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Post by jcgsebald on May 21, 2005 12:46:51 GMT -5
V.F.D. stands for either Volunteer Fire Department or Volunteers Forever Desguised.
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Post by Dante on May 21, 2005 12:59:48 GMT -5
Oldest of the theories. However, I recognise that it's been a long time since we had a thread on this.
I say Volunteer Fire Department. Occam's Razor. All the evidence points to it, Widdershins pretty much acknowledges it (in that he doesn't deny it and goes on to say that V.F.D. started out as a fire department). Really, the only plausible theory left is that V.F.D. no longer stands for anything - which, incidentally, is also the only theory I'll now accept outside of Volunteer Fire Department.
Some have said that TSS is too early to reveal the main secret of the books. That isn't true, I believe, for several reasons. For one thing, it's the fourth-to-last book in a series of thirteen. Snicket has to start revealing his secrets sometime or the last book will be all exposition and no plot. For a second thing, there are plenty of big secrets remaining. The sugar bowl, for example - and the history of Beatrice and the schism. Two new mysterious initials have appeared, as well - J.S.
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Post by PJ on May 21, 2005 19:09:55 GMT -5
Various....Firefighting Departments? Or something like that. Nah, it's Volunteer Fire Departments or what Dante said.
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Antenora
Detriment Deleter
Fiendish Philologist
Put down that harpoon gun, in the name of these wonderful birds!
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Post by Antenora on May 22, 2005 4:41:15 GMT -5
I've had/heard some pretty strange theories, such as "Volunteer Firefighters Disguised" or "Volunteer Fire Detectives".
But Volunteer Fire Department makes the most sense. I believe that VFD started as a fire department before branching off into other programs, such as disguise training. While the initials mean many things now, their original and "truest" meaning is Volunteer Fire Department.
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Post by jayK on May 22, 2005 4:46:51 GMT -5
Volunteer Fire Department has been a theory since we found out that the V in VFD was Volunteer. It may or may not be right. But some say the men at the start of TBB in the fire engine were VFD. But I believe (judging by the ? on the firehats in the coloured edition) that these are the men in the "?" shaped ship in TGG. Though I don't know what the connection is unless the bad side of VFD is something to do with the "?"
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Antenora
Detriment Deleter
Fiendish Philologist
Put down that harpoon gun, in the name of these wonderful birds!
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Post by Antenora on May 24, 2005 12:42:26 GMT -5
I just had a rather odd theory.
One part of VFD could be called the Volunteer Falconry Division. Falconry, in a general context, means the training of birds. Particularly birds of prey, but not limited to them. We know that VFD has trained eagles and crows.
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Post by Dante on May 24, 2005 12:51:04 GMT -5
That's a good idea. Handler should use it. It would make sense, it's a nice phrase, and we know very little about the training of the birds (compared to the lions and the salmon).
To recap: The crows were used (we can infer) for carrying messages. The eagles were trained to see smoke from a long way away, although more recently they've been assisting in kidnappings.
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Post by hookhandedgirl on Jun 6, 2005 14:59:03 GMT -5
it stands for volunteer fire department, mainly. trust me. i've read the books more than anybody.
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Post by Ron Weasley on Jun 7, 2005 10:43:32 GMT -5
it stands for volunteer fire department, mainly. trust me. i've read the books more than anybody. [glow=orange,2,300]Right, how many times is that? I doubt it'll be Volunteer Fire Department cause that's what everyone's expecting and I think that Lemony used that to distract us from the real meaning, I really liked Antenora's bird training theory.[/glow]
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Antenora
Detriment Deleter
Fiendish Philologist
Put down that harpoon gun, in the name of these wonderful birds!
Posts: 15,891
Likes: 113
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Post by Antenora on Jun 7, 2005 12:31:47 GMT -5
I believe that Volunteer Fire Department is one correct meaning, but not the only correct meaning. As we've seen, VFD means many things.
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Post by Dante on Jun 7, 2005 12:34:23 GMT -5
Possible argument in favour of Volunteer Fire Department:
Handler said in a (fairly recent) interview (don't ask me where it is; I don't know) that he, and I paraphrase, was most certainly not "writing the books to be subtle" or something along those lines. He was referring to Beatrice at the time, but if you wish, it could refer to V.F.D. as well.
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Antenora
Detriment Deleter
Fiendish Philologist
Put down that harpoon gun, in the name of these wonderful birds!
Posts: 15,891
Likes: 113
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Post by Antenora on Jun 7, 2005 12:37:19 GMT -5
I think I found the interview/article: home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=79327&ran=202096His next book, the 12th in the 13-book series, will be out in the fall. The 13th book, he says, will have a twist.
“Some people have already figured it out. I’ll give you a clue. It involves Beatrice. In fact, that clue is in the books everywhere. It’s all right if everyone figures it out. I didn’t write these books in order to be subtle.’’ The "not being subtle" statement could apply to many things besides Beatrice, since it's made as a general statement.
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Post by Dante on Jun 7, 2005 12:43:50 GMT -5
Thanks, Antenora. That's the one.
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Post by Shelly on Jun 7, 2005 20:17:17 GMT -5
Yeah, i agree.
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Post by PJ on Jun 7, 2005 23:04:29 GMT -5
I think I found the interview/article: home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=79327&ran=202096His next book, the 12th in the 13-book series, will be out in the fall. The 13th book, he says, will have a twist.
“Some people have already figured it out. I’ll give you a clue. It involves Beatrice. In fact, that clue is in the books everywhere. It’s all right if everyone figures it out. I didn’t write these books in order to be subtle.’’ The "not being subtle" statement could apply to many things besides Beatrice, since it's made as a general statement. Why, that just backs up my theory that Beatrice will die at the end of the series.
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