I still disagree with putting vampires in the same category. I'd place them more in line with werewolves.

Zombies and skeletons are something more like animated corpses... I think the self-awareness is what creates that distinction between vampires and zombies. Like an animated skeleton that was under the control of some kind of necromancer would be more like a puppet. Vampires are born from being dead, or dying from another vampire bite, right? But they don't have to be around another vampire to stay alive. Zombies I would say are closer to skeletons and operate the same, but they have brains that rely on those base instincts....

I don't really feel like we are in disagreement.

I'm just curious if you know more, or differently than what I've learned. For instance, do you think garlic wards off vampires?