PADS

See also: pads and pāds

English

Noun

PADS (uncountable)

(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 2013-09-17:
  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 2022-12-08:
  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 2022-12-15:
  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 2022-12-20:
  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 2022-12-19:
  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.

French

Etymology

From English PADS.

Noun

PADS m (uncountable)

(fandom slang, psychology, pathology, informal) PADS (“post-Avatar depression syndrome”) [1][2]
Synonyms: syndrome de dépression post-Avatar[2], syndrome Avatar[3]

References

Pauline Weiss (19 December 2022), “Qu’est-ce que le syndrome de dépression post-Avatar ?”, in ELLE France‎, Levallois-Perret, France: CMI Media
Tiphaine Honnet (16 December 2022), “Qu'est-ce que le syndrome de dépression post-Avatar ?”, in Madame Figaro‎, Paris, France: Le Figaro
Staragora (2010), “Avatar déprime le public...”, in Marie Claire FRANCE‎, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France: Marie Claire Album

German

This German term is a hot word. Its inclusion on Wiktionary is provisional.

Noun

PADS

(fandom slang) PADS: Abbreviation of Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrom.

Synonyms

Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrom

Pandora-Depression
Post-Avatar-Depression (PAD)
Post-Avatar-Depression-Syndrom
Post-Avatar-Syndrom (PAS)