# Lost 2.3: "Orientation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852 "2005-10-05T06:24:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/181 "2005-10-06T22:56:32Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > But the video (and the bunk bed) said there were two people, and that they should take alternating shifts to remain fresh. So the sleep deprivation aspect wasn’t intended. True, but even with two people the stress involve is going to be pretty great…and over 3 years with no break I think that the effects on sleep patterns is going to show. When I was in the Navy we sometimes had to go watch and watch (4 hours on, 4 off), and even for a few days it was VERY wearing…I can’t imagine what the effects would be of two people having to switch off on a timer…especially if they thought that failing would bring about the end of the world. Besides, I’m rather taken with my present theory even if it got no response here. 🙂 -XT ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/182 "2005-10-06T23:07:18Z")
It annoyed me to no end that th instructions were made very clear: “do not type anything I don’t tell you.” Then he tells him “two, four, five, eighteen” or whatever; the actual numbers themselves are moot for this gripe. That should appear as: 24518 NOT 2 4 5 18 I didn’t hear him say “space” at any point. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/183 "2005-10-06T23:44:42Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > True, but even with two people the stress involve is going to be pretty great…and over 3 years with no break I think that the effects on sleep patterns is going to show. When I was in the Navy we sometimes had to go watch and watch (4 hours on, 4 off), and even for a few days it was VERY wearing…I can’t imagine what the effects would be of two people having to switch off on a timer…especially if they thought that failing would bring about the end of the world. > > Besides, I’m rather taken with my present theory even if it got no response here. 🙂 > > -XT Thats exactly why I belive that the man Hurley was in the “Looney Bin” with, you know the one muttering the number over and over, was accually in the hatch/bunker at some point in time. He use to be on the island. There must be a way off. If gettign off is even that important. They dont seem to be trying to hard. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/184 "2005-10-06T23:50:41Z")
I don’t think he was on the island myself…I think the numbers themselves trigger some kind of psychic response when they are used. I’m thinking that the ‘tweak’ probability in some way, causing an effect. I seem to recall that Hurley’s friend HEARD the numbers on a radio broadcast, and then another guy played the numbers in a count the beans game (something like that) and triggered the effect, winning the game but also triggering a secondary effect (sort of like what happened to Hurley when HE played them). I assume his friend in the loony bin heard them and tried something and perhaps was more suceptable or something to the secondary effect. Well, thats my theory anyway. 🙂 -XT ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/185 "2005-10-06T23:56:51Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I seem to recall that Hurley’s friend HEARD the numbers on a radio broadcast… > -XT It may be that pushing the Execute button triggers a radio broadcast of the numbers, which, in combination with giant electromagnets, generates psychic waves that impact the lottery and bean counting games. In coordination with the Reverse Vampires, of course. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/186 "2005-10-07T00:05:14Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > It may be that pushing the Execute button triggers a radio broadcast of the numbers, which, in combination with giant electromagnets, generates psychic waves that impact the lottery and bean counting games. > > In coordination with the Reverse Vampires, of course. That all may be true but I forgot to mention that we got the numbers from the Alian-human hybrids they are making at Area-51 It is just as Nostradamus predicted. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/187 "2005-10-07T00:11:29Z")
Ha! Scoff if you like at my wild musings you nay sayers! Its my theory and I’m sticking with it until it shatters on the psudo-reality of the writers actual plans (assuming they have them). 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/188 "2005-10-07T00:39:21Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > By the way, and this is the MOST important unsolved issue, what’s up with the “S” in the opening title? Is anyone else constantly distracted by the pixellation on it right when it comes into focus? Yes! The little blip of blackness right on the corner edge, right? I noticed it on the DVD, and now I stare helplessly at the approaching letters, waiting for the split second when the graphical error appears… gaaahhh… ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/189 "2005-10-07T00:41:28Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > [Here you go, listen for yourself.](http://lost.cubit.net/audio/walt_audio.wav) That totally sounds like “Press the button. No button’s bad.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/190 "2005-10-07T00:42:28Z")
I’d just like to take this opportunity to point out (apropos of nothing) that me old mum’s birthday is 8/23/42. It’s always been pretty easy to remember thanks to William S. Burroughs, Robert Anton Wilson, Douglas Adams, et all. (Watching _Threshold_ and seeing them use 8:23 in connection with Flight 23, I wonder how many people think it’s a nod to _Lost_.) ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/191 "2005-10-07T00:59:54Z")
Three of Six… This is some whacked-out paranormal junk, but I’ve read that there are supposedly Six “Devil’s Triangles” scattered across the Earth. The most famous, of course, being the Bermuda Traingle. Funny magnetics, weird happenings, plenty of ship and plane wreks. Maybe they stuck a station in each of these triangles? Just an idea, of course. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/192 "2005-10-07T01:13:44Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > Thats exactly why I belive that the man Hurley was in the “Looney Bin” with, you know the one muttering the number over and over, was accually in the hatch/bunker at some point in time. He use to be on the island. There must be a way off. If gettign off is even that important. They dont seem to be trying to hard. Huh? Unless the widow was lying, the story goes… 1. Two guys in military (Navy?) sitting in a listening post 2. These guys hear the Evil Numbers broadcast pretty constantly 3. Their time in the service ends 4. Guy A ends up in The Looney Bin, Guy B uses the numbers to win some money and is now Cursed 5. Guy A is still in The Bin and meets Hurley. Guy B blows his brains out with a shotgun. 6. Hurley talks to Guy B’s widow. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/193 "2005-10-07T01:14:35Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > I’d just like to take this opportunity to point out (apropos of nothing) that me old mum’s birthday is 8/23/42. Though the year doesn’t match up, my own birthday is 4/23. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/194 "2005-10-07T01:24:40Z")
Okay, let’s try a couple of thought experiments. First, why do you have to actually TYPE the numbers in before pushing the button? If the experiment was just to make sure someone didn’t get more than 108 minutes of sleep, you could just have a big red button to push. If the numbers were important in and of themselves, you could simply program them into the machine. Therefore, the importance of typing the numbers in every two hours is to ensure that the ‘subject’ _thinks about those numbers at least every two hours_. My guess is that the island has some electromagnetic property that enhances paranormal powers in the brain. and that this experiment is to find out what would happen if someone in proximity to the psi-boosting rays thought about the same set of numbers constantly for years on end. How would that effect the world? Well, for one thing, he influenced a lotto draw. They never intended for Hurley to come into possession of the numbers, though. Maybe the ‘bad luck’ Hurley had afterwards was due to his constant thinking about the numbers after he won the lottery. In other words, there was nothing magical about winning the lottery, but once he won it with those particular numbers he can’t stop thinking about them, and that’s causing an interaction with Desmond’s thinking and causing bad stuff to happen. A stretch, I’ll admit. My guess is that the transmission would send the numbers out when the button was pressed so that a remote station could verify that the person actually typed those numbers. IF he typed the wrong ones, the signal would send the wrong ones, and the researchers could use the data point. This doesn’t explain why they didn’t come running when Rousseau changed the transmission. So if the experiment was to have someone in close proximity to the field think about one set of numbers constantly, and see what effect that had on the world. Perhaps the drug he takes is nothing more than a placebo or a mild hypnotic or something to keep him sedate and sane, and the numbers are on the vial just to reinforce them - he sees them whenever he takes a shot. Maybe the graffiti on the walls is just another way to reinforce his thinking about the numbers. If all this is the case, then an interesting question is what will happen now that Hurley, who has been thinking about those numbers for a long time, is in proximity to the station? I’m betting there are other stations, and that Ethan was from one of them, and the ‘others’ are from another. And the shark and polar bears from yet another. They did say in the film that some stations were doing animal experiments. That would explain how polar bears got on the island. Remote viewing - Hasn’t everyone been doing a bit of that? Was seeing Walt dripping with water a form of remote viewing? How about Jack seeing his dad? The ‘whispers’ in the jungle - paranormal communication from an experiment in another station. Think about this - let’s say a corporation set up all these experiments on the island, with the full intention of coming back and collecting everyone at some point. But something happens to the corporation, and relief never arrives. So now you’ve had people on this island for god knows how long, being affected by electromagnetic waves that do strange things to the brain. Hilarity ensues. As for the ‘Black Rock’, my guess is that it’s a bit of a red herring. I’ll bet it was a shipwreck dropped on the island by a tsunami from the explosion of Krakatoa in 1883. The region and time frame seem about right. Maybe the ‘others’ are the desendents of the survivors, having gained enormous mental powers (and craziness) from spending their lives in promity to the crazy-waves. Anyone else notice that Jack seems to be going nuts? As is Locke. I think they are being affected. Others seem to be pretty much normal so far, but the preview for next week suggests that tension is rising between a bunch of them, so maybe now that they’re at the station in close promimity to the anomaly they’ll all start feeling the effects. Anyway, if this is how it is, then it’s a pretty ingenious set-up for a series, because having six stations gives you six different story arcs you can continue if the series lasts long enough. I’m betting that this season we’ll learn more about this particular experiment, but as we wrap up this thread new strange things will start happening that kick off another plot thread. Those will lead to another station, etc. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/195 "2005-10-07T01:25:42Z")
This show is so confusing. I mean, I love it, but I want to headbutt it in the tit at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/196 "2005-10-07T01:49:51Z")
If you go to [Dharma Industries](http://www.dharmaindustries.com/) and click on “DHARMA INDUSTRIES” below the logo, you get sent to [this site](http://www.kraftkost.se/__login.asp). That site, in turn, tells you that your IP address is no good and you’re not allowed in. Anybody know how to make the website think your IP address is something artificial? I know six numbers I’d like to play around with and see if it makes a difference. Lessee… 4.8.15.16, 48.151.62.34, … ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/197 "2005-10-07T01:54:42Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > Anybody know how to make the website think your IP address is something artificial? The flash movie doesn’t care what your IP address is. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/198 "2005-10-07T02:02:15Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > Anybody know how to make the website think your IP address is something artificial? I know six numbers I’d like to play around with and see if it makes a difference. Lessee… 4.8.15.16, 48.151.62.34, … Those IP address’s are in use unfortunately (if you really wanted to know…FYI this is from [dnsstuff](http://www.dnsstuff.com/)): > [@](#): > > WHOIS results for 48.151.62.34 > Generated by [www.DNSstuff.com](http://www.DNSstuff.com) > Location: United States [City: New York, New York] > > NOTE: More information appears to be available at EM150-ARIN. > > Using 30+ day old [STALE - being deleted now] cached answer (or, you can get fresh results). > Hiding E-mail address (you can get results with the E-mail address). > OrgName: Prudential Securities Inc. > OrgID: PRUDEN-1 > Address: 1 New York Plaza > City: New York > StateProv: NY > PostalCode: 10004 > Country: US > > NetRange: 48.0.0.0 - 48.255.255.255 > CIDR: 48.0.0.0/8 > NetName: PRUBACHE > NetHandle: NET-48-0-0-0-1 > Parent: > NetType: Direct Assignment > Comment: > RegDate: 1990-12-07 > Updated: 1995-05-11 > > TechHandle: EM150-ARIN > TechName: Mann, Edward > TechPhone: [DELETED BY MODERATOR] > TechEmail: \*\*\*\*\*\*\*@ccmail.prusec.com > > # ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2005-08-16 19:10 > > # Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN’s WHOIS database. > > [If E-mail address(es) were hidden on this page, you can click here to get the results with the E-mail address]. > [@](#): > > Location: United States [City: New York, New York] > > NOTE: More information appears to be available at EM150-ARIN. > OrgName: Prudential Securities Inc. > OrgID: PRUDEN-1 > Address: 1 New York Plaza > City: New York > StateProv: NY > PostalCode: 10004 > Country: US > > NetRange: 48.0.0.0 - 48.255.255.255 > CIDR: 48.0.0.0/8 > NetName: PRUBACHE > NetHandle: NET-48-0-0-0-1 > Parent: > NetType: Direct Assignment > Comment: > RegDate: 1990-12-07 > Updated: 1995-05-11 > > TechHandle: EM150-ARIN > TechName: Mann, Edward > TechPhone: [DELETED BY MODERATOR] > TechEmail: \*\*\*\*\*\*\*@ccmail.prusec.com > > # ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2005-10-06 19:10 > > # Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN’s WHOIS database. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/199 "2005-10-07T02:33:13Z")
If you go to the Active Projects [page](http://www.thehansofoundation.org/activeproject.html) on the Hanso Foundation [website](http://www.thehansofoundation.org/) , there’s a hidden [link](http://www.thehansofoundation.org/dharma.html) to the Dharma Initiative movie shown in yesterday’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852/200 "2005-10-07T02:36:58Z")
Something really cool from a post on [Lost-Forum](http://www.lost-forum.com/index.php?). Beware of that site if you don’t want spoilers. Latitude 4 degrees 8 minutes 15 seconds South and Longitude 162 degrees 34 minutes 2 seconds East is located in a triangle just north of the Solomon’s and east of Tuvalu. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-3-orientation/324852.md?page=11)