that's what eric asks in episode 11 of season 2. it doesn't get any more clear than that. and then there's a standoff with vampire bill who's all " you're pathetic, eric" but eric isn't phased out or anything. that's my vampire.
also eric likes kids (and not in a vampire way) and that adds extra points to his awesomeness. he does tricks for them, y inclus the superman take off.
long story short - episode 11 is sort of a "in between" episode. everyone - vampire humans and shapeshifers - runs around to solve the maryann problem. we get to see the vampire queen of louisiana (btw, that dainty leg wan't hers) and bill is stuck with a long match of game with dice whose name in english i can't find right now.
and of course we have the cliffhanger at the end where sookie is surrounded by a lot of bug-eyed people - including lafayette. i am dissapointed in you, lafayette.
on a related note - district 9 is the best alien movie i've ever seen. and it confirms my theory about what humankind would actually do if we ever meet aliens - chop 'em up! kill 'em all! experiment on 'em! horde them in slums! and then you wonder why they don't dare approaching us.