Wy do you think Locke's dad was not cool? My first thought when Locke said that was that he (Locke) was sexually abused by his father because

1) Locke didn't say anymore about it except no, and it seemed painful to think about.
2) It is a reason that he and his sister would be placed in foster care
3) It could be why Locke is a loner and has to use a service to talk to women

I had thought of one or two more small reasons, but I can't remember them now. Any other ideas out there?

Well.... if he was talking about his *real* father, it might very well be the case that he killed John's mother... which seems a bit far fetched since that would be the second father killing a mother.... but still.

I'm not sure about the sexual abuse.... I can't speak for the States of course, but over here there is a very high rate of estimated number of unknown cases when it comes down to child abuse.... meaning that such things don't become known before the child isn't a child anymore (if at all)..... and assuming it was his father and it came out... wouldn't the real mother have tried to get away? (I know... there is a high rate of denial when it comes to such situation as well).... leaving the question: what happened to his real Mom that such a situation could end in foster care?

Just... stream of thoughts here, sorry.... haven't given that idea any thought yet so I need to get accustomed to it first.

2) It is a reason that he and his sister would be placed in foster care

Sorry. This is OT but I am obliged to rant a bit. Please don't take it personally.

Kids are placed in foster care every day for reasons much, much, much less dramatic than sexual abuse. Those are the cases you hear about on the news. People have lost their kids because they slapped a childs hand in the grocery store, because someone was angry with them and made a false report to a state agency, because their neighbor heard them scream their childs name in a tone they didn't like, because they invite someone to their home who has a past sexual crime conviction (there are tens of thousands of them out there, and the vast majority of them look just like your friends and neighbors) etc etc. The list is very long.

It is a common misconception that all kids in foster care have suffered some horrific abuse. That does apply to some of them, but not all by a long shot.

sheba...good points.

I think it's also worth pointing out the time period in which Locke would have been placed in the foster care system. It would have been quite awhile ago and I imagine the system has changed a bit.

I'm thinking more along the lines of neglect. That was a pretty common reason for kids to be taken away back in the day, especially if the family was poor. Maybe dear old dad didn't care too much about his kids and didn't care if they were taken away.

I'm curious, though, as to what did happen to his mother with all of this.

I take your point, Sheba, but in this case we know the father was "not cool" so it's probably more than just an overeager social worker situation.* And although two abusive or murdering fathers would be a little much on any other show, this one is brimming with bad dads, so I don't rule it out.*

It could also be that Locke's mom put them in foster care herself, which would tie in with the Dream Locke's brutal words to Claire.

And for that matter, it might explain Locke's hostility to Michael -- maybe he assumed (like we all did at first) that Michael abandoned Walt and his mom. (Although, that doesn't quite line up with Locke knowing everyone's innermost thoughts... :laugh: ... well maybe he found out differently once he plugged himself into the Eye of the Island.)

It is a common misconception that all kids in foster care have suffered some horrific abuse. That does apply to some of them, but not all by a long shot.

Well, of course there are different reasons--I don't think my initial post suggests otherwise.

It states only that it would be a possible fit. There are other reasons listed. The real reason for my thinking that was not the foster care but what it listed first--the apparent pain (to my eye anyway) caused by thinking of his father.

Locke's hostility to Michael? So far Locke has saved both Walt & Micheal's ***es from a bear, found their dog twice, tried to follow Micheal's wishes (telling Walt not to talk with him), and stopped Micheal from beating an innocent man (Jin). In return for this, Locke has been threatened multiple times by Micheal, including at knifepoint. Methinks it is Mike that has the hostility prob

Maybe hostility was a bad choice of words, but Locke has been dismissive of Michael.* I don't have the ambition to look up the exact dialogue, but for example, when Michael wanted to help hunt for Claire, and when Michael objected to the knife-throwing -- something Locke should have asked permission to do in the first place, let alone argue with Michael when he was caught doing it.* And then there was that lecture on how you should treat kids as if they were adults, which is a load of baloney.

Everything else, Locke has done for Walt and Michael just happened to benefit too.* Locke was protecting Walt when he said the Others burned the boat, he was saving Walt from the bear, he was finding the dog for Walt not Michael, and he told Walt to respect his father to keep Walt out of trouble, not out of respect for Michael.* If he respected Michael, he would have told Walt that weeks ago, instead of waiting until Michael finally snapped.* Or he would have asked Michael if he could spend some time with Walt.

I posted it on Fuse elsewhere but I think Locke's daddy went to jail for some reason (my instincts could be wrong) and came back to "see" his children. Came back maybe when the children were outdoors on a playground. Daddy came to see them met Step-mom saw Locke & Jeanie.
Maybe caused Jeanie to fall off monkey bars if he tried to take the kids back. ???

I also told my sister when Locke was talking to Walt about his (Locke's) Dad I noticed Locke do something I never noticed Locke do before. He wouldn't directly meet Walt's eyes and he seemed to pull inward. (sigh) More guilt and Daddy issues Fora Lostaway. :-\

I didnt read every post in this thread because its late so forgive me if it was mentioned....

It could be that Walt and Locke share a similar past as far as the parental units go. But possibly, when Locke's mother died, they could not find the father, because he was never mentioned, just like Michael was never mentioned to Walt until Bryan wanted to get rid of him...just maybe in Locke's case his mom didn't have a boyfriend, so he was put into foster care

Yeah, BurningStar4, that is a good possibility. Locke's Dad may not be cool simply because he left his mom and kids.

Well.... if he was talking about his *real* father, it might very well be the case that he killed John's mother... which seems a bit far fetched since that would be the second father killing a mother.... but still.
That doesn't sound farfetched at all to me. The writers love to have recurring themes, and similarities between characters. They wouldn't go so far as copying Sawyer's situation down to the letter, but maybe something similar, giving Locke and Sawyer something to "bond" over. Perhaps Locke's dad was physically abusive and maybe his mom killed his dad and then went to prison. Waiting for the next Locke episode is seeming like an eternity.

Perhaps Locke's dad was physically abusive and maybe his mom killed his dad and then went to prison. Waiting for the next Locke episode is seeming like an eternity.


Hmm... would be an interesting twist, kind of mirroring the Sawyer-childhood....

(It is an eternity *sigh*)

Well, of course there are different reasons--I don't think my initial post suggests otherwise.*

It states only that it would be a possible fit.* There are other reasons listed.* The real reason for my thinking that was not the foster care but what it listed first--the apparent pain (to my eye anyway) caused by thinking of his father.


But where do you get sexual abuse from that? Physical or Emotional abuse can cause just as much pain.

But where do you get sexual abuse from that?* Physical or Emotional abuse can cause just as much pain.*


It is a GUESS--a possibility, a feeling I got while watching the show; it is potential scenario, a maybe.* You might even think of it as a general theory.*

As I've already stated above, I *know* there are other possibilities.* I wouldn't have posted the intital question asking for other ideas if I didn't.*

I find it interesting that sheba and Snabbygail have taken my idea to task without offering any specific alternative or specific reasons for that alternative.

It is a GUESS--a possibility, a feeling I got while watching the show; it is potential scenario, a maybe.* You might even think of it as a general theory.*

As I've already stated above, I *know* there are other possibilities.* I wouldn't have posted the intital question asking for other ideas if I didn't.*

I find it interesting that sheba and Snabbygail have taken my idea to task without offering any specific alternative or specific reasons for that alternative.


Ummm....I did give you an alternative to sexual abuse...........................physical or emotional abuse.*

You have to remember if someone doesn't agree with some thing that you post it doesn't mean that it's a personal attack.* I don't think I was rude at all.* I just didn't deduce that conclusion from the examples you sited and was asking how you came to the first conclusion of sexual abuse.* Sharing differences of opinion is what this board is all about.* If you can't handle it without getting defensive maybe you shouldn't post.

Ummm....I did give you an alternative to sexual abuse...........................physical or emotional abuse.*

But no specific reasons for that alternative belief, which my previous post mentions.

And, I don't think I was defensive given the discussion. My first post, I think, gives the reasons--small as they are--for why I gave the theory I did. When sheba said there were other alternatives, I agreed. When you raised the same issue as sheba, I again agreed that there are other possibilities and stated that I had already acknowledged that.

I find the assertion of defensiveness--and an implied assertion of close-mindedness--interesting given that I began the thread with an open-ended question asking for opinions and have agreed with other possibilities--including yours. But, such is life, and that's the last I'll post of it in this thread. Peace.

I think Locke's dad killed his mom and is in prison. When Walt asked "Is your dad cool?" Locke's response was "No, he isn't" not wasn't so it sounds like Locke may believe his father is still alive. Children aren't usually put in foster care if there is a viable parent or relative available to raise them. It makes sense that both of his parents would be unavailable.

Good point, Patch. He also said he "has" a dad, not "had." So I do think he is still alive. And my guess is that Locke's anger stems from more than abandonment.

The theories about Locke's dad killing his mother and about sexual abuse are both possibilities. Although, I'm not entirely sure ABC would go with sexual abuse on an 8 o'clock show.

Does anyone on the cast not have daddy issues?

I was going to say that we haven't heard about Charlie's father, and then remembered that he struggled with confessing his sins to the Priest
in the Moth...