Not sure if this has been brought up already but...

4+8+15+16+23+42=108

108 was what the "timer" was set to after Locke typed in the numbers.

What do you think this "timer" does?

The number 108 was also in the mural painted on the wall.

I was thinking maybe it was counting down minutes, since he did the same thing (typing in the code) when the alarm went off in the morning. He was panicked, maybe not typing in the code would make something go kaboom.

I was thinking it was in minutes too, pisceschick.

when desmond asks if he knew how to use the comptuer/countdown thing, didn't locke say something like "i haven't seen one of these in 20 years" or something?? could be significant if i got my facts straight. what do you think?

The number 108 was also in the mural painted on the wall.

I was thinking maybe it was counting down minutes, since he did the same thing (typing in the code) when the alarm went off in the morning. He was panicked, maybe not typing in the code would make something go kaboom.

It seemed to me that he was very concerned with doing it right and on time as well.

What do you suppose would happen if he didn't?

Was it weird to anyone else that he had Locke type in the numbers this time?

Why was Locke hesitating when he put in the last number before hitting execute? Was he trying to come up with a plan or just looking for the Execute key?

108: yep, thats all the numbers added up, and its one of the recurring numbers in the show.

when desmond asks if he knew how to use the comptuer/countdown thing, didn't locke say something like "i haven't seen one of these in 20 years" or something?? could be significant if i got my facts straight. what do you think?

Well I don't think its all THAT significant because that is simply a computer system from, yes, just about 20 years ago. They were a common thing to be seen, and Locke was probably just remembering them and commenting on it; what is he, in his fifties at least? It would make sense.

when desmond asks if he knew how to use the comptuer/countdown thing, didn't locke say something like "i haven't seen one of these in 20 years" or something?? could be significant if i got my facts straight. what do you think?

Yes, he did say that! It may not be significant though... At the store I worked at 5 years ago, we had similar terminals that were functioning.

I figured Desmond had Locke type in the numbers so he could keep the gun on him. I don't know why the hesitation... Maybe he was just afraid of what would happen. Maybe he was afraid they'd be locked in or it would blow Jack up.

My other thought on what would happen on the countdown was that maybe it would cause the hatch to go on lockdown. I read a theory here somewhere that he has to type in the numbers to report that he's still there, as opposed to dead or conquered. I dunno for sure, but I can't wait to find out!

Anybody see the outer limits where the people from different nations had to type sequences in every so often to prevent the world from being destroyed? Aliens or something like that, anyways, reminded me of that. One person was left and was tricked into typing the numbers in forever!!!!!!!! Just kidding, the episode stopped there, but that's what I think too, to stop something from happening. Keep it up Desmond.

How about the fact that it seems that this guy has to type those numbers in every 100 minutes or so. NO wonder he is so jumpy- he hasn't slept more than an hour and a half at a time for who knows how long...

Well, jeez, he's got a computer... can't he write a program for that sequence to loop?!

(not that I could, of course)

Assuming something really bad happens if he doesn't type it in, we can guess it's to make sure he's still alive.

So the computer's probably tamper-proofed so if you tried to run a different program or monkey with the electronics, the "very bad" thing would happen.

The numbers is a countdown...

But to what? when it hits 108 bad things happen apparantly!

Maybe he has to reboot the system every 108 minutes???

that's a lot of rebooting there then, especially if u think that he's probably been there a few years at least...

maybe the execute first sent off the others to get walt and then just now to send the shark... or something we're missing...

108 is 1 hour and 48 minutes . . . I was thinking he had to let the computer know he was still there every 108 minutes and if he did not maybe the area would be destory

so do you think this is the "bad button"

It's probably a Dead Man's Switch. See the theory in the General Theories board.

It's probably a Dead Man's Switch. See the theory in the General Theories board.
Im liking this idea except I think bringing down the island would actually be a sort of relief for Desmond. Im thinking apocolytpic here!

WARNING: This is "out there" and probably irrelevant so if you're putting off something important to read this forum post, skip it and do your work.

That said, everything about the facility and Desmond gives off a fallout shelter vibe so I went to Google and typed in "nuclear 108" just to see what would happen. The first entry is: "US CODE: Title 42,CHAPTER 108—NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY." Just thought that 42, 108, and "nuclear" all grouped together in this government document was interesting; probably nothing more than coincidence but at 2:30am it seems like a plausible plot point.
(http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sup_01_42_10_108.html)

WARNING: This is "out there" and probably irrelevant so if you're putting off something important to read this forum post, skip it and do your work.

That said, everything about the facility and Desmond gives off a fallout shelter vibe so I went to Google and typed in "nuclear 108" just to see what would happen. The first entry is: "US CODE: Title 42,CHAPTER 108—NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY." Just thought that 42, 108, and "nuclear" all grouped together in this government document was interesting; probably nothing more than coincidence but at 2:30am it seems like a plausible plot point.
(http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sup_01_42_10_108.html)

That's a very cool find. It's possibly that if Desmond doesn't enter in those numbers every 108 minutes nuclear destruction will occur. I think there are also other hatches - maybe on the island - or just in other places of the world - that have people in them doing the same things to possibly prevent world wide destruction.

I think it might have something to do with the security system "Monster" and its behavior on the island. It could go in cycles and the numbers keep it at bay. When the numbers aren't refreshed, perhaps the security system is alarted

Hi all. Long time reader, first time poster.

when desmond asks if he knew how to use the comptuer/countdown thing,

This may just have been my perception, but the way Desmond asked this question of Locke, was as if he did not *know* that computers are world wide. I mean, computers have been in homes for many years now and are widely known by most people. When Desmond asked that question of Locke, it was as if Desmond wasnt familiar the idea that most people in society *are* familiar with computers. (i.e. as if Desmond as been in the bunker for a long, long time.)

when did computers become a household item? I know my family got out first computer in 1992, but we did not get internet until 1997

Hi all. Long time reader, first time poster.

This may just have been my perception, but the way Desmond asked this question of Locke, was as if he did not *know* that computers are world wide. I mean, computers have been in homes for many years now and are widely known by most people. When Desmond asked that question of Locke, it was as if Desmond wasnt familiar the idea that most people in society *are* familiar with computers. (i.e. as if Desmond as been in the bunker for a long, long time.)

You're right, it did seem so, but it can't have been all that long ago that he met Jack at the stadium.

I know I said yesterday it was minutes but as was thinking about I now believe it is second because it was 108## so 108 is 3 hours.

Hi all. Long time reader, first time poster.



This may just have been my perception, but the way Desmond asked this question of Locke, was as if he did not *know* that computers are world wide. I mean, computers have been in homes for many years now and are widely known by most people. When Desmond asked that question of Locke, it was as if Desmond wasnt familiar the idea that most people in society *are* familiar with computers. (i.e. as if Desmond as been in the bunker for a long, long time.)

But we know he hasn't been in there for too long. We should be able to put an uper limit on how long he has been there. We know he wasn't in there when he met Jack. Now if we just new for sure when this happened. I have heard some people esitmate it would be around 1990 when he met Jack, and one that even was thinking 1997. I lean more to 1990 myself.

Plus he had to have some sort of comunication with the outside world. He was expecting somebody to come, he had to have had some food shipments if he has been down there for several years. (The candy bars were pretty new) I think that his line of communication was severed. I think that is why he would wonder about the outside world. He probably think that something apocalyptic happened.

So now to ramble back to my thoughts when I started this...I really think that Desmond was out of the hatch recently enough to realize that computers were at least fairly common.

My roommate and I think something will blow up if he doesn't type the number in on time. Does everyone else think this also?

One thing I was wondering is why would Locke say to Jack, "I wouldn't do that if I were you" when Jack was about to push the execute button. And why did they skip over that in Adrift? This would indicate that Locke knows what happens when you hit that button and that it is something bad. IMO, it is a check-in type of thing. Almost like wearing one of those things around your ankle when you are on house-arrest. He cant do much/go far in 108 minutes?!?!

Hence the mystery...

Perhaps he's under the assumption that what he is typing in is being broadcast over the radio on the island. We know that the numbers were being broadcast at least 16 years ago - Danielle and her crew came to the island to investigate the broadcast... and Hurley's pal heard them while at a listening post 16 years ago.

So, 16 years ago, the numbers were being broadcast by the island. Danielle changed that at some point between then and now. But does Desmond know that? Maybe he thinks he's broadcasting the signal letting people know he's alive? But since it's been changed (by Danielle), the people 'listening' to the signal assume Desmond is dead, which would explain why no one came to 'relieve' him in his post, and why he thinks something happened. He is continuing to issue the numbers sequence in the false belief that he is sending that signal off the island, in the hopes that someone will realize he's still alive down there - but no one's listening anymore because the signal has been altered.

Hi all. Long time reader, first time poster.



This may just have been my perception, but the way Desmond asked this question of Locke, was as if he did not *know* that computers are world wide. I mean, computers have been in homes for many years now and are widely known by most people. When Desmond asked that question of Locke, it was as if Desmond wasnt familiar the idea that most people in society *are* familiar with computers. (i.e. as if Desmond as been in the bunker for a long, long time.)

I had a similar feeling about the way he asked. The words he used made it seem that even he (Desmond) didn't know how to use a computer beyond entering his number sequence. Didn't he ask something like, "do you know how to use that box?"

I'm actually thinking that the numbers he types in may be one of a few things:

Either he types them in and they get communicated (unbeknownst to Desmond) to the man behind the curtain that Desmond is still alive... In other words, he hasn't lost his mind and killed himself, he hasn't ventured outside of the hatch and either died or didn't get back in time to communicate, and/or he hasn't been killed/overrun by someone. The whole fallout conspiracy to see how long he could pull it off befeore going crazy.

The other option may be that 108 is 1 minute and 8 seconds... Both times he typed the code something was going on with the island. The first time was them getting ready to blow the hatch, the second time was with the rafters...
So, maybe the island security system is set up to give him 1 minute & 8 seconds to acknowledge something, of what he doesn't know though. WE know that it's the security system being set off... he just knows he has to enter the code when he hears it beep. It's what he's been instructed to do...

OR, maybe the security system is going to be set off as long as he enters the numbers to indicate that it WASN'T him that was tripping it. If he doesn't enter the numbers, the security system figures it must have been Desmond having gone topside to get out for awhile.

Sorry... I'm even getting confused by this.

ok there is 3600 seconds in an hour times that by 3 you get 10800 seconds

the timer is seconds not minutes

Perhaps he's under the assumption that what he is typing in is being broadcast over the radio on the island. We know that the numbers were being broadcast at least 16 years ago - Danielle and her crew came to the island to investigate the broadcast... and Hurley's pal heard them while at a listening post 16 years ago.

So, 16 years ago, the numbers were being broadcast by the island. Danielle changed that at some point between then and now. But does Desmond know that? Maybe he thinks he's broadcasting the signal letting people know he's alive? But since it's been changed (by Danielle), the people 'listening' to the signal assume Desmond is dead, which would explain why no one came to 'relieve' him in his post, and why he thinks something happened. He is continuing to issue the numbers sequence in the false belief that he is sending that signal off the island, in the hopes that someone will realize he's still alive down there - but no one's listening anymore because the signal has been altered.

I really like this line of thinking, but I don't think that Desmond has been stuck down there for 16 years.

i posted this in a new thread, but maybe should have added on to your 108 thread:
I searched google for dharma and swan, this is what i found:
http://www.sahajayoga.org/swan/view/swan_273_2004.asp
a yoga site in india.
I searched that site for 108, a lot of stuff came up, mostly the number 108 in people's email addresses.
So I searched yoga 108 on google:
Apparently there are 108 yoga positions? callled sun salutations.
From a yoga site:
Why 108 Sun Salutations?

• It has been said that the nine movement of Sun Salutation A together comprise the entirety of yoga practice. Due to this the practice of the Sun Salutations can be viewed as a complete practice in and of themselves. This complete practice and the physical and mental focus contained within lends to the spirit of this benefit. We will aspire to practice 108 Sun Salutations as the number 108 is spiritually significant in numerous traditions throughout the world.
Also:
The distance between the earth and the sun is approximately 108 times the sun's diameter. The diameter of the sun is about 108 times the earth's diameter. And the distance between the earth and the moon is 108 times the moon's diameter
from http://www.lovearth.net/108.htm

How this all relates, I have no idea

I really like this line of thinking, but I don't think that Desmond has been stuck down there for 16 years.

I don't think he's been down there 16 years, either. I'm still trying to work it out. Hmm.

http://www.lost-media.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&album=736&pos=150
if Desond did these tally marks we know he has been down there more then 370 days

I think he has been down there less then five years

I think the best way to figure out how long Desmond could of been under there is to know how old Shannon was when her father died. Does she ever state that in the first season? I can't remember...

I remember something being mentioned about her father when she was around 12 (or at least I think so...) Shannon is what, 20-22? So at most that would be about 10 years. So roughly 10 years ago is when Desmond met Jack. I'd say 1995 give or take a year.

That said, everything about the facility and Desmond gives off a fallout shelter vibe so I went to Google and typed in "nuclear 108" just to see what would happen. The first entry is: "US CODE: Title 42,CHAPTER 108—NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY." Just thought that 42, 108, and "nuclear" all grouped together in this government document was interesting; probably nothing more than coincidence but at 2:30am it seems like a plausible plot point.
(http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sup_01_42_10_108.html)

It sounds clever. It could be huge! I like this better than all the religious references, which is inevitable at this point.

If you watch (possibly more than once) the scene where Locke and Desmond approach the computer before Locke enters the numbers, there is a quick shot at the timer counting down. It's very short, but during that time it flips from 38 to 37 to 36.

It is not flipping "every second"... as in 38 - onethousand - 37 - onethousand - 36... It is going a bit faster. So whatever the 108 things are, they are shorter than minutes.

Also noticed that when the numbers reset they did not start counting down... at least not immediately... I wonder if it is a triggered thing, or just randomly decides when to count down (?).

If you watch (possibly more than once) the scene where Locke and Desmond approach the computer before Locke enters the numbers, there is a quick shot at the timer counting down. It's very short, but during that time it flips from 38 to 37 to 36.

It is not flipping "every second"... as in 38 - onethousand - 37 - onethousand - 36... It is going a bit faster. So whatever the 108 things are, they are shorter than minutes.

Also noticed that when the numbers reset they did not start counting down... at least not immediately... I wonder if it is a triggered thing, or just randomly decides when to count down (?).


Thanks.I said almost exactly the same thing (with less detail) yesterday.
http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showpost.php?p=513333&postcount=8
Nobody commented further... :mad:

I totally agree those are not seconds in the white part...
Still, number in the black part COULD be minutes... The right part could be 1/100ths of minutes...

I really like this line of thinking, but I don't think that Desmond has been stuck down there for 16 years.

yes, i also dig their line of thinking... couldn't the numbers have been broadcast, by hatch's former inhabitant, and then Danielle's team showed up (following the numbers) and become stranded...

Then Desmond replaces former hatch boy, and continues typing numbers...

THEN danielle changes the signal (unbeknownst to Desmond) and that's the reason, no one has relieved Desmond (making the whole Hurley/Lenny/Aussie Numbers Guy connection come full circle...)

ok there is 3600 seconds in an hour times that by 3 you get 10800 seconds

the timer is seconds not minutes
Now that is a good point. 3 hours.

Now that is a good point. 3 hours.


Here's a better point. It wasn't counting down in seconds. :biggrin:
I like the "100th's of a minute" unit theory.