Whoever "They" Are, Desmond Is One Of Them

[Choppin Broccoli]

When Desmond first encounters Locke, he asks Locke, "Are you him?" Now, last night, we hear Captain Gorton telling Ethan about the mysterious "him" or "he" when he says something to the effect of, "What if HE finds out?" Desmond also regularly injects himself with the same serum the people in the medical hatch are claiming is a vaccine against "the sickness."

While the theory has been advanced that Desmond's hatch is nothing more than a giant "Skinner Box" that forces its occupants to push a button out of fear of an unknown consequence, I believe that the actual "Skinner Box" is the injecting of the serum. I believe that the serum is actually some sort of brainwashing drug that causes people to continue doing what they're told and not asking too many questions (that's why Claire was so willing to do anything Ethan asked of her). This mysterious "Him" has created a fear of an unknown "sickness" within his followers, and told them that the only way to avoid it is to regularly inject themselves with a serum. And they all do it. So, since we know that the DeGroots were fans of B.F. Skinner, I believe that they wanted to create a "Skinner Box" with absolutely no reward, that operates purely out of a person's fear of the unknown.

Clearly, the serum is NOT a vaccination against "the sickness." No one on the island has caught it, despite having not been injected.

[sawyerhasbestlines]

re: "HIM"

It's possible none of the others have actually seen "him".... like the wizard of oz... oh no, more Wizard references. Which is one of the reasons why I think Gale is the big chief honcho "him."

Was watching a PBS animal show the other day, and saw these wild monkeys stealing sugary cocktail drinks which they prefer over food. Maybe the serum makes them feel good and is addictive.

Claire seemed very open to suggestion almost drooling over her captor, Ethan.

[see you in the next life]

Broccoli........I disagree with you and for this reason. Desmond was injecting the serum because Kelvin told him to do so. In my opinion, Kelvin was an "other" working for Dharma. It is possible that Desmonds story is the truth. Desmond might have been looking for his replacement based on what Kelvin told him.

[jbolt]

Perhaps "Him" is the Mr. DeGroots (not sure what his first name is). Also could be the "Wizard". That would put in place Gale as the Uncle from Oz, and Zeke is the cowardly lion. Now we just need to find, the tinman, scarecrow, and the witch. All of who I bet are connected to the Others

[Stranded in Hawaii]

I definitely think that Desmond is one of the Others. Remember, the odds of him meeting the Doc and then seeing him on the island are astronomical. We'll probably find out later on that Desmond probably had something to do with the Doc ending up on the island in the first place, even if it was indirectly, like deciding that he would be chosen to be on the oceanic flight.

[WASTE]

I'm pretty certain Desmond's "him" is just a replacement.

I think Friendly's is someone in charge. Could possibly be Hanso, Candle, or DeGroot. Or (hopefully) someone completely different.

[Warthawg1]

and saw these wild monkeys stealing sugary cocktail drinks

and you said you only smoked weed once a year at Christmas!

[Sic Semper Tyranus]

Notice that Desmond asked Jack if he was him, but not Locke or Kate.

But he thinks that Jack could be "him". Why? What was different about Jack?

[OmegaRed]

Notice that Desmond asked Jack if he was him, but not Locke or Kate.

But he thinks that Jack could be "him". Why? What was different about Jack?

Maybe because he had seen Jack before? I'm struggling to remember if he acknowledged Jack when he saw him the first time in the bunker...help.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I think Desmond got duped just like the rest of our Losties. Of course, I'm sure to be proved wrong later, just like the rest of my theories. :(

But like see you said, he was injecting himself because Kelvin told him to.

If the hatch and button are some elaborate Skinner Box, then I'd say the serum is just another aspect of the 'experiment.'

Now as far as Aaron goes, that's where my theory gets a little thin. I noticed the numbers on the vials they injected Claire's belly with, just like the numbers on Desmond's vials. Maybe they were testing the power of suggestion on a newborn. If he received injections en utero, then perhaps they were going to observe his behavior once born.

[BartHatesCharlie]

Notice that Desmond asked Jack if he was him, but not Locke or Kate.

But he thinks that Jack could be "him". Why? What was different about Jack?

Desmond asked Locke if he was "him" but then Locke did not know the answer to the snowman riddle. He did not ask Jack.