Ben knows the whole scenario

[juanbong]

Our friend Benry has now encountered the EMP/white light twice. Once in Live Together, Die Alone, and again in A Tale of Two Cities. Obviously we know that the first time we saw Ben get all pissed was actually the second time, on the pier. Confusing I know. But something strikes me odd about both times. Henry looked upward to the sky. Our first time watching this (which was Ben's second time) Ben knows what to expect, what to look out for, and knows what's happening. As in knows something is about to take place. The second time is when the houses shook and it looked from the audiences perspective, an earthquake. The inhabitants of Otherville go outside (naturally), and start to look up. Just like Ben does (his first time that we, the audience, knows of).
Why?
Why look up the first time (again, actually the second time we are viewing)?


Here's the thing. Juliet tells Jack that...

JACK: We're underwater, aren't we?

JULIE: Yes.

JACK: Is this one of their stations -- the Dharma Initiative?

JULIE: They called it the Hydra.

JACK: So you people are just whatever's leftover of them.

JULIE: Well, that was a long time ago. It doesn't matter who we were. It only matters who we are. We know exactly who you are, Jack Shephard.




Juliet was evidently a part of the Dharma Initiative in some way. We get this. Ben is a part of this operation, maybe even head honcho.
But Ben knows what the EMP can do. He knows that it emits something into the sky and that it is possible to be seen once this happens.
The incident that has been discussed within the Dharma Initiative, the orientation video, IMO, may have been caused by Ben. Rambling here, I know, but I have also read several posters who believe there are two groups of "others" on this island. And why not? Ben, Juliet, and their "community" are on one side of the island, while another set of people are on another side of said island.
Take a look at the plane crash from the Others perspective. The island looked pretty big, no? That kind of a place is supposedly invisible from the outside world?
Ben may somehow be involved with Juliet, whether siblings (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25307) or dating (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25110).
Ben also has a major tie-in with what happened with the so-called demise of the original Dharma Initiative. Now there could very well be three groups on this island.
Ben knows what to look for when the sound is emitted, and he knows what to look out for.
The second time (again, the viewers first) time Ben looked up, he waited to see something fall from the sky.

[vonnegut]

I like what you're getting at, but I think we need to compare in more depth the two situations (working from memory, so correct me if I'm wrong)


FIRST "EMP":

IN THE HATCH:
-Desmond did not push the button before the timer ran out
-"System failure"
-Hieroglyphs showed up
-Things started rattling
-Button was pushed
-Things return to normal

OUTSIDE THE HATCH:
-Type of Earthquake seizes the island
-Plane, possibly at low altitude, breaks apart in mid air


SECOND "EMP":

INSIDE THE HATCH:
-Computer is smashed, button not pressed
-"System failure"
-Hieroglyphs show up
-Things start rattling
-Washer and drier, etc., all fly towards the magnet, practically destroying hatch
-Failsafe is initiated

OUTSIDE THE HATCH:
-Nothing happens until the failsafe is initiated
-Then, there is white light/sound in the sky


Considering the differences, I think that:
- The button not being pushed by Desmond did NOT cause the earthquake
- Benry did not recognize the white light / EMP from the plane crash day

[juanbong]

FIRST "EMP":

IN THE HATCH:
-Desmond did not push the button before the timer ran out
-"System failure"
-Hieroglyphs showed up
-Things started rattling
-Button was pushed
-Things return to normal

OUTSIDE THE HATCH:
-Type of Earthquake seizes the island
-Plane, possibly at low altitude, breaks apart in mid air


SECOND "EMP":

INSIDE THE HATCH:
-Computer is smashed, button not pressed
-"System failure"
-Hieroglyphs show up
-Things start rattling
-Washer and drier, etc., all fly towards the magnet, practically destroying hatch
-Failsafe is initiated

OUTSIDE THE HATCH:
-Nothing happens until the failsafe is initiated
-Then, there is white light/sound in the sky


Considering the differences, I think that:
- The button not being pushed by Desmond did NOT cause the earthquake
- Benry did not recognize the white light / EMP from the plane crash day

All of the above are symptoms of what happened when the button wasn't pushed, true. But that's not Benry's problem.
It's your outside the hatch items that matter to Ben. The other stuff are repercussions of the button not being pushed.
Now you do mention that Ben did not recognize the white light/EMP with the "second" EMP emitted.

FIRST "EMP":

OUTSIDE THE HATCH:
-Type of Earthquake seizes the island
-Plane, possibly at low altitude, breaks apart in mid air

SECOND "EMP":
OUTSIDE THE HATCH:
-Nothing happens until the failsafe is initiated
-Then, there is white light/sound in the sky


If Ben didn't recognize what was going on, then why does he do the same motion towards the sky each time the EMP goes off?

http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/ep-caps/season2/finale/25/thumb_livediecap1223.jpg
http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/ep-caps/season2/finale/25/thumb_livediecap1233.jpg
http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/ep-caps/season2/finale/25/thumb_livediecap1234.jpg

and then these from A Tale of Two Cities...

http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/ep-caps/season3/3x01-cities/1/thumb_twocitiescap-0048.jpg
http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/ep-caps/season3/3x01-cities/1/thumb_twocitiescap-0051.jpg
http://gallery.lost-media.com/albums/ep-caps/season3/3x01-cities/1/thumb_twocitiescap-0052.jpg

It's his first response. It's the response. Looking upward to the sky. Both times. Ben may not have known that there would be a violet white light, but he knew the sound and the quaking.
Ben knows this routine, and how he takes charge with Goodwin and Ethan is of someone who has had experience in this situation. He knows what to expect from Ethan and Goodwin. Tells Goodwin he is a survivor of the plane, blend in, act natural. Ethan as well. Also, bring lists in 3 days. Ben, IMO, has been through this proceedure before, OR Ben (and possibly the rest of his camp) has been trained on situations this similar.

[snakey]

The first time it happens, Desmond gets to input the #'s before we get the full effect , the white light and high pitched noise. Benry comes out in a prepared mode that would make any boy scout jealous, he imediately searches the sky and shouts out orders. I have to think it's happened before, as cool as he is I dont believe he would come up with the infiltrating and making lists that fast, not to mention how he KNEW there were survivors.