PADS

See also: pads and pāds

English

Noun

PADS (uncountable)

1. (fandom slang, neologism) Initialism of post-Avatar depression syndrome (“a feeling of depression brought upon by watching the 2009 epic science fiction film Avatar or its sequels, as a result of not being able to experience the movie's world in real life”). [from 2010]
   • 2010 February 23, Eliezer Sobel, “Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrome (PADS)”, in Reality Sandwich‎, archived from the original on 17 September 2013:

     News reports have appeared recently speaking of people who see Avatar and subsequently fall into a deep depression at their inability to access a world in reality as beautiful, entrancing and spiritual as Pandora, the mythical planet depicted in the film. But before you join a Post Avatar Depression Syndrome (PADS) support group, consider the lesson of the spilled Coke, or really, one of the lessons of LSD.

   • [2022 November 30, Jamie Lauren Keiles, “'Avatar' and the Mystery of the Vanishing Blockbuster”, in The New York Times‎, archived from the original on 8 December 2022:

     The condition went by different names: "Avatar" Syndrome, Post-Pandoran Depression or PADS (Post-"Avatar" Depression Syndrome).]

   • 2022 December 15, Sian Cain, “'Post-Avatar depression syndrome': why do fans feel blue after watching James Cameron's film?”, in The Guardian‎, archived from the original on 15 December 2022:

     But no, PADS is not a medically recognised condition – nor does it seem to be a PR campaign. It is an observable phenomenon.

   • 2022 December 16, George Hancorn, “Why are some worried the latest Avatar film might make them depressed?”, in ITV News‎, archived from the original on 20 December 2022:

     Fans complained about suffering from it back in 2009, so could we see a return to PADS?

   • 2022 December 17, Cameron Frew, “Avatar 2: What happened to Earth?”, in Dexerto‎, archived from the original on 19 December 2022:

     When Avatar first hit cinemas in 2009, P.A.D.S spread among the masses: Post-Avatar Depression Syndrome. This isn't a joke, thousands of viewers sought comfort online from not being able to experience the wonders of Pandora outside movie theaters.

Usage notes

• PADS (post-Avatar depression syndrome) is not a medically recognized condition.

Synonyms

post-Avatar depression syndrome

• Avatar blues
• PAD (post-Avatar depression)
• Pandora syndrome
• PAS (post-Avatar syndrome)

Descendants

• French: PADS

Translations

post-Avatar depression syndrome

French: syndrome de dépression post-Avatar, PADS German: Pandora-Depression, Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrom, PADS/P.A.D.S., Post-Avatar-Depression, PAD/P.A.D., Post-Avatar-Syndrom, PAS/P.A.S.

See also

• Avatar (franchise) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Avatar (2009 film) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Avatar: The Way of Water on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• DAPs, daps, SpAd, APDs, PDAs, APDS, SPAD, ASPD, spad, SaPD