I thought we'd quashed the idea of "everyone needs a constant" about a year ago
The idea of the constant is ONLY for those who are in the midst of CONSCIOUSNESS time travel. Remember, the mind has more and more difficulty assimilating the input it's receiving due to the confusion of inhabiting two different times in two different circumstances. Desmond's conscious was traveling in the constant. The losties are actually physically traveling in time, ergo, no need for constants.
The compass was something Locke could show to Richard to prove he is who he says he is. Richard knows the properties of the island, all Locke has to do is show him the compass and explain the situation. Even if Richard has the same compass when Locke runs into him in the past, it would be far easier for Richard to believe Locke's story, knowing what he, Richard, knows, than it would be to think some crazy bald dude appeared out of nowhere with an exact replica of Alpert's compass with which to dupe him.
i totally agree. this time-travel thing is pretty confusing, because there are several types going on in the series (mental, physical, and whatever was happening to desmond in FBE).
Haven't re-watched it yet but didn't Alpert say something about looking north when he gave the compass to John? If he did is it more than coincidence that Eko's scripture stick said the same thing and this influenced John's trek to find the others, Richard Alpert included?
Haven't re-watched it yet but didn't Alpert say something about looking north when he gave the compass to John? If he did is it more than coincidence that Eko's scripture stick said the same thing and this influenced John's trek to find the others, Richard Alpert included?
It went down something like this:
Richard: Take this compass.
Locke: What does it do?
Richard: It points north, John.
I didn't sense an Eko thing going on, but good thinking.
Nope, I think we're on the same page here. The compass isn't a person, it's not something that can affect it's surroundings. So my guess is yes, if Locke runs into Richard in the past and shows him that compass, Richard will have the exact same compass, and there is something unique enough about it that Richard will believe Locke and hear him out. Juliet set this little rule up when she said that their stuff appears to go with them. However, the minor niggle with this idea (which they'll easily get around by not even addressing lol) is if any Richard that exists AFTER giving Locke the compass has a second compass. But any Richard prior to giving Locke the compass, should, by all rights, still have the compass.
I hadn't thought of the problem of there being 2 compasses. Interesting. Would that be like 2 bunnies?
I actually thought the compass was Richard's "Eloise." You know, the thing that would make Richard truly believe that Locke was telling him the truth.
Could the compass have come from Danielle's team, with the French implications and all. Or, Hanso was into munitions, the guns in the Swan armory were Eastern European, so maybe the compass has a similiar history. Also, is it possible that the next time Locke runs into Richard, it will be the hippie Richard Ben met, hence he wouldn't know Locke yet...I mean, if the opening scene is out of place and Daniel does settle the island into the 70's and joins up with the DI, then won't Locke be able to show the compass to Richard then? (<>..<>)
P>S> I'm working up the screencaps for the shows now...
RANDALL FLAGG:Liars sit in chairs, you know. Truth tellers just sort of hunker down.
Alice: "If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”
Ash (shows shotgun): "All right you primitive screwheads, listen up. See this? This is my BOOM STICK! It's a 12-gauge double barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about a hundred and nine ninety-five. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. Ya got that! Now I swear. The next one of you primates even touches me.."
I was thinking the compass was the same one that Locke gave Sayid in Season 1 episode Hearts and Minds. Looking back at that episode now, Locke told Said that he didn't need to compass anymore. Also, in that episode, we see Boone tied up by Locke but later on Locke tells Jack that he hadn't seen Boone. Maybe the Locke that tied up Boone was Locke from the future and he wanted to teach Boone and he didn't need the compass anymore because he eventually gets the 6 back on the island. Just a thought.
My question is -- if Richard came to see John Locke when he was a child, and Locke is about 50 years old, then how far back will John travel if Richard won't know him?
I thought we'd quashed the idea of "everyone needs a constant" about a year ago 
and
and 