girlunderglass
Metalbending Cop
Runs With Scissors
Just STFU Already.
Posts: 5,014
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Post by girlunderglass on Mar 23, 2008 22:02:54 GMT -5
lol You got it.. I just had to wait the one hour to give it out.
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Astronomy
Avatar Yangchen
Everyone loves a band geek.
Posts: 1,517
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Post by Astronomy on Mar 24, 2008 17:28:35 GMT -5
I like this theory. It definately makes sense. I'm not so sure about the part with Iroh saying Air Nomads had good senses of humor. I'm pretty sure he said that 'apparently' they had good senses of humor, indicating that he had never met one himself. The rest of the theory is fine though. *karma*
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melloyello
Appa
Beware the Chittering Monkey
Posts: 229
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Post by melloyello on Mar 24, 2008 18:47:21 GMT -5
How would Iroh know that the airbenders apparently had good senses of humour? It's not like they left a great legacy of famous stand up comedians or anything - even with the word apparently, it still makes sense that Iroh would have to at least heard several first hand descriptions of airbenders to know that they're funny.
Plenty of people have pointed to the title as saying that Aang is the last Airbender, but that does not mean that Aang is the last of the Air Nomads. While it has been indicated that all air nomads were airbenders before thier home was attacked, that may not have always been the case. What did the Air Nomads do when someone was born without bending power? Over hundreds of years of civilization it was bound to happen at least once. Perhaps such handicapped nomads settled in the other nations.
There are plenty of ways for airbenders to reappear within the series, but I have to say having them in the White Lotus would be one of the better ideas.
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Alleluia
Kyoshi Mai
Earthbending General of the Zutarian Army
Icon by Youkaislayer
Posts: 2,384
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Post by Alleluia on Mar 25, 2008 19:05:11 GMT -5
How would Iroh know that the airbenders apparently had good senses of humour? It's not like they left a great legacy of famous stand up comedians or anything - XD That was so glib. I loved it! *karmas* All Air Nomads were airbenders. It hasn't just been indicated, its actually been stated. That being said, so what? The show's title is formated like this "Avatar: The Last Airbender". At first glance we take that to mean that there is just Aang as an Airbender. But look at it not as a statement, but as the title of a story and you may see something different. It can become "Avatar" as the main overall title and "The Last Airbender" as a subset. Kind of like the entire HP series that had Harry Potter in the title but then a different continuation for each book. The fact is, as far as the characters are concerned, they all *think* Aang is the last airbender. And that may be the reason its titled that way. Its the legend of Aang, the story of the Avatar who is considered, as far as they know, to be the last airbender. There is nothing keeping that assumption that the characters have from being proven false. Titles can be intentionally misleading. Who gives away an important plot point in the title? If there are more airbenders in hiding somehow, they wouldn't say that in the title of the show. And Mike and Bryan have never confirmed nor denied that there are or are not airbenders left. They have said that horrible things have happened in history, like genocide. Thats all they have said. Didn't say that thats what happened here and everyone is gone. All that said, the possibility is there for it to go either way. There may be airbenders, there may not be. Personally I have a hard time believing that Sozin was able to kill all the airbenders even if he did attack all temples simultaneously. They were nomadic(hence "Air NOMADS"), the temples possibly serving as bases or training centers. Its just hard to believe sozin managed to attack while everyone was somehow home, because how likely is that to ever happen? That would be extremely lucky for him. Plus, I wonder where Momo came from if there are no air nomads, anymore. Sure, otehr creatures from the air nomad culture survived, like that crab. But the lemurs seemed like they lived closely with the people. Why would bison, who had the same close relationship to people, be comepletely wiped out, and not lemurs? Bison are bigger and easier to hunt, maybe, but we never hear anything about any follow up strikes against the nomads. Its made very specific that sozin took them out in one attack, which just seems so implausible. What the heck do I know, though? Could just be a part of the show they never developed and the implausibility is bad writing. I just like the idea that there is some big reveal planned about all this more then that first option. And I think there is some evidence to back up the idea, as stated so nicely in this thread by others.
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Post by spoonbender on Mar 25, 2008 20:33:05 GMT -5
Why would bison, who had the same close relationship to people, be comepletely wiped out, and not lemurs? Bison are bigger and easier to hunt, maybe, but we never hear anything about any follow up strikes against the nomads. Appa was frozen in the ice with Aang, that's why he's alive. I can understand lemurs still being alive, and I think that there can be more airbenders alive as well, even if it is unlikely. The creators have the potential to go either way, so it's up to them. Maybe after book four they'll change the show title to AVATAR: [something that replaces the last airbender]
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girlunderglass
Metalbending Cop
Runs With Scissors
Just STFU Already.
Posts: 5,014
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Post by girlunderglass on Mar 26, 2008 15:00:59 GMT -5
I can understand lemurs still being alive, and I think that there can be more airbenders alive as well, even if it is unlikely. Momo could have kin out there! In order for the lemurs to survive, there would have to be other lemurs around to mate and procreate with.. or we wouldn't have Momo! I like that thought!. This thread has become very thought provoking.. I love it! As Alle (hello, Alle!) stated, it has been said more than once that all Airbenders are born with the ability to bend. And her argument of titles being misleading is very valid. Aang went off into his ball of ice for 100 years and in that time, all of the Airbenders residing at temples are wiped out. The Airbenders all had sky bison, which we know can fly fast. Who's to say they did not also use the bison as expedient messengers? As one air temple was about to be attacked, a messenger was sent out to warn the other temples. In preparation, perhaps some of the Air Nomads were able to take pilgrimage and escape prior to the attacks. And after a 100 years of producing children- maybe, there is a such thing as an Air Nomad that has no airbending abilities. Maybe 100 years of evolution made the Air Nomads able to produce offspring, (like Sokka to the Water Tribe) that is unable to bend. It wouldn't make them less of an Air Nomad... just a more modern one. And one final thought- what if it was a fallacy that all Air Nomads could bend? The Fire Nation only took interest in destroying or imprisoning those that can bend.
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Alleluia
Kyoshi Mai
Earthbending General of the Zutarian Army
Icon by Youkaislayer
Posts: 2,384
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Post by Alleluia on Mar 26, 2008 20:32:39 GMT -5
(Hiiiii, GUG! *waves* ^_^)
Well, I have a thought about why all the Air Nomads were benders. M&B haven't exactly been too.. exact about the nature of bending when asked. They say its a mix of genetics, talent, and spirituality. (Avatarspirit.net interview) Its also been stated that the Air Nomads' population was 100% bender because they are the most spiritual of the nations. (It was stated in the first cinemanga for ATLA I think. The one with episode 101 in it)
Now, Temples act as spiritual centers in most religions. And they seemed like they acted as gender segregated training centers in the show, since there were so many kids, but none of thier parents apparently. Maybe when an Air Nomad child was born, they would be sent to the apprpriate temple by their parents(possibly never seeing the parents again, but thats neither here nor there). And in that temple, from babyhood, they were trained in the Air Nomad spirituality. They have the genetic component and they are given the spiritual component via the monks/nuns and the Temple environment. So maybe, thanks to this system, when they came of age there was a 100% bender turnout.
If this is how it goes, then its possible that now, with the Temples and the system of early-life training in their spirituality gone, there could very wel have been Air Nomad survivors(benders, themselves) who had nonbender children. Thus the Air Nomads can *now* be nonbenders. But there would still probably be at least a few benders born. It'd be like the situation in the south pole, with Katara being the only waterbender born there in her generation, but still having been born none the less. Only it'd be even more indetectable because the Air Nomads apparently had the smallest population of all the nations in the first place. (also from the first cinemanga)
We are still talking very few people who would have escaped the massacres. But still, its something and opens up the possibilities.
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Post by mentalmishaps on Mar 26, 2008 21:30:07 GMT -5
*sigh* I'm going to have to look this up (when my family isn't asleep) but I could have sworn that on one of the DVD commentaries, M/B said something about them believing that some damage was too great to be fixed. That pretty much indicates (if it is one of them that said it) that the Air Nomads might be gone forever.
100 years in the Avatarverse isn't very long, certainly not long enough for a bending evolution to take place. Evolution in the real world takes quite a long time. In a world where people live to be 150 or more, it seems impossible that it could occur.
Also, it has been stated many, many, many, MANY times that bending is part of who you are. You can't be taught to be a bender. You are born that way, and it is part of your identity. If there were ANY air nomads left they would be benders. You can't simply stomp out someone's bending. You cannot stop them from learning their discipline either. It has been shown that people will go to great lengths to learn bending.
It is very possible for the FN to have wiped out all the nomads. According to Aang, the FN defeated them by surprise; they had no army. It would have been very easy to take out a nation of peaceful monks- especially if they attacked each temple at the same time.
Honestly, I would love it if there were some airbenders out there. But we also have to think of the time frame. There aren't many episodes left in this season. How are they going to bring in a new group of people that completely undermine everything that the show has built up. I'd actually be a little disappointed if they came in unless M/B did some serious explaining. I mean, the show is called Avatar: The LAST Airbender. I don't think that the title is meant to be misleading. I think that the Air Nomads are gone, and it's a shame. Maybe the next Avatar-verse show (if it happens) will center on Air Nomads.
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Lisa31468
Haru
We all have to do our part to win this war.
Posts: 313
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Post by Lisa31468 on Mar 27, 2008 22:38:09 GMT -5
It would definitely be awesome if this theory is proven to be correct. Very interesting. I hope we see much more of the White Lotus Society in general before the end of S3.
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appaspillow
penguin
I am the crown prince and heir to the Fire Nation Throne
Posts: 7
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Post by appaspillow on Mar 28, 2008 15:40:25 GMT -5
I know sorry about the spoiler I had tags on it but they didnt show up for some reason. This is one of the best Theories I have read on here. Now I just cant wait to have Nick start showing new Eppies.
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Lisa31468
Haru
We all have to do our part to win this war.
Posts: 313
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Post by Lisa31468 on Mar 28, 2008 17:23:05 GMT -5
I know sorry about the spoiler I had tags on it but they didnt show up for some reason. This is one of the best Theories I have read on here. Now I just cant wait to have Nick start showing new Eppies. AP: Now I just can't wait to have Nick start showing new eppies. As Chong would say: "...[don't] we all brother!"
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Post by fuzzy2wumpkin on Mar 30, 2008 10:05:52 GMT -5
actually, i wouldn't doubt that the order of the white lotus has been around for long time. its pretty obvious that monk gyatso was in it and roku and gyatso really good best friends so roku might have been it as well
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Alleluia
Kyoshi Mai
Earthbending General of the Zutarian Army
Icon by Youkaislayer
Posts: 2,384
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Post by Alleluia on Mar 30, 2008 12:39:40 GMT -5
I am actually very curious as to why it focuses on "the White Lotus". Whats the significance of a Lotus? I know in our world, its a water plant and has some connection to fire and also to enlightenment. But I wonder what its signifcance is in the Avatar world? Is it similar to how our world sees it? Is it something to do with their creation myth? How the Avatar came about? The founder of the Order 5,000 years was a gardening fiend?
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luna
Appa
Posts: 206
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Post by luna on Mar 30, 2008 18:28:12 GMT -5
Hmmm...very interesting. I think whether Aang and Katara have an Airbender baby, or whatever, that they won't end the series with no promise of more Air nomads. I was thinking White Lotus was protecting Ursa. Maybe both, lol. Maybe... Ursa was born an Air Nomad!
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Post by mentalmishaps on Mar 30, 2008 21:18:22 GMT -5
I am actually very curious as to why it focuses on "the White Lotus". Whats the significance of a Lotus? I know in our world, its a water plant and has some connection to fire and also to enlightenment. But I wonder what its signifcance is in the Avatar world? Is it similar to how our world sees it? Is it something to do with their creation myth? How the Avatar came about? The founder of the Order 5,000 years was a gardening fiend? In Chinese history, the Society of the White Lotus is any underground society working to overthrow the government. They first began during the Yuan Dynasty. The White Lotus Society (And the rest of the Chinese) worked against the Mongols who were ruling at the time.
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