Soooo, what's everyone's theory on the 'Magic Box' Ben was telling Locke about?  
The only thing I could think of was maybe he was teleported (beam me up Scotty) or something similar like apporting.

apport- in occultism, a material object that arrives suddenly and mysteriously through the powers of a medium. Often the arrival of an apport may require its passage through other material objects. Apports usually occur during a séance and may involve living or inanimate objects. The apporting of human beings is sometimes called transportation. Spiritualists explain apport as a process involving dematerialization and subsequent reintegration of the objects.

recruited by the others

I don't know that recruitment would fit Cooper's M.O., he a con man. Con men are always looking for the big score, not the hourly wage. For them to contract a con man to pull off a con has a nice ring to it, he'd be wanting quite a big payday for the effort. If he was a believer, then maybe the island would cure some of his kidney problems, that'd be a nice payday, but Cooper didn't seem like a man of faith. He also seems to lack qualifications for him to be a science person on the Hostile team. Him being there voluntarily just doesn't seem to fit.

In HP the wizards (if they are of age) can learn to "apperate". That means they can basically disappear from one place and show up in another.  Harry was able to apperate by holding onto Dumbledore's arm when Dumbledore apparated. They may be working under a similar theory, that the "viewer" such as Walt may of been, can open a "path" that enables someone to go and just grab what they see. Or maybe the viewer can actually snatch whereever the object of desire is and bring them back. That idea would certainly solve any finanacial issues they would have, the viewer could just envision the vault at Bank of America and make a large withdrawal.

You would just think they'd envision a better food source other that the Dharma/Widmore Laboratories food warehouse.  

--Last edited by rottenralf on 2007-03-28 06:26:55 --

i didn't mean it was his choice, what i meant was maybe the otehrs just abducted him and bought him to the island...
But seriously i have no idea how he got there, will be intresting to find out though (possibly a Cooper flashback? Hope not though hope Locke faces his fear and kills his dad)

for now I`m kinda thinking that Cooper is there as some part of a con - against Locke, or even against Sawyer if it turns out Cooper is the real Sawyer.

I don`t think there is something on the island that can just conjure up whatever you want, I think Ben used those words to manipulate Locke. And maybe to reinforce Locke`s faith in the island.

ya the producers have stated that everything on the island can be scientificly explained, and i don't think that includes a magic box!

I was more wondering about what everyone's theory on the 'Magic Box" was...not so much about Cooper.

I think it would be too handy for them to have something that can just bring whatever they want to the island. That would just solve all problems for TPTB wouldn`t it?

I don`t believe a word coming out of Ben - and I think it`s what Alex was warning Locke about too - that he is an expert of manipulation. He knew this was something Locke wanted to hear.

And first he is asking questions about Locke`s healing, like he doesn`t understand what is going on, then later he claims to know the secret of the island.

I cannot buy into the box being magic, teleportation, or any other extremely loose science.

But what I can buy into is a box in theory of "magic" for the Losties. A box that contains some leverage/skeletons that, if necessary, can be pulled out to regain control over any one of them, at any time.

I suspect that Cooper was there for one reason: to use against Locke if absolutely necessary. Locke "blew up" the sub. That is the most extreme action against the island a Lostie has performed on the island. That called for the most drastic measure. And Ben knew he was going to blow the sub before it happened so he told them to go get the "man from Tallahassee."  In Ben's eyes, he can gain leverage over Locke, control, if he seemingly has brought him the one person who Locke hates most - the man who cost him his legs for 4 years.

The science behind this is pure manipulation. That is a science I can buy into.

When Paolo overhears Ben and Juliet talking in the Pearl, Ben says he will get Jack to do the surgery the way he always gets his will - by exploiting their weaknesses. I think this was a hint that he is doing the same with Locke now, exploting his faith in the island as a magical place as well as his issues with his dad. Ben made up the part with the magic box, because he realized this was something Locke wanted to hear.

I have been told that Carlton and Damon commented on this. I do not know how to inviso-text though....
If what they said is correct, the debate can end with their validation.