Werewolves and RL equivalents

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 170283


>  
> > Betsy Hp:
> > The massive risk that the medication *isn't* taken.  <SNIP> The 
> risk that the cage isn't strong enough.  The risk that the beast, 
> > the mindless, hunger driven beast, is out.
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Yeah, there is that, but I am all for werewolf taking the 
medication 
> all the time.
> 

Julie:
So how do you know the werewolf is taking his medication all
the time? Do you have him wear some sort of monitor that verifies
he's ingested his meds as he should? If he refuses to take his
meds, do you tie him down and force them down his throat?

I really think the closest thing to a werewolf in real life
would be those with psychotic diseases who can be perfectly
normal members of society as long as they remain on their
meds, but who can lose all self-control off their meds (as
does a werewolf).

Again, there is NO exact analogy to a werewolf in RL, since
no condition or disease manifests itself by the waxing and
waning of the moon (no PMS cracks please!), or on any sort 
of clockwork schedule. I'm just pointing out the closest
analogy, given the similar change from being in control of
your own actions to losing all self-control.

That's why I agree with Betsy's position. If you happen to
be Joe-Werewolf's neighbor, how can you know for sure that
he is responsible enough to take his medication regularly,
or that something won't happen to interfere with his meds
schedule? There is simply NO guarantee, unless of course
there IS a guarantee enforced by society, which would mean 
some sort of monitoring of werewolves. Which then tramples
many people's concept of individual freedoms. (Still, it
is something that actually happens with psychotics who don't
take their medication and who can end up in a mental facility
on forced meds if they injure themselves or others during a
psychotic episode.)

I agree with others who think Jo's analogy between werewolves
and the disabled is a very sketchy one. The analogy doesn't
fit at all with the actual *effects* of werewolfism versus
physical diseases and disabilities (on either the victim or
those in the victim's presence). And it fits very imperfectly
when it comes to the general public's attitudes and how those
relate to the true danger presented by the infected (disabled
doesn't even fit at all).

Julie