Theories Forum Orientation

[Exie]

Welcome to the new Theories Forum Orientation!

This forum is for Theories (and Theories only). Please read all the rules before posting, and familiarize yourself with the subforums by browsing existing thread titles.

Rules of the Forum

• Rule Number One: Follow all Lost-Forum rules. Read the Rules and FAQ before posting anywhere in this forum.
• Rule Number Two: Search before posting. There are dozens of theories, and some of them can be grouped together in similar threads. It is highly likely that your theory or one like it is already in discussion. Duplicate theories will be subject to deletion or a merging. Go here for the Search Tutorial.
• Rule Number Three: Spoiler tags MUST be used. Spoiler tags are required in every forum outside of the Spoiler forum! Use spoiler tags around all information that relates to unaired episodes or spoiler information. To use the tags: [*spoiler] Your Spoiler info here! [/*spoiler]. To use, remove the *'s from the tags to make: Spoiler: Your Spoiler info here! To read it, just highlight it with your mouse.
• Common sense dictates that everyone be nice and polite to one another. If you don't agree with a theory that someone has, don't go saying "that sucks" or other demeaning comments. If you have something to say, you can say it without bringing someone elses opinion down.

What's In Here?

• Introduction to Creating a Theory Thread
• Theories Subforums
• List of Commonly Discussed Theories
• ctrlz's Guide To Common Theories

THRY 101: An Introduction to Posting Your Theory on Lost-Forum.com
Course Description: A required read for everyone who wishes to discuss LOST theories, this post discusses what qualifies as a legitimate theory and what does not; how to post a new thread on a theory; and whether or not your theory may have its own discussion thread...

1. PLEASE READ THE STICKY THREADS! There are sticky threads on debunked theories, such as the infamous Purgatory theory, with links to sources that prove they are debunked. Discussion of debunked theories will elicit a groan from the LF Theory Head Community. These stickies are here to help you learn about what has been discussed and to help integrate you into the LF Theory Community.

2. Please make your thread title SPECIFIC! After reading the sticky threads about discussed theories, you find that your theory is relatively new. Well, when you post your new theory discussion thread, give it a specific title.

• Good Example: Nano-Tech Theory on Why Locke Can Walk
• Bad Example: OMG! I FIGURED IT OUT!
• Bad Example: My Theory
• Bad Example: Shannon, Vincent, Walt (aka Title of just Character Names)

The first bad example is BAD because it assumes two things:
1. That you are brilliant enough to have figured out what the writers are up to.
2. It is nonspecific of what you've actually "figured out."

The good example is GOOD because it describes what your theory is in a short sentence. You don't need to be super descriptive, but descriptive enough so that readers will know what your subject is about. It also makes it easier to use the search function on the board.

Theories Subforums

• Grand Theories - Theories that explain the premise of the show as a whole. Read also: Raven's Addendum to Grand Theories
• Dharma-Related Theories - For theories about Dharma and The Others.
• Character-Based Theories - Theories based on a character's history. For Losties only; keep Others and Other-related people in the Dharma thread.
• Island History and Environment Theories - Anything having to do with the island: Adam and Eve, the Black Rock, Island Location...
• Speculative Theories - The catchall thread. For theories that dont belong in any other forum.
• The Sh!t is Bananas! - This forum was created to house the discussed-to-death and debunked theories, like Purgatory, Snowglobe, Mental Hospital/Dreams, etc. HAVE FUN HERE!
• The Lost Experience Webgame Theories - Theories about the show based on information from the TLE game.
• Theories Archive - For old threads.

Occasionally theories will stem from external websites, such as the Oceanic Airlines website. Each website (official or fan-made) will have its own thread over in the Off-Site Media forum.

List of Commonly Discussed Theories:
Debunked/Defunct:

• Genetic mirror/Twin theory (?)
• Purgatory/Hell/Dreams
• Lenny was a button pusher (?)
• TV show/Virtual Reality/Reality TV/Truman Show
• Ethan's Still Alive
• Boone will come back (to life)
• B.F. Skinner's Box & Daughter (urban legend)
• The Island is in a Snowglobe

Flogged To Death:

• The Numbers (4, 8, 15, 15, 23, 42, 108)
• The Dharma Initiative & Symbols
• Moving Island/Second Island
• Aliens and Walt's comic
• The Sickness

Discussed Muchly:

• Repeating Universe theory
• The Monster/Security System
• The Blackrock
• Novels/Literature Connections
• Character Name Analysis
• Nuclear Testing
• Magnet Theories/Montauk Project
• B.F. Skinner; Psychological Experiments
• Desmond & "See You in Another Life"
• All Roads Lead Here

Ctrlz's Guide To Common Theories:

1. They are all dead.
Corollary: They are in Purgatory.
Status: Theory discredited many times over by show's creative team

2. They are in a "time warp"
Corollaries: many variations including the island is from the distant future or distant past, the flashbacks show future events, etc.
Status: The creative team has confirmed that the episodes on the island happen in real time from the point of the crash. That does not pinpoint when the plane crashed, nor does it say anything about what the islanders dream or see in flashbacks. But the characters do not "time travel" per se.

3. Spaceships or space aliens influence the show
Status: No spaceships or space aliens are involved as per the creative team.

4. The show is someone's dreams or imaginings
Status: No. They are really on the island.

5. The island is not an island
Status: Maybe. We may never know the answer to this.

6. The plane crash didn't happen
Corollary: The crash was faked or it happened differently.
Status: Unresolved

7. The survivors are being manipulated as part of a Grand Experiment or con
Status: Unresolved

8. The Numbers are (fill in here)
Status: Unresolved

9. The creators have no idea where this show is going
Status: They say they do. They even know how it will end.

10. Snowglobe Theory (added 10/18/06)
Status: Debunked.

Originally Posted by Carlton Cuse

We actually dispelled two theories, the purgatory theory and "This whole show is taking place in a snow globe" theory.