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Disambiguation

This disambiguation page is within the scope of WikiProject Disambiguation, an attempt to structure and organize all disambiguation pages on Misplaced Pages. If you wish to help, you can edit the page attached to this talk page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project or contribute to the discussion.DisambiguationWikipedia:WikiProject DisambiguationTemplate:WikiProject DisambiguationDisambiguation

Television: Avatar Disambig‑class

This disambiguation page is within the scope of WikiProject Television, a collaborative effort to develop and improve Misplaced Pages articles about television programs. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page where you can join the discussion.TelevisionWikipedia:WikiProject TelevisionTemplate:WikiProject Televisiontelevision Disambig This disambiguation page does not require a rating on Misplaced Pages's content assessment scale. This disambiguation page is supported by the Avatar: The Last Airbender task force.

discrepancies

Are both of these needed? "Among people working on virtual reality and cyberspace interfaces, an avatar is an icon or representation of a user in a shared virtual reality." "Avatar is also the visual image representation of a member of an online virtual community." Dustin Asby 09:09, 12 Sep 2004 (UTC)

nothing on that nickelodeon show Avatar: The Last Airbender? It certainly deserves a note as being "american anime done right for once" eh?

I'm changing the definition by removing the word earthly. This will make it so that the definition will now read that an Avatar is the incarnation of a higher being. This will make it so that it fits the meaning in veritual communities AND the mythological term, from which it sprung from. That is why we use the term Avatar in role play games and in virtual communities. There, WE are the gods, and our character is our avatar. Corrupt one 02:41, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

I agree it's better how you changed it. Besides the good reason you gave, the word "Earthly" was redundant anyway since it is already implied by the word "incarnation." The sanskrit word Avatara from which Avatar comes means 'descent from above' and does not say anything about the Earth. If an avatar incarnated on Mars wouldn't he still be an avatar? Cott12 Talk 12:07, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

Moved stuff

I'm moving these elaborate definitions here, they are better suited in the appropriate article. (I've replaced them with shorted entries on the dab page) -- jiy 21:32, August 1, 2005 (UTC)

• CMU, Tektronix superuser. Quite a few Unix implementations name their superuser account "avatar" rather than using the tradional name "root". This quirk originated with a CMU hacker who found the terms "root" and "superuser" unimaginative, and thought "avatar" might better impress people with the responsibility they wielded.
• In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game an Avatar refers to a Material Plane (earthly) manifestation of any deity, outlined statistically in Deities & Demigods. Only gods of a certain rank may manifest these avatars, which "mortals" may attack and slay without injuring the deity itself, who can often manifest the avatar again after a relatively short time. Some other RPGs have similar uses, and some MUDs refer to any player who has reached a certain level as an "avatar".
• Avatars form a type of robot or interactive computer program designed to teach, or help to learn. Usually museums use such avatars: visitors can ask them questions, which the avatar "understands" and answers using generated voice in a Text-To-Speech system.
• Avatar (band)

Avatar: More recently Yahoo Messenger has started a new feature to use Avatar

Avatar Redirect

Since there are so many meanings for avatar I think that 'Avatar' should redirect here at 'Avatar (disambiguation)' and not Avatar. Teak the Kiwi 23:10, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Nonsense. The first and most important meaning is the religious/philosophical one. All other ones are merely pop cultural in nature. --86.135.181.244 18:19, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

That may be, but if I want to look up "avatars" (as in user images in forums) or the "Avatar" (as in the Ultima Series) or the 2009 film "Avatar", I'll probably be VERY surprised to find some Hindu philosophy. That's not only unexpected, but mostly not very useful at all to anyone but Hindus. -- 78.34.64.222 (talk) 15:11, 31 January 2010 (UTC)

See this. It was a pretty heated debate. It certainly hasn't been resolved. Oldag07 (talk) 15:57, 31 January 2010 (UTC)

Changing layout.

I will be changing the layout in a week if no-one objects. I will be having the definitions in things like computing and gaming next to each other, and examples of the words usage in things such as shows after that. Can anyone find something wrong with that?" Corrupt one (talk) 23:05, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Just realized it would mean goint hrough all those things individually and coming up wih an entirely new layout. Can't do that in one go. Will wok on t in it pieces. Corrupt one (talk) 00:08, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

I've added headers, as it seems to be long enough now to warrant them. I've also floated the TOC to the right, but the position of the first header has shifted the (due to the length of the intro and the position of the Transwiki box. I've also moved the AVATAR entry into the computing section, as it doesn't seem to me to be a major enough usage for inclusion in the intro section. — Sasuke Sarutobi (talk) 20:02, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

See Talk:Crystal (disambiguation)#Primary usage. This is one of the many dabs that utilize more than one primary topic. Lord Sesshomaru (talk • edits) 20:20, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Avatar (Band)

There are two bands called Avatar, the Romanian one listed on the Avatar(Disambiguation) and another one: http://www.avatar.net/

Should be a separate page for them. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.184.187.200 (talk) 12:37, 1 June 2009 (UTC)

No, there's no need for more dab pages. Also the other band needs a Misplaced Pages article in order for inclusion here. Lord Sesshomaru (talk • edits) 00:44, 2 June 2009 (UTC)

Last Airbender film

The Last airbender should be included on talk page because people still call the Airbender film, "Avatar", despite the cameron film.

• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0938283/news#ni0917150
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo85qZm-Zuk

While not official sources, the essence of a disambiguation page is to reduce confusion, and make the film more search able. Oldag07 (talk) 17:34, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

While those are not super authoritative sources, it shows that it is possible for people to get the film confused with the Cameron film, hence the need for a link to the Last Airbender. Oldag07 (talk) 17:45, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

Title ownership went to James Cameron, so, what in blazes are you talking about?! You adding that entry there will actually cause confusion. Lord Sesshomaru (talk • edits) 01:18, 13 August 2009 (UTC)

Many people do not know that there is a film called Avatar made my James Cameron coming out this year. No trailer has come out for the Cameron film. I was confused the first time I looked for the film. If i was confused, and my friends were, others will be too. Hence the need for both films to be placed on this page. Oldag07 (talk) 05:49, 13 August 2009 (UTC)

The thing is, you're trying to mention something that is unrelated to this disambiguation page. The hatnote at the article Avatar (2009 film) already clears it up. Lord Sesshomaru (talk • edits) 01:45, 14 August 2009 (UTC)

The hatnote that i added. . . I am not going to push it. Oldag07 (talk) 23:04, 14 August 2009 (UTC)

I think that The Last Airbender should be mentioned on the disambiguation page and not the page on Cameron's film. One actually needs to specify that Avatar is an 'upcoming science fiction film directed by James Cameron' to reach that page, or type 'Avatar (2009 film)'. If someone lands on that page, it would seem that they know what they're looking for. 'The Last Airbender' was actually titled 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' before Fox and Cameron had a dispute, so there is a reasonable explanation for it being on the disambig page. At the very least it should be mentioned by the reference to the cartoon on that page. --Krevans (talk) 01:57, 17 August 2009 (UTC)

If the movie is alternatively called "Avatar" in some other country then it'd be appropriate here. However, a reliable source would need to back that up first. Lord Sesshomaru (talk • edits) 22:23, 18 August 2009 (UTC)

Because Cameron's Avatar is a big international release, the title has been changed to 'The Last Airbender' everywhere. I just don't feel the note should be placed at the top of the page for Cameron's film in particular. Like I said, to reach that page you need to know what you're looking for...eg 'a 2009 science fiction film directed by James Cameron'. The Last Airbender is not that. it doesn't even come out in 2009, so why should there be a note about it at the top of 'Avatar (2009 film)'? Especially when the vast, vast majority of people who reach that page know what they're looking for. The cartoon 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is listed on the disambiguation page, so I think the film should be as well. It makes a lot more sense there than on the page for Cameron's Avatar. --Krevans (talk) 23:35, 18 August 2009 (UTC)

I understand why you'd want to incorporate this here, but, the hatnoting settles it (awkwardly if I may say). Besides, "Avatar" wasn't even a working title because of the name dispute. If this were a case like WP:DAB#Partial title matches, I could see the need for it to be in the see also section, yet even so ... Lord Sesshomaru (talk • edits) 23:53, 18 August 2009 (UTC)

Actually, "Avatar" was a working title of the project when it was announced in 2007. See here and here. I just don't think the hatnoting really settles it, since people looking for The Last Airbender, a 2010 film not directed by James Cameron and not considered science fiction, aren't likely to wind up on the 'Avatar (2009 film)' page. --Krevans (talk) 08:35, 19 August 2009 (UTC)

(Restarted intents)Last Airbender already has a trailer out. Cameron's movie doesn't. I know people when telling them what do you think about the new Avatar movie, they honestly believe that I am referring to the Airbender movie. Confusion exists. and therefore a hatnote, or placing it on the disambig page is appropriate. Oldag07 (talk) 04:26, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

The trailer just came out, and it would seem that people still are confused with it. Quoting weemann45 from the youtube: "i thought it was avatarthe last air bender...FML" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXF2nH4Z9sc Oldag07 (talk) 15:13, 22 August 2009 (UTC)

Move discussion in progress

There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Avatar which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RFC bot 03:30, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

Move discussion in progress

There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Avatar which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RFC bot 23:30, 22 November 2009 (UTC)

Seriously?

I went to 'Avatar (film)' because I know that on Wankipedia that's how things work but I ended up at another disambig page. Are you guys just having a laugh? I can understand that searching for 'avatar' may take me to a disambig but is there are reason for 'avatar (film)' doing the same? Misplaced Pages is a joke nowadays.--Xania 00:17, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Seriously. Check the DAB page; there are two films with the name Avatar. Misplaced Pages has always been a joke; why change now? --MegaSloth (talk) 16:34, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

So, which film would you expect the link to go to? The reason it redirected to this disambiguation page is because it is impossible for us to read your mind and determine which article you want to view. So, we give you a list to choose from. It's the only solution, really, so I fail to see what the problem is. — Huntster (t @ c) 22:35, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Since this is an encyclopedia that anyone can edit, what changes do you think we should change. Oldag07 (talk) 00:03, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

WTF? One of those films on the disambig page doesn't even have an article and the other is somewhat less well-known than the 2009 film (and I'm putting that nicely). Yes, our minds can be read - when we search for 'Avatar' we mean the 2009 film, when we search for 'Georgia' we mean that country north of Turkey rather than the state in the USA and when we search for '24' we mean the TV series rather than the year '24'.--Xania 22:12, 25 February 2010 (UTC)

If you are so passionate about moving the new Cameron movie to Avatar (film), than make a request on the page to move it. WP:RM If the discussion goes in your favor, then we will move it. One must note, that the new avatar movie has only been out for a few months. The original Avatar (2009 film) title was correct at the time. No one knew how successful the film would have been. Hindsight is 20/20. Oldag07 (talk) 20:20, 7 March 2010 (UTC)

I asked this same question 7 months ago, but was voted down. See Talk:Avatar (film). ...comments? ~BFizz 00:52, 9 September 2010 (UTC)

If it were up to me (and it's not), I would move Avatar (2009 film) to Avatar, for obvious reasons. —C Teng 20:47, 3 June 2010 (UTC)

Obvious reasons??? See Talk:Avatar/Archive_1#Requested_move:_Avatar_.E2.86.92_Avatar_.28Hinduism.29 This is anything but obvious or easy. Oldag07 (talk) 02:58, 6 September 2010 (UTC)

Requested move

It has been proposed in this section that multiple pages be renamed and moved. A bot will list this discussion on the requested moves current discussions subpage within an hour of this tag being placed. The discussion may be closed 7 days after being opened, if consensus has been reached (see the closing instructions). Please base arguments on article title policy, and keep discussion succinct and civil. Please use {{subst:requested move}}. Do not use {{requested move/dated}} directly. Links: current log • target log • direct move

Avatar → Avatar (Hinduism) — Avatar (disambiguation) → Avatar

This was a debate that occurred about a year ago and it was never settled. Does hindu definition of an "Avatar" remain the primary definition of the term, or is there no primary topic? Since the last debate, Avatar (2009 film), went from a little advertised and known film to the highest grossing movie in the world. Moreover, one of the key arguments against the move was that the Oxford World Dictionary exclusively defined the term "Avatar" in its Hindu definition. This is no longer the case . Add these recent developments to Jhunter's argument " the disambiguation gets more than half the hits of the base-name page, so more people are looking for something else than are looking for this meaning." We can thus assume that there is no primary topic for the term Avatar, and that this move is necessary. Oldag07 (talk) 03:03, 17 September 2010 (UTC)

Comment: Updating Jhunter's links "disambiguation and base-name page", the number doesn't seem exactly half anymore. Still, I think the argument is still strong enough for a move.

• Support outside of India, avatars are the computer things that you use to represent yourself in online environments or games. 76.66.200.95 (talk) 04:27, 17 September 2010 (UTC)
• Support move because there is no primary topic. 69.3.72.249 (talk) 04:41, 17 September 2010 (UTC)
• Mixed feelings - The hindu term is obviously where the computer and movie terms originated from, so there is merit to keeping Avatar (Hinduism) as the main page for Avatar. However, Avatar (2009 film) has about 3x as many hits as the base-name page ((2009 film) stats). My gut instinct would be to make (2009 film) the main page, and add a hatnote for the hindu concept, the computer term, and disambiguation page. But I admit that other arrangements are certainly understandable and have their reasons. As a side-note, I personally don't think enough people are finding Avatar (computing) when they might be looking for it without Google's aid. It should hold a more prominent place in the disambig page, and in hatnotes (imho). ...comments? ~BFizz 04:47, 17 September 2010 (UTC)

Discussion

Top 5 results on Google Web search for "Avatar site:wikipedia.org", and their respective page views in August 2010:

1. Avatar (2009 film) 394297
2. Avatar (computing) 17403
3. Avatar 146095
4. Avatar: The Last Airbender 361478
5. Avatar (disambiguation) 54017

What is the disambiguation page doing in that list at all? It is getting way too many hits from Google because people using Google are looking for something other than the first 4 results. The same is evident in the page views; they are way too high too. 69.3.72.249 (talk) 04:41, 17 September 2010 (UTC)

• WikiProject Disambiguation pages
• Disambig-Class television pages
• NA-importance television pages
• Disambig-Class Avatar: The Last Airbender pages
• NA-importance Avatar: The Last Airbender pages
• Avatar: The Last Airbender task force articles
• WikiProject Television articles
• Requested moves