would you want to?

So like, the first benders were either taught by spirits, animals, or stuff like that. Maybe they were taught enough and soon, a small group of one bender type was formed, then they had children and some of them were benders, so you mother or father (or both) had to be a bender before the child was bender, and yes there would be a lot more benders than there are now.

and gthat means that the world wouldn't be in the horrible war with the fire nation that they are in now.

I think, that it is a gift some are born with it others not. If people could learn bending definatly be an increase especially during war I mean they need more benders and warriors to fight.

The way i look at it, is if you could bend just by being taught, then wouldnt people try to bend more than one element, so i think that you have to be born with it. I dont think it has anything to do with there blood nor theyre parents really. I guess there parents would prolly be the same though. I think it involves what element they were born into. Like the protection of the spirit of that element is what gives them the power to bend or somthing ya know? oh well i tried

I believe that it is a genetic trait. The body determines if you can bend and what element. To maximize this ability you need a teacher. However you don't have to be born (for example) in the Water tribe to water bend. The people of the swamp waterbend but are technically Earth Kingdom citizens because they live in the borders of the Earth Kingdom.

I agree with the genetics things and i have a question which seems to fit here... Is it sjut me or are all Earth Benders barefoot when they actually Bend?

If bending is genetic then that would mean that a bender could be born that is able to bend multiple elements if his/her parents are different types of benders. The ability to bend an element is probably much like the ability to roll ones tongue. Or the ability to wink with one or both eyes. Even if both the parents could do it, sometimes the child cannot. Which explains why one of the twins could bend and the other couldn't and also why Sokka can't bend and Katara can. It's just a genetic trait that some have and some don't.

I think Earthbenders are barefoot so they are as close to the earth as they can be, since they must be in contact with the earth to earthbend.

That is a good point. Because the parents can bend does not mean that the child can (or visa versa). However it is not appear possible that the human body and/or sprit can bend more than one element (avatar aside).

I think that you have to be born a bender cause then Sokko could be a bender.So could Ty Lee and Mai but I don't think it works that way.

Thats the idea. You must be blessed with the gift. Otherwise all of the avatar world with have cultures that Require you to bend or your dead. Or maybe they would send you off the a mental ward. All in all the Body determines if and what you bend. The mind decides how well you use your bending.

not true bending is fake

You have to be born with it.It is final.

Bending is fake? WTF? What are you talking about, bending being fake? Geez! It's a show, and in the show bending is real, you have to born with it, blah blah... Even the dudes who made the show said it! And if they created the show, then what they say goes.

I feel as if I'm about to go into a frezzy.
"true bending is fake" What is that supose to mean. Let me introduce you to my favorite real life phrase. "Thats relative." Relativity, that is in comprason to something else. I will attack you word of true. If you mean true bending in the "real world" is fake then you might have a chance. However it cames across ot me and the person above as not being the case. Bending in the world of Avatar, or rather "true bending" CAN'T BE FAKED!! It is real because Producer GOD and his minions say so. Their work, their rules.

Now I shall analize the usage of the word of "true as in "true bending is fake". By defination true bending can't be faked because it is by defination true. We will for this example ignore the concept of relativity. Other tricks (such as The dirtybender's cheap, half breed, imatation of firebending by use of water and 'burning powerder') are natural fake and not "true bending".

Yes I did ignore the "not" in the post because it didn't make clear sence.

Do Sho, he meant "Not True, bending is fake" As in, "That is Not True. Bending is fake", but just without punctuation and with really bad grammar.

O welll....I feel sheepish. Now I scared off a member just because of a misunderstanding. Still, I feel pretty proud of my post.

Okay, guys, yes this was all a big misunderstanding, but get back on topic, please.