this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2024
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Avatar: The Last Airbender

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Technology in Avatar universe just doesn't add up. (lemm.ee)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/avatar
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In show they created Mecha before a Plane. Even though they have created plane but still use airship. They have tanks 50 years before any cars. They created a complex drill machine before other thing.

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

There's no reason why their technological Roadmap has to follow ours. They have magical abilities.

Our technology development happens out of a series of events and discoveries that could have happened in totally different orders if a few historical figures had died from the plague, or Spanish flu, or measles.

And besides that, war has often been a driver of technological innovation. The earth kingdom has historically been a defense-heavy kingdom, so it's natural it was the fire nation who focused on air combat.

[–] hellofriend 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Big note on that last point: the Fire Nation knew that air combat was a possibility because, up until 100 years prior to the events of ATLA, the Air Nomads existed and were able to fly. We didn't have that.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Air nomads could fly, but they didn't attack other nations. They knew just as well that flight was possible because birds can fly. They just couldn't access that ability.

[–] hellofriend 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Air nomads didn't attack other nations, but they were attacked at least once. And it would have made sense to develop techniques that allowed them to maximize maneuverability in combat. Either way, it doesn't matter if they actually fought in the air. A military minded person would realize that being able to attack from the sky would be valuable, so just seeing a person flying would be enough to form a concept.

As for your bird remark... Bro, you ever seen a bird? Show me a bird the size and weight of a human. Of course they knew things could fly, just as we did. The difference is that they knew that humans could fly while we did not.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

To a fire bender, an air bender might as well be a whole other species. That was my point with the bird.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

There's no reason why their technological Roadmap has to follow ours. They have magical abilities.

I know that just saying.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I guess workforces being able to form rocks, metal, fire and lightning bolts before they invent the steam engine will hurl you into a different technological trajectory.

The shows aren't about technology adding up. It's about adventure first, character drama second and philosophy third. (Maybe you can switch two and three)

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The shows aren't about technology adding up. It's about adventure first, character drama second and philosophy third. (Maybe you can switch two and three)

Yea I know. Just saying it feel so wierd. They invent thing in wrong orders.

[–] then_three_more 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Or is it us that have invented things in the wrong order?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Good point.

[–] Feathercrown 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If you're going to insist that they're inventing things in the wrong order, then you don't actually get what the person you're replying to is saying

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I am not insisting you know?

They have Mecha before any other advance thing just make it wierd.

[–] Feathercrown 1 points 2 weeks ago

Mechs first is very weird, yeah

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago

Maybe the plane was invented earlier, but the Airbenders' Union went on a general strike until everyone agreed to outlaw the technology.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Can you give some examples of what you mean?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I mean they have created mecha before aeroplane. They can track exact location of Radio Wave where it's coming from. It just so feel wierd.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

In the real world new techniques is often developed for war and is only afterwards adapted into civilian life.

And they do have both Aeroplanes and cars in LoK, where they have mech suits. I don't remember any in the original series.

In the real world we had both airships and planes and only stopped using airships because of the Hindenburg disaster.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

That make sense

[–] slazer2au 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's sci fi

Does it have to make sense?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ask a trekkie ;)

(Technically, it's more steampunk)

[–] halcyoncmdr 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Hey, Star Trek just uses macguffin particles. The technological evolution steps still make logical sense.

Avatar's path is just weird.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

As I said: ci fi nerds take their lore very seriously.