# Lost 2.14 "One of Them" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668 "2006-02-15T19:22:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/221 "2006-02-17T09:36:25Z")
> [@Velma](#): > > When Sayid was questioning Balloon Man he asked him about his communication device or radio or something…was that significant? He said it was an [ADF](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Direction_Finder) beacon. I assume this is the same ADF that planes use to locate beacons for navigation, which makes sense. Seems like it’d be standard. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/222 "2006-02-17T09:38:43Z")
> [@misstee](#): > > I was merely stating what he said to Sayid. He _was_ a rich man. Then Sayid asked him what he meant by _was_. I thought it was weird if Sayid thought this was some sort of inconsistency. If I’d been stranded on an island for months, I probably would’ve said “I was rich”, the same way I’d say “I was a carpenter” or something - being rich is his status in the old world. It doesn’t mean anything on the island. Hence was. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/223 "2006-02-17T12:48:56Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > If it makes you feel any better, three people in my house heard the same thing the first time. I even asked my SO what in the world “non-metallic metals” could be and thought that Sayid had a clue right there that he was lying. IRL, the only non-metallic mineral I could think of _might be_ asbestos, and that’s only because I don’t know it’s chemical composition. Even then, I suspect it’s silica based, which is a metalloid, and therefore not a true metal in the chemical sense. I’m not interested in a raging debate on this tangent, either. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/224 "2006-02-17T15:46:11Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > I think that he inferred that from the meaningful look from Sayid’s “I remember [yadda yadda yadda] – Do _you_ remember?” speech, and interpreted it as a call to arms. It’s a call to arms in that Sayid was about to tell Charlie that he knows he was Sawyer’s partner in the gun heist. Trouble is, Sawyer has almost certainly moved the guns from where Charlie put them. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/225 "2006-02-17T15:50:41Z")
> [@Ass For A Hat](#): > > It’s a call to arms in that Sayid was about to tell Charlie that he knows he was Sawyer’s partner in the gun heist. What makes you think Sayid knows this? I saw no indication that Sayid had that information nor that it was a “call to arms” in the literal sense. I think Sayid wants people to back him up on the necessity of torture. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/226 "2006-02-17T16:11:04Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > What makes you think Sayid knows this? I saw no indication that Sayid had that information nor that it was a “call to arms” in the literal sense. I think Sayid wants people to back him up on the necessity of torture. If Sayid wanted someone to back him up on the necessity of torture, why would have even cared enough about Charlie go to him? They’ve never had a particularly close relationship. Charlie is currently persona non grata, and wasn’t particularly useful to begin with. I don’t think it’s a great stretch for anyone to figure out that Charlie was involved. Everyone knew that Sawyer was manning the button when the guns were stolen, so he clearly needed a partner. Who else would have been in league with him? Charlie is the only one with a motive. Everyone saw the beat-down Charlie received. He wanted to get back at Locke. The other reason I think Sayid knows, is that I knew. Usually I never figure out plot points before they’re revealed. I had this one right away, so I figure it must have pretty bleeding obvious. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/227 "2006-02-17T16:14:14Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > What makes you think Sayid knows this? I saw no indication that Sayid had that information nor that it was a “call to arms” in the literal sense. I think Sayid wants people to back him up on the necessity of torture. It’s weird but I got the same impression, that Sayid knew or suspected Charlie had a hand in the Sawyer deal. I think this comes from the assumption that Sayid is good at reading people and situations, being a soldier and a torturer and all. I think much of the dialogue he partakes in is very deliberate and calculated. But hey, that’s just kind of my barnyard take on it. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/228 "2006-02-17T16:17:41Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > IRL, the only non-metallic mineral I could think of _might be_ asbestos, and that’s only because I don’t know it’s chemical composition. Even then, I suspect it’s silica based, which is a metalloid, and therefore not a true metal in the chemical sense. > > I’m not interested in a raging debate on this tangent, either. You probably missed this on the previous page, then: > [@vivalostwages](#): > > Here are some… > [http://website.lineone.net/~webrex/commonmins.html](http://website.lineone.net/~webrex/commonmins.html) Alabaster, quartz, gypsum, garnet, malachite… ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/229 "2006-02-17T16:19:50Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > IRL, the only non-metallic mineral I could think of _might be_ asbestos, and that’s only because I don’t know it’s chemical composition. Even then, I suspect it’s silica based, which is a metalloid, and therefore not a true metal in the chemical sense. > > I’m not interested in a raging debate on this tangent, either. I used to work at a plaintiff’s side asbestos law firm. It is indeed a non-metallic mineral and yes, it’s silica based. I’m not a…non-metallic mineral-ist…but, from memory, I do remember a few other NMMs: alabaster, quartz, fluorite, and rock salt. Oh, you aren’t interested in a tangent? Well…sorry. So rarely do I get to use the asbestos memory bank for the (minimal) enlightenment of others. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/230 "2006-02-17T16:40:52Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > I used to work at a plaintiff’s side asbestos law firm. It is indeed a non-metallic mineral and yes, it’s silica based. I’m not a…non-metallic mineral-ist…but, from memory, I do remember a few other NMMs: alabaster, quartz, fluorite, and rock salt. > > Oh, you aren’t interested in a tangent? Well…sorry. So rarely do I get to use the asbestos memory bank for the (minimal) enlightenment of others. Carry on. Well, rock salt contains sodium, which is a metal; alabaster is calcium based, which is another metal. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/231 "2006-02-17T16:44:50Z")
While true, the link that **Ethilrist** just reposted does in fact contain all the NMMs I posted. I’m a little shaky why these minerals were catigorized the way the are (science? ha!), I was just repeating answers our experts often had to parrot. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/232 "2006-02-17T16:50:04Z")
The curse of page five in lost threads hits! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/233 "2006-02-17T16:56:34Z")
> [@Ass For A Hat](#): > > If Sayid wanted someone to back him up on the necessity of torture, why would have even cared enough about Charlie go to him? They’ve never had a particularly close relationship. Charlie is currently persona non grata, and wasn’t particularly useful to begin with. Because Charlie is one of the few with a very big personal reason for hating The Others. You know, they kidnapped his girlfriend and tried to kill him and all that. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/234 "2006-02-17T17:47:06Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I thought it was weird if Sayid thought this was some sort of inconsistency. If I’d been stranded on an island for months, I probably would’ve said “I was rich”, the same way I’d say “I was a carpenter” or something - being rich is his status in the old world. It doesn’t mean anything on the island. Hence was. It’s my general observation that in the mindset of really rich (and power) people, people with genuine wealth (and power) at their disposal, not just high incomes, it’s highly improbable you’d redefine yourself as “I was rich” after a few months of no access to your money. The thought process is more like, “I _AM_ a rich man, I just don’t have access to my wealth right now.” Sorta like how Hurley’s been acting. Sorta like how Saddam Hussien’s been acting on trial. Remember also BalloonMan had a working transponder or whatever… he had every expectation that, somehow, he and his wife would be rescued and reunited with civilization. A few months hardship, even with the death of his wife included, seems much too soon, much too pat, for a rich man to embrace poverty. I, too, find his story about not remembering details about burying his wife highly suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/235 "2006-02-17T18:12:40Z")
> [@misstee](#): > > I was merely stating what he said to Sayid. He _was_ a rich man. Then Sayid asked him what he meant by _was_. Sorry, **misstee** …that was a lame attempt (on my part) of a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/236 "2006-02-17T18:31:21Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Because Charlie is one of the few with a very big personal reason for hating The Others. This is true. And it’s why when Sayid makes it clear to him how much danger he’s put Turniphead (and the group) in by turning the guns over to Sawyer, he’ll flip easily. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/237 "2006-02-17T23:19:05Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > \ > > I don’t think that was Kate’s father. It took me a second, but the actor played a sadistic guard in _Shawshank Redemption_ who kicked an overweight felon to death on his first night of incarceration, and “rescued” Andy from the guy that raped him. > > \ “There can be only one.” Clancy Brown was also Victor Kruger in The Highlander. He’s been in a LOT of things, but every time I see him in anything, I have to quote that line. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2006, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/238 "2006-02-18T09:46:27Z")
I was thinking about how Sawyer and Sayid (and arguably some other characters) seem to have regressed so much. Whatever they learned in season one and previously in season two seems to have vanished. As Sayid says himself, “I am a torturer”. That’s how he defines himself. That’s his nature. Sawyer says he’s a conman. That’s who he is. That’s his nature. But then I read **Larry Mudd** ’s post and I realized that they haven’t regressed at all. They simply never progressed in the first place. Realizing this, I immediately thought of the old story of the frog and the scorpion. The scorpion asks the frog to carry him across a river. The frog says no. He’s afraid the scorpion will sting him. The scorpion promises he won’t sting the frog. The frog is finally persuaded. Halfway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog cries out, “You promised not to! And now we’ll both die. Why did you do that?” The scorpion answers, “Because it’s my nature.” And then it hit me that one of the scorpions really did kill a frog in this episode. So, do you think the writers intended that? Or am I reading too much into this? ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/239 "2006-02-18T15:02:31Z")
Saw this possible connection over on sledgeweb’s site. I’ll spoil it for the sensitive, but it involves stuff that has already happened. In 2x13, Sawyer takes one last long glance at a photo of him and Cassidy before turning it face down on the table and parting with the money. The photo is similar to a photo seen in the hatch when Desmond is grabbing things before he leaves, a photo of Desmond and an unknown woman in Hawaii. Could the woman in Desmond’s photo be Cassidy? There’s certainly a resemblance… [LINK](http://lost.cubit.net/pics/2x13/cassidyCompare.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668/240 "2006-02-20T05:45:21Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > He’s been in a LOT of things, but every time I see him in anything, I have to quote that line. I’m surprised that nobody here has pointed out the last time they saw him in uniform. He played Career Sergeant Zim in that masterful satire of propaganda films, **Starship Troopers**. You know, the one Verhoeven directed. \>ducks and runs\< [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-14-one-of-them/344668.md?page=13)