd then bare his fangs, smile and kill you.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

History's already taught us what happens when humanity discovers a variant of itself.

We send William Shatner to bone it?


Hmm, maybe I'd keep quiet then. At least until Voyager comes along.

 

[XMark]

Yeah, it's quite likely that the vampires would have connections all the way to the top, so going public would be suicide.

Even if they didn't, probably nobody would believe you anyway.