It's hard to believe anything Flocke says. It seems all he does is draw upon people's weaknesses and uses it against them to manipulate them. Sayid-Nadia, Ben-power, Claire-Aaron, etc. Then when Claire goes a little spastic, which was understandable considering she's been lied to for 3 years, Flocke hit her- not acceptable in any way! I can't believe Kate even considered having a conversation with Flocke after he did that!
Flocke continues to make people feel sorry for him because he is trapped, had a crazy mom, and wants to be free. But why doesn't anyone think about WHY he is trapped and WHY he became a smoke monster and killed many innocent people.

Then again, I don't think Jacob is a Saint by any means either.

Yeah, he showed his true colors to everyone when he hit Claire.

Pretty much the way Locke treated Charlie.

My only question about Flocke is..

WHY DID HE KILL EKO?

Yeah, he showed his true colors to everyone when he hit Claire.
When he hit Claire? What about when he killed all the people still at the Temple?

He shows his true color every time he "smokes out" -- black.

Pretty much the way Locke treated Charlie.

Good point. Locke himself wasn't exactly demure on the Island. Are some of Locke's character traits seeping through?

It's hard to believe anything Flocke says. It seems all he does is draw upon people's weaknesses and uses it against them to manipulate them. Sayid-Nadia, Ben-power, Claire-Aaron, etc. Then when Claire goes a little spastic, which was understandable considering she's been lied to for 3 years, Flocke hit her- not acceptable in any way! I can't believe Kate even considered having a conversation with Flocke after he did that!
Flocke continues to make people feel sorry for him because he is trapped, had a crazy mom, and wants to be free. But why doesn't anyone think about WHY he is trapped and WHY he became a smoke monster and killed many innocent people.

Then again, I don't think Jacob is a Saint by any means either.

It was unacceptable for him to slap Claire? Gender equality means gender equality, you know, not gender privilege. Claire just tried to freaking stab someone to death! A slap is well within reason. What if Claire was a man? And jumped Kate and tried to stab her in the throat? I doubt a severe beating would have so much as raised your eyebrow.

I think Smokey killed Eko because Eko had decided he was not sorry and not vulnerable. Smokey needs people to be vulnerable in order to use them.

It was unacceptable for him to slap Claire? Gender equality means gender equality, you know, not gender privilege. Claire just tried to freaking stab someone to death! A slap is well within reason. What if Claire was a man? And jumped Kate and tried to stab her in the throat? I doubt a severe beating would have so much as raised your eyebrow.
I agree with this in theory. She did just try to kill Kate, why didn't Sayid help? I also think he was trying to settle things down, because he was about to reveal his lie to Claire, the one about the Others having Aaron. Also as a disclaimer, you can't hit anyone, unless they are trying to kill you or someone else, murder is wrong plain and simple, but so is hitting people, sorry that sounds so childish but hey this is something you should've learned as a child, not you specifically Stray but people in general.

When he hit Claire? What about when he killed all the people still at the Temple?

He shows his true color every time he "smokes out" -- black.

I'm not sure the general population knows that he's the smoke monster. When they were sitting around having a meeting at Claire's and Cindy asked what happened to the people still at the temple, and Locke says that the smoke monster killed them, he didn't take personal responsibility. Not even Sawyer knew that he was the monster. When he got back from his trip to Hydra, he informed Locke that they had set up Pylons similar to New Otherton to keep the smoke monster out. So, that's why I say he showed his true color. Those people haven't seen that before.

I'm not sure the general population knows that he's the smoke monster. When they were sitting around having a meeting at Claire's and Cindy asked what happened to the people still at the temple, and Locke says that the smoke monster killed them, he didn't take personal responsibility. Not even Sawyer knew that he was the monster. When he got back from his trip to Hydra, he informed Locke that they had set up Pylons similar to New Otherton to keep the smoke monster out. So, that's why I say he showed his true color. Those people haven't seen that before.
Ah, I see your point now. When you said everyone, I thought you were referring to the viewers that seem to think Flocke is the good guy.

I doubt the Others gave his actions much thought at all. Claire tried to kill Kate less than a minute before that, but they're supposed to be shocked and aghast that he slapped Claire? In the outside world what he did is unacceptable, but most of the people in that group haven't been in the outside world in years. They were willing members of a society that kidnapped and killed outsiders to further their own agenda. I doubt a slap would have warranted as much as a shrug from them.

Ah, I see your point now. When you said everyone, I thought you were referring to the viewers that seem to think Flocke is the good guy.

I doubt the Others gave his actions much thought at all. Claire tried to kill Kate less than a minute before that, but they're supposed to be shocked and aghast that he slapped Claire? In the outside world what he did is unacceptable, but most of the people in that group haven't been in the outside world in years. They were willing members of a society that kidnapped and killed outsiders to further their own agenda. I doubt a slap would have warranted as much as a shrug from them.

Yeah, I'm mostly talking about the Temple people that joined him, Cindy, et al. You may be right that they have seen worse and may not be shocked to see that kind of behavior coming from a leader type. But, it does have the potential to change their opinion of this seemingly benevolent man who has come to rescue them. They may have a more difficult time trusting him now so he will have his work cut out for him. When push comes to shove, his true nature comes out and it's only a matter of time before they either desert him or attempt a revolt. In reality, they are no match for the smoke monster (which they don't know that he is) and they will either end up dead or realize the captivity that they are already in.

It's hard to believe anything Flocke says. It seems all he does is draw upon people's weaknesses and uses it against them to manipulate them. Sayid-Nadia, Ben-power, Claire-Aaron, etc. Then when Claire goes a little spastic, which was understandable considering she's been lied to for 3 years, Flocke hit her- not acceptable in any way! I can't believe Kate even considered having a conversation with Flocke after he did that!
Flocke continues to make people feel sorry for him because he is trapped, had a crazy mom, and wants to be free. But why doesn't anyone think about WHY he is trapped and WHY he became a smoke monster and killed many innocent people.

Then again, I don't think Jacob is a Saint by any means either.

A little spastic? She had a knife to someone's throat. Of course he knocked the crap out of her.

It's hard to believe anything Flocke says. It seems all he does is draw upon people's weaknesses and uses it against them to manipulate them....

Flocke continues to make people feel sorry for him because he is trapped, had a crazy mom, and wants to be free.....

It seems to me Flocke/Smokey showed to Kate a psychological vulnerability that the Losties may be able to draw upon for their advantage. A tongue-in-cheek take on that theme is in the latest entry to Lost: The Rock Opera:

50 Ways to Defeat Smokey (http://mrfinds.webs.com/50waystodefeatsmokey.htm)

More seriously, I think Flocke showed a fragility that might prove pivotal later in the show storyline. He may be a big, bad Smokey, or whatever he is, but he is still a confused little child deep inside.

A little spastic? She had a knife to someone's throat. Of course he knocked the crap out of her.

ITA. I liked Claire before she was a psycho and I'm not one who generally thinks a guy should hit a girl, but Claire needed someone to smack some sense into her at that moment. She was going to kill Kate.

when Claire goes a little spastic, which was understandable considering she's been lied to for 3 years, Flocke hit her- not acceptable in any way!

Slapping a woman who just tried to kill someone, and who is still irrational is acceptable...

I can't believe Kate even considered having a conversation with Flocke after he did that!

Uh..he *DID* just save her...

But why doesn't anyone think about WHY he is trapped and WHY he became a smoke monster and killed many innocent people.

Are you sure they are innocent??

I didn't get abuse at all when Flocke hit Claire. She was in a state of hysteria, mania, with one objective and that was to kill Kate. All Flocke did was hit her to break her out of her hysteria. This is done in real life as well. There are certain situations where a slap across the face brings people out of mania and back into reality.

I agree with this in theory. She did just try to kill Kate, why didn't Sayid help? I also think he was trying to settle things down, because he was about to reveal his lie to Claire, the one about the Others having Aaron. Also as a disclaimer, you can't hit anyone, unless they are trying to kill you or someone else, murder is wrong plain and simple, but so is hitting people, sorry that sounds so childish but hey this is something you should've learned as a child, not you specifically Stray but people in general.
Sayid didn't help because he's braindead. ***mod edit***
1) "Don't hit" doesn't mean "absolutely never strike anyone for any reason ever because that's wrong," it means "don't hit without a good reason." Snapping someone out of attempted murder seems a pretty good reason to me. Plus, why aren't you complaining about all the murder and torture that's been going on for the past five years. Claire getting slapped is your button?
2) Adults are self-serving and self-righteous; "don't hit" is something preached but not practiced, so even though everyone's told "don't hit," as if it means anything. It's just self-preservation; if someone's child becomes violent, it's their responsibility.