Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible.

[Cynical Skyman]

yah, in order for me to get to a forest i have to drive a few thousand miles lol

GOOD THING I'M SWEDISH THEN.

Sorry about that. I feel your pain.

[xPandorax]

yah, in order for me to get to a forest i have to drive a few thousand miles lol

I swear, I'm moving out of the US as soon as I finish my degree to find my own Pandora.

[rayhunter30]

What ever we had tried The Sky People still don't understand!
I started loved this movie when Jake ran out of the lab
I almost couldn't hold my tear!!!
It';s not what we have seen every day... Inside the ordinary plot
I've seen the soul that I never touch from other before.

I'm happy to see the most "Na'vi" people inside this website
can see how beautiful Pandora and Na'vi are.

[boethius]

To me the movie didn't invoke depression, as much as it did helping me put me back on my path.

It helped me realize that no matter where you are (in the universe), you are always right here and right now. Realizing that helps me understand and see the beauty of everything around me.

It of course also makes you more conscious, which helps you understand that certain actions have consequences. You don't realize these consequences if your mind is cluttered with ego and sickness (as it would if you are emotionally angry, depressed, etc). That is why for example people who are obsessed with money, (redistributing it or accumulating it) don't understand that what they are truly doing is feeding their ego. Or when you are so depressed you don't even care about you're own world anymore and you want to live in a fictionally created world such as Pandora).

What I am trying to say is, if you're not close to a forest, think again: you are still in a forest of things made by beings on this planet. Whether they are there for the right reason or the wrong ones, they are still part of you, this planet, this universe.

It may sound crazy to you, telling you that we are actually already interconnected, but we are to "occupied" by our minds and egos to see it.

The way you can help spread one of the messages that Avatar communicates is realizing that everything is already interconnected and helping them clear their minds of all the mindless self-loathing, ego-tripping and so on.

Don't go around saying socialism, capitalism etc is bad/good, they are just "tools" that we use to sculpt our society. The true culprit/savior is you, here and now.

[Arafel]

I have watched Avatar twice now and every time I walk away I do so with a feeling of discontentment and sadness (not with the movie, but with myself).

I can't quite say why the movie affects me so, maybe it is the imagery of Jake Sully and how he winds up getting everything he has ever wanted, he gets a place to belong, he finds a cause worth fighting for and he finds the girl of his dreams. But it's not only that, for me this whole movie is an explanation for how Jake finally finds himself. Both of the times I have walked out of the cinema I have been close to crying, not only for this wonderful world that so narrowly escaped destruction but also for Jake and how he found happiness.

I have recently stopped playing World of Warcraft and this movie made me see how much I have hidden myself away from the world by playing as I have and at the times I have. This movie showed me that I need to find a new way to express myself. I feel that by working in the occupation i do (industrial automation, I am kind of the enemy of the NA'VI way of living) I don't have a sufficient outlet for the sort of feelings we all have (contact with other people, artistic expression and such). This movie showed me that I need to open up more. I have to go out, meet people, express myself, find happiness in this world because we all have to make it a good place to live.

To help with this I have decided to start drawing again (I haven't done for maybe 8 years), and I have decided that I need to find time for the wonderful nature that is all around me and for my friends.

Thankfully I live in Norway (the land of the fjords and great expanses of forests and mountains) i need only step outside my door (i live in the 6 biggest city in Norway) and walk for 1/2 hour to get into the kind of wilderness where you can get lost and wander for days without seeing anyone. I work about 45 kilometers from my house and the drive takes me through the woods and over a small mountain.

I don't feel depressed, it's more a kind of deep sadness. Even though I know that the whole "live in close contact with nature" seems very nice and such I also know that such a life would also bring hardships and pain. Maybe the reason I feel so sad is because I too hope that I can find a place where I can be the hero. I'm thinking about seeing it again next week, but I'm kind of afraid too. I'm afraid that the sadness will come back even harder and that maybe I won't ever find a way out of it.

To all the others that have posted here, I have read every single post and I see a lot of things I agree with and many people that have gotten the will to be better persons from this movie, and what greater testament to the greatness of this movie can there be?

In the end I think I'll close with a quote that has always meant a lot to me:
"When ever I try to go where I realy want to be, it's already where I am, because I am already there"

[picoreefvase]

boethius and arafel Im chiming in because of your sincere statements you really spoke your peace in that writing nice job. I am thinking the words of the people in this thread who are actively reconnecting are more amazing than the movie. Many people are shown stimulus for change, often through negative consequences, and things remain unchanged. You were able to find it in a beautiful movie but more importantly you acted on the stimulus, nice job inspiring others.

its also nice to see someone not a troll on their first post, welcome.

[Hydro]

First i wanna say Hi ok, i found out about this forum from some news website and i couldnt believe that so many ppl experienced depression after watching Avatar. Now i feel a relief knowing that im not a part of a small group having this symptoms, rather being a part of a community in which i can express my feelings along with the others.
Im gonna say a few words about my life in the past few years.
Over the past 3,4 years i literally had no life. I dedicated most of my time playing games on the computer, i became addicted of a very popular computer game. I start losing all my friends, and eventually almost every contact with the real world. I knew i had to escape from this hell and go back to the real life but it was too late, i tried so many times to get back on track but couldnt, i started to fear ppl and i barely was getting outside......but this thing was about to change... 2 days ago i went to saw Avatar. I didnt saw the trailers first, i just heard is a good move but that was all. After i saw the movie something strange and beautiful happened. Suddenly my eyes opened and i could see what i couldnt for 4 years, for the first time in 4 years i realized why im living for, the Splendid world of Pandora made me see the truth, made me see that that world is here on Earth, you just have to look for it. All the happiness, the divine world of Pandora is something that everyone can have...this is the meaning of life, this is the beauty of living...and from that day i started to leave again.
I feel like i was in chains for 4 years and now eventually the chains are broken.
Unfortunately the depression still remained but im sure it will fade in time...

My advice for you people is to keep fighting because whats out there is a lot more beautiful than what it seems and one day you will find the happiness your looking for.

[BLSmith2112]

BLS thats really cool to know, I may just do the 2d version to avoid public hurling if the scene transitions aren't that fast. let me ask you this though, how does the 3d compare to known/popular 3d movies? they didn't make me sick and I don't recall 2d/3d issues so if that's unique to this film I may consider the 2d option. considering the length of the flick I need to get ready for a marathon

Sorry for the late reply, I seem to be avoiding these forums after my little piece back on page 4.

To answer your question I didn't get any sort of headache from this film interestingly enough. Compared to a few other 3D films that just gave me a splitting headache. I think it had something to do with A. They didn't overdo the "in your face" stuff and B. Not every scene is in 3D to begin with.

[Arafel]

boethius and arafel Im chiming in because of your sincere statements you really spoke your peace in that writing nice job. I am thinking the words of the people in this thread who are actively reconnecting are more amazing than the movie. Many people are shown stimulus for change, often through negative consequences, and things remain unchanged. You were able to find it in a beautiful movie but more importantly you acted on the stimulus, nice job inspiring others.

its also nice to see someone not a troll on their first post, welcome.

Thanks Picoreefvase, I don't think I have ever gotten the kind of reception I have here. It's nice to feel apreciated.

When I read the replies here I see that most people aren't "depressed" as such, we just seem to have been taken from our normal numbness and been given a glimpse at what our world could have been. I feel that it's our responsibility to make shure that the world we wish to live in is the one we end up creating.

I too found this site through a newspaper article, but I hoped to find people to talk with, not people to taunt and annoy. I hope you guys like seeing me as much as I like being here

[angelothumbs]

Hello everyone,

I saw Avatar a few weeks ago with my 9 year old, and was quite moved by the underlying message of the film; as an allegory for the relationship between the American government and indigenous North American peoples, I found it really powerful - and couldn't be more excited about the consciousness this film is raising about humans' relationship to the environment and other cultures.

Of course, the movie wasn't without some problematic plot aspects (white hero saves the day, concept of the "Noble Savage", etc) - but, WOW - what a visually arresting movie. Pandora was truly otherworldly.

I read the CNN article, and felt moved to come here and post. As an elementary school teacher, and a student of Old Growth Forest Ecology and Native Prehistory - I really want to stress to those people feeling the "Avatar Blues" that there is still time, there are things you can do.

Our Pacific NW Old Growth forests (and other vital ecosystems around the world) absolutely trump the beauty of Pandora - and you can take action NOW to preserve these last stands of forest from logging and ecological devastation.

Authors like Richard Louv have documented a significant "Nature Deficit Disorder" in both kids and adults that is seriously impacting the decisions we make about environmental protections (see "Last Child in the Woods" - Richard Louv). Get out there into nature, and bring your kids!!

There are indigenous populations that need your help, NOW.
Visit survivalinternational.org for more information about the movement for tribal peoples.

There are far too many resources to list here - but, my point is- there is a place you can channel these feelings - this epiphany you experienced after watching the film. The world is waiting. There is a consciousness swelling here and around the globe. There are millions who feel just like you do - who are seriously re-evaluating our relationship to nature, the meaning of sustainability, learning from indigenous lifeways. Films like 'Avatar', as well as the current wave of "apocalypse scenario" films coming out - really speak to this being on the forefront of our culture's consciousness. The time to act is now. Get out there into nature, get out there into your community! Do some research, use your talents, take action - but please, don't despair!

Sincerely,
angelothumbs