I mean, really, you take the time to build a complex electronic fence that can be easily overcome by just jumping over it? C'mon, really ...

maybe it wasn't originally designed to keep humans out.

Pretty elaborate animal fence.

Why go to all the trouble when other options are available withou going to all the high-tech trouble?

I don't understand, I know I couldn't just jump over one of those poles!! I would have had to build a contraption too, in order to get over it. I don't know how you guys would get over it, you must have super powers!!

Ok, when I said "jump over" I didn't mean it without a contraption. Still what the losties did was pretty simple.
And I don't think the fence was built to keep off animals. Too elaborate for that.

It seemed like one could just jump out of the sonic burst- especially if they knew it was there. Mikeal had enough time to turn around and say thank you. Are you stuck there once it goes off? Sorry, I'm not up on my sonic burst anti tresspassing technology.

On the other, other hand, how many "hostiles" do they normally encounter on the island?

They wouldn't need a fence any more elaborate to keep out stray polar bears and manic boars. That fence would just about do it. And personally, if I'm playing on Primrose Lane with my stolen kid, I don't want that special moment interrupted by a polar bear.

If they did build the fence to keep humans out, that would imply they expect an infusioin of hostiles on a fairly regular basis. And if that were true, they'd certainly have learned long before our plane crashed that the fence they have doesn't work against creatures brainier than wild boars and more courageous than Danielle. It does not even seem that Danielle, who has lived on the island for 16 years so she says, recognized the fence. Maybe she took the "Don't cross this line" command seriously.

I think the fence is more for keeping people in, rather than out. Also, the fence looks like another Dharma artifact... I wonder if the Others ("hostiles") took it over from the Initiative?

Does the fence keep Smokey away from Otherville?

It better, cause it does seem to be overkill. Its not like they just stood those things up, they had to be installed, and it would have taken lots of manpower and time. So what were they thinking they would need it for when they initally set it up? I thought the polar bears and boars were brought to the island and ran wild after the "Incident". As in when they first put the fence up, they were not an issue...so did they put it up after?

To me that doesn't make sense either...its like after a nuclear disaster when all the wild animals are running free, they decide to build a complex and LARGE fence to keep out the animals? Every one of the stations looks rundown and not being used.

I don't think I am explaining this right, can anyone help me out on this?

The barracks are part of the olf DI. It was on the map from the Flame. The others took over the barracks after they overthrew the DI.

I think the fence is more for keeping people in, rather than out.

If you have a fence to keep people in then why give them boats and a submarine? Obviously the Others can go if they please.

Tallguy your dead on I think it was ment to keep people in. it seams that only a few of the people close to ben are allowed outside of the houseing complex.
I think it was julie that said no one likes to go to the other island and from what we have seen so far no one ventures around the island with out the ok of ben. The few people who are not part of bens group must be prisoners of sorts. Forced to do labor or subjected to brain washing on the other island.

Tallguy your dead on I think it was ment to keep people in. it seams that only a few of the people close to ben are allowed outside of the houseing complex.

Like the crowd of several dozen who went to watch Juliet's trial?

Just how many Others are there? :eek2:

If you have a fence to keep people in then why give them boats and a submarine? Obviously the Others can go if they please.

Umm... the first 6 episodes of this season aka the Jack and Juliet parts contradict this.

Don

Only a select few may have the code to disable the fence or a key for the gate or whatever. This must have included Goodwin and Ethan since they were sent off when the plane crashed without any further instructions re: the fence. They also ran off in different directions so there must be more than one way out.

Otherwise, I also wonder if the fence is to keep their "prisoners" in.

Umm... the first 6 episodes of this season aka the Jack and Juliet parts contradict this.

Don

You mean the scene where they all go down to the beach and get on boats to go back to Barracksland?

That fence was cool!

***Mod edited***

We don't have any solid answers so who knows why that specific fense was constructed.

At first sight, the fence looked more like an alarm system to me. It looked like it would be capable of sending off a rather loud announcement of intruders if a person or animal were to pass between them. Obviously now we know that this was not so. BUT.. The thing that is bothering me is, they obviously do not want to be announced as they are trying to sneak into Othersville, so why would Locke be so sure that an alarm blast would not sound once he pushed Patchy through the system? I think Locke knew more about the fence then he was letting on to them.

Does the fence keep Smokey away from Otherville?
Thats also what I thought.

Are Othersvill and the barracks the same place? Didn't the Pearl film say something about taking the Pala Ferry back to the Barracks. Have we seen the ferry?

I find it hard to believe that something this elaborate was not equipped with a simple surveillance system. There are cameras everywhere. I don't see how they could think they needed such an elaborate, deadly barrier but think that it was OK to leave it unattended. It seemed to be relatively close to the actual camp, so what IF someone got through? What IF one of the "Other" children got too near?

i think the fence emitts something that set off a microchip that was previously in patchys head....

I mean, really, you take the time to build a complex electronic fence that can be easily overcome by just jumping over it? C'mon, really ...


You're right. How much would it have cost to build that sophisticated fence on an island? So one one considered someone could just climb over?

If they're going to spend the money and go to all the trouble, why not have the same sensor that kills people at the top of the pole as there are on the sides?

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

It might be have originally been built to keep people in. And if you are not wearing a "collar" it would have not effect. It could be that Patchy had an implant of some sort that is affected by the fence and that the Losties could have just gone right through with now effect.

You're right. How much would it have cost to build that sophisticated fence on an island? So one one considered someone could just climb over?

If they're going to spend the money and go to all the trouble, why not have the same sensor that kills people at the top of the pole as there are on the sides?

The only reasonable answer is that you're trying to keep something/someone from crossing the fence that cannot go over the top.

Maybe it's just the others that die if they cross it. An incentive to stay with the group and obey Ben. Maybe patchy, and all the other others, have some kind of microchip implanted in their bodies somewhere that reacts when it crosses the fence.

You're right. How much would it have cost to build that sophisticated fence on an island? So one one considered someone could just climb over?

If they're going to spend the money and go to all the trouble, why not have the same sensor that kills people at the top of the pole as there are on the sides?

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.


because then the expedition wouldn't have been able to cross the fence and would've been left standing staring at it for the rest of the season and everyone would've complained that they're ineffective characters who just stare at a fence and never do anything...

i'd rather they get over the fence in a slightly cheesey way and get to a confrontation with Jack and the Others than spend too many episodes worrying about the logistics of crossing the fence.

because then the expedition wouldn't have been able to cross the fence and would've been left standing staring at it for the rest of the season and everyone would've complained that they're ineffective characters who just stare at a fence and never do anything...

i'd rather they get over the fence in a slightly cheesey way and get to a confrontation with Jack and the Others than spend too many episodes worrying about the logistics of crossing the fence.

The best reason yet.

The fence didn't bother me so much. There's no such thing as an utterly unbreachable fence (especially in the middle of an open field). No matter how high you build it, if people have a handy supply of construction materials nearby they can jerry-rig an apparatus to climb over. And they couldn't have built the same sensors that were on the side on the top, b/c they necessitated sensors on two sides to send the sonic pulse thingy. And if they had used a different sort of sensor on the top that zapped anything that came into contact with it, I suppose people could have built a tall platform between the posts and jumped over, or they could have dug away the earth on their side of the post and, once they had the manpower, pulled it over.

All of the options come at the risk of bodily harm to the intruders, but my point is that if people want to cross a fence in the middle of the wilderness badly enough, they'll find a way to do it. At least with the way they did it, it didn't suck up too much of the screentime with the logistics, and we were able to get on with the story.

Fences are only deterrents, not force-fields.

The only reasonable answer is that you're trying to keep something/someone from crossing the fence that cannot go over the top.


Well, that would be a reasonable explanation but Lost is often ridiculous and unreasonable so I wouldn't look for this to be explained.

The expensive hi-tech fence that can be crossed with a tree trunk laying 25 feet away is just a small example of the way TPTB set up ridiculously contrived scenarios....

When fans asked why Michael had to shoot Ana Lucia, some fans said he was probably instructed to kill her and that it would be explained later.

When fans began complaining long ago about the characters moronic lack of curiousity, common sense and ability to communicate important info, some fans said it was probably the sickness and would be explained later.





i'd rather they get over the fence in a slightly cheesey way and get to a confrontation with Jack and the Others than spend too many episodes worrying about the logistics of crossing the fence.


Slightly cheesey?

My big question about the fence is the technology involved in constructing a "sonic barrier" that causes a brain hemorage. It's too future tech. Certainly, in 2007 we don't have technology like that. Come to think of it, those tazer-type weapons used to bring down Kate, Jack, Sawyer, and Hurley in Season 2 were a little too future tech as well. Where did Dharma get this technology if they built it in the 70's?

i think the fence emitts something that set off a microchip that was previously in patchys head....


Good point. And maybe the force extends above the poles as well, although he still could dig a hole undeneath if he had the time. Question: Why would they want to keep Mikhail out?

I'm assuming that the fence only works one way? Going towards the barracks? Ethan and Goodwin reached the crash sites pretty quickly and no one mentioned "bringing the fence down". So maybe their won't be any trouble getting out.:confused:

The fence was probably built by Dharma a long time ago to keep people in. The way all the cameras were installed in the hatches, and the way they monitor everything, seems like they wanted to make sure no one got away. Karl said they work on the other island that has the monitoring room. No sense installing cameras on the fence if no one is on the other island at night to see anyone trying to escape from the barracks.

I'm assuming that the fence only works one way? Going towards the barracks? Ethan and Goodwin reached the crash sites pretty quickly and no one mentioned "bringing the fence down". So maybe their won't be any trouble getting out.:confused:

Answer: Super, extra-secret, special passage tunnel. I can't wait to see what elaborate security measure was devised to protect that.

Key under the doormat, maybe???

When fans asked why Michael had to shoot Ana Lucia, some fans said he was probably instructed to kill her and that it would be explained later.

Why in the world would it need to be explained later? She was 10 feet away from Ben. Michael couldn't have very well just opened the door and let him out claiming Ben "escaped" with her there to witness it.

He shot himself in the arm, for pete's sake. The "escape setup" needed no witnesses.

Huh...more arm stuff.[/offtopic sidetrack]

I believe the fence is there to keep people in, mainly the children, but also serves a duel purpose of keeping animals out. As to how the Others come and go, take a look at this map from Lostopedia (http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/Image:3x12_ParAvion_Cabling_Map.jpg) and take note of the references to subterrean passageways that are 20 feet underground. This is certainly one way for the Others to bypass this security fence.

Maybe the fence was built to keep the smoke monster out?

If the fence was constructed to keep children in and animals out they picked a fairly drastic and permanent way of doing it.

Child wanders after ball towards fence... zap killed dead with no warning.

Seems a bit over the top. Must be a larger reason.

Does anyone else question Kate's motives for wanting to be the first over it?

http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showpost.php?p=1431313&postcount=7

I think the fence is more for keeping people in, rather than out. Also, the fence looks like another Dharma artifact... I wonder if the Others ("hostiles") took it over from the Initiative?

This is the most plausible explanation I have heard yet. the fence sort of requires some familiarity with why it would be a bad idea just to stroll past it. also didn't see a lot of trees on the village side to circumvent it like the rescue party had at their disposal.

Why is everyone saying it is too easy to get over the fence. They needed an ax, they needed four people to help construct it, the needed to build an extra support for the end on the ground. How is this at all easy? Would people have rathered a whole episode of them cutting down the tree and fashioning the support to demonstrate the difficulty? Also many people are saying that some sort of alarm should be raised, but who is to say that an alarm wasn't in place before the sky turned purple?

While I tend to agree that the fence seemed kind of odd, not only in the way you could go OVER it (such as flying in a small fixed winged aircraft) I wonder if you drove through the fence quickly enough if nothing would happen to you.

This is just another LOST situation where it serves the plot more than it makes practical sense. The fence makes zero practical sense. Imagine trying to power that thing?

But wasd it cool? YEAH, it was cool.

I'm with the fence-was-to-keep-people-in crowd. Sure, there was a forest near the outside of the fence, so it was easy to build a way over. But there was nothing near the fence on the inside that one could use to get over the top.

If you have a fence to keep people in then why give them boats and a submarine? Obviously the Others can go if they please.

"Some" of them can. That doesn't mean they all can.

Why is everyone saying it is too easy to get over the fence. They needed an ax, they needed four people to help construct it, the needed to build an extra support for the end on the ground. How is this at all easy? Would people have rathered a whole episode of them cutting down the tree and fashioning the support to demonstrate the difficulty? Also many people are saying that some sort of alarm should be raised, but who is to say that an alarm wasn't in place before the sky turned purple?


It was very easy to get over the fence. Any two people could have done it (and maybe one). They didn't need an ax. I'm sure they couldn't found a suitable tree/limb that had fallen in the forest.

Building the support on the ground was a few pieces of wood pounded into the ground. How is that difficult? A 12 year-old boy scout could do that.

Considering the cost, time, maintenance, and technology involved in constructing the huge fence, getting by it was a breeze.

If they would have put another sensor on top of each post, it would zap anyone trying to go over.

Is the easily bypassed fence a huge problem with the episode? No, but as the OP said, it was stupid when you consider it with common sense.

I got to thinking about this a little while ago...run with me on this for a minute here... perhaps the fence is there to essentially "scan" people to determine whether they are "good" or bad". Patchy was clearly trying to lie to the group and get them to test the fence by telling them it hasn't functioned in years. He lies to them because he clearly thinks they are "bad" and will be killed by the security system. Since he has killed one of his own, he knows that if he does somehow manage to make it back to the Others' camp they will kill him if the fence doesnt first.

After Mikhail was killed by the fence, we see Kate, Locke, Sayid, and Rousseau go *over* the fence in order to circumvent it. What if they only *thought* they were circumventing it, and in reality it was the fact that they were interpreted to be "good" that the fence did not activate again? We have seen previously that the act of murder has negative implications on the Island as well as within the Others' society. Have we seen Kate, Locke, Sayid, or Rousseau kill anyone? Rousseau "said" she killed her crew after they contracted The Sickness, but we have no proof of that. You could argue that Locke technically killed Boone by letting him climb up to the drug plane, but we also know that Locke learned in his visions that "Boone was a sacrifice that the Island demanded", so perhaps he was eseentially forgiven for this? Thoughts anyone?

While I tend to agree that the fence seemed kind of odd, not only in the way you could go OVER it (such as flying in a small fixed winged aircraft) I wonder if you drove through the fence quickly enough if nothing would happen to you.

This is just another LOST situation where it serves the plot more than it makes practical sense. The fence makes zero practical sense. Imagine trying to power that thing?

But wasd it cool? YEAH, it was cool.

I think that's why I don't bother with it or how easy it was to cross it. It WAS cool and part of an episode I enjoyed for a change.

It also looked like Princess Leia's buns. OMG, what could the significance be? :biggrin:

If you have a fence to keep people in then why give them boats and a submarine? Obviously the Others can go if they please.

I dont think all of the Others have that ability. We saw in one of the Dharma orientation videos that 'after your shift is over, a ferry will come and take you back to the island.' It seems like there are leaders and there are drones. Roger Work Man? Even if the Others arent Dharma, they are still using their equipment.

I'm with the fence-was-to-keep-people-in crowd. Sure, there was a forest near the outside of the fence, so it was easy to build a way over. But there was nothing near the fence on the inside that one could use to get over the top.


I'm not sure how this makes any sense.

The fence encircles the camp and you can see it goes into the forest to the right (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=paravioncap287uk1.jpg).

Someone inside the fence inside could easily get a tree/limb just like Locke, Kate and Sayid did. You can see there are trees not too far ahead of them inside the fence.

If they would have put another sensor on top of each post, it would zap anyone trying to go over.



How could putting a sensor on top of the pole create a field that can be broken by someone climbing over? Suspend another sensor in the sky above the fence?

because then the expedition wouldn't have been able to cross the fence and would've been left standing staring at it for the rest of the season and everyone would've complained that they're ineffective characters who just stare at a fence and never do anything...

i'd rather they get over the fence in a slightly cheesey way and get to a confrontation with Jack and the Others than spend too many episodes worrying about the logistics of crossing the fence.

Brilliant. That they came across a problem and solved in the same episode is already a huge progress. I would wory too much on technicalities...

I got to thinking about this a little while ago...run with me on this for a minute here... perhaps the fence is there to essentially "scan" people to determine whether they are "good" or bad".


I see what you're saying but if the show now has a fence that can somehow scan people to see if they're "good" or bad", I might have a aneurysm from an overdose of ridiculousness.


Have we seen Kate, Locke, Sayid, or Rousseau kill anyone?


Locke pushed Eyepatch guy into the fence and killed him shortly before crossing the fence.

Duh... I completely forgot about that one and it was less than 24 hours ago...LOL But on that same note, we know that Boone didn't blame/forgave Locke for the accident and Mikhail thanked Locke shortly before he died. Perhaps their forgiveness is what spared him? Ms. Klugh didn't necessarily forgive Mikhail for killing her, she merely said that it was what had to be done...hence, no forgiveness = zapped by the fence

How could putting a sensor on top of the pole create a field that can be broken by someone climbing over? Suspend another sensor in the sky above the fence?


I'm not sure what you're saying.

There are sensors on the sides of each post that obviously detect things that are to the left and right of the post. So why not put a sensor on top of the post that points upward and detects anything going over the post?

You don't get that?

I was more intrigued by the fact that Locke and Sayid apparently brought the Lostaways' only axe, meaning that those back at camp can no longer chop firewood or build anything useful out of bamboo. Seems like it would more likely be needed on the home front.

Or maybe they lifted one at the farm.

I'm not sure what you're saying.

There are sensors on the sides of each post that obviously detect things that are to the left and right of the post. So why not put a sensor on top of the post that points upward and detects anything going over the post?

You don't get that?

I think what Elgin is getting at is that the sensors pick up anything that passes between two of them. Something like a microwave pulse or maybe an infrared signal that passes from pylon to pylon. the ultrasonics (or whatever it was that killed patchy) are triggered when the wave/signal is blocked. If the sensors were some kind of motion detectors there would be no need to have one on both sides of every pylon.

I think what Elgin is getting at is that the sensors pick up anything that passes between two of them. Something like a microwave pulse or maybe an infrared signal that passes from pylon to pylon. the ultrasonics (or whatever it was that killed patchy) are triggered when the wave/signal is blocked. If the sensors were some kind of motion detectors there would be no need to have one on both sides of every pylon.


OK, I see what you're saying.

I was assuming that whoever had the ability, technology, and money to build this kind of fence and sensors on an island could have come up with something to stop someone from easily climbing over the post.

If I can think up ways to do it, surely the creators of the fence could do it.

Okay let me ask this; They got into otherville by climbing over the fence but they left the thing they used to climb over on the outside and it has been noted that there are hardly any trees on the inside. How do they retreat when needed? They can't.

Okay let me ask this; They got into otherville by climbing over the fence but they left the thing they used to climb over on the outside and it has been noted that there are hardly any trees on the inside. How do they retreat when needed? They can't.

There are lots of trees inside:

http://gallery.lost-media.com/displayimage-1262-692.html

There are lots of trees inside:

http://gallery.lost-media.com/displayimage-1262-692.html

I said this before, I think getting out may be easier than getting in. I believe it was designed to keep things out. Ethan and Goodwin ran off to the crash sites and got there quickly. They certainly didn't fell any trees and climb the fence posts. I believe you can pass through from the inside out.

Maybe it was put up to keep something out that we haven't seen yet. Something that can't fly over it. Yet needs something stronger to stop it then say a normal electrified fence.

It's a big island and we have only seen small parts of it. Anything could be running around on it that hasn't shown up yet. Maybe an experement gone wrong.

"Because you're not on the list" is what Patchy McPatchy said, and he probably wasn't lying about that one. NOW, what he meant by it, that's a whole other ball game.

Ethan and Goodwin were "on the list" so to speak, so they'd be able to run right through the fence without any issue at all, right?

Smokey has been called the "security system" before, so this is probably an extension of that technology.

Maybe it was put up to keep something out that we haven't seen yet. Something that can't fly over it. Yet needs something stronger to stop it then say a normal electrified fence.

It's a big island and we have only seen small parts of it. Anything could be running around on it that hasn't shown up yet. Maybe an experement gone wrong.

Escaped Polar Bear?:undecide:
100%
"Because you're not on the list" is what Patchy McPatchy said, and he probably wasn't lying about that one. NOW, what he meant by it, that's a whole other ball game.

Ethan and Goodwin were "on the list" so to speak, so they'd be able to run right through the fence without any issue at all, right?

Smokey has been called the "security system" before, so this is probably an extension of that technology.

Could be. But, would that mean Mikhail wasn't 'good' since the fence nailed him?

Escaped Polar Bear?:undecide:

LMAO... Who knows. Until we see, none of us know. We coud go on guessing for ever.

Whenever they get up a search for anything, they always find something that turns out to be more important to the plot than what they were actually looking for. An example would be Jack looking for water and finding the caves/the coffin. I think this fence along with the Flame are going to be more important than finding Jack.

I don't think the fence was designed to protect against a coordinated assault, but was intended for "shock and awe." Let's say you're an innocent hot-air balloonist stranded on the island with your buddy. You've survived the elements, the polar bears, the "Hurley"-shrieking thunderbirds and the mechanized wisp of smoke that yanks up trees and tosses them like toothpicks. You find a bucolic pastureland decorated like a modern art version of Easter Island (or ringed with giant metal phalluses, if you prefer.) Your buddy goes strolling through only to go all scanners on you. What do you do?

A. Follow him, thinking the odds of the same thing happening to you are extremely low.
B. Fashion an axe out of nearby rocks, cut down a tree and create a bridge to cross the fence, because any place that's protected by a fence that fries your best friend's brain is worth checking out.
C. Turn tail and run back to that cave with the bodies in it that you just thought was creepy.
D. Try to fashion some new underwear out of nearby foliage.

The electrical map has 'subterranean tunnels' marked on it leading out from the barracks.(http://lostpedia.com/wiki/Image:3x12_ParAvion_Cabling_Map.jpg)

I think that would answer my question of how Ethan and Goodwin got by the fence to the crash sites.

There are lots of trees inside:

http://gallery.lost-media.com/displayimage-1262-692.html

After re-watching the epi last night I see there are trees and stuff inside as well. I would just presume they would be pursued during a retreat and would not have the luxury of time to fashion a new climb over out of the more distant forest. :)

Two questions about the fence:

1) If it's turned on and active, where are all the dead animals from running into the fence?
2) Could the fence have been activated when Locke hit 77 in the Flame Hatch? Prior to that it was disabled, which would explain why there were no carcasses along the perimeter of the fence.

it was certainly a cool fence. obviously an electric fenc would be used if animal control was the main aim. works on polar bears too, according to the zoos I have visited.

i wouldn't have thought it would stop the smoke, as it can travel underground and fly. and it doesn't have ears does it?

however i am glad they got past it in one episode. the time it took Locke to get into the hatch was silly. especially when the front door was just down the track a bit............

why would Patch welcome such a horrible death though?

That fence was awesome. I just watched the episode again last night and realized something about it.

We know that the creators, writers and producers are Star Wars fans. Well I believe the sound that came from the fence was the same sound heard in Episode II when Jango Fett is dropping sonic charges into the asteroid field, except prolonged.

A cool sound for an equally cool fence concept.

Your logic makes little sense. All fences can be jumped over. Even a fence surrounding a prison perimeter can be jumped over if you have access to materials to make a contraption.

I don't think the fence was designed to protect against a coordinated assault, but was intended for "shock and awe." Let's say you're an innocent hot-air balloonist stranded on the island with your buddy. You've survived the elements, the polar bears, the "Hurley"-shrieking thunderbirds and the mechanized wisp of smoke that yanks up trees and tosses them like toothpicks. You find a bucolic pastureland decorated like a modern art version of Easter Island (or ringed with giant metal phalluses, if you prefer.) Your buddy goes strolling through only to go all scanners on you. What do you do?

A. Follow him, thinking the odds of the same thing happening to you are extremely low.
B. Fashion an axe out of nearby rocks, cut down a tree and create a bridge to cross the fence, because any place that's protected by a fence that fries your best friend's brain is worth checking out.
C. Turn tail and run back to that cave with the bodies in it that you just thought was creepy.
D. Try to fashion some new underwear out of nearby foliage.

What do I do? ~ F. Fall backward into the stupid thing laughing at the above. :rotflmao2:
(I might fall forward I suppose what with the tears in my eyes and all... but backward just seemed funnier. :shrug: )

Re some theories that this is a fence to keep prisoner Others in the compound. Why bother? Did Devils Island have a fence in addition to using the ocean as a barrier? Have the Lostee's left the island despite being outside the fence? Why would you need to restrict some of the Others to the compound instead of letting them wander into Polar Bear Land? The only reason I can see would be so you can force them to attend their daily brain washing sessions.

Keep animals out? No evidence animals are trying to get in i.e. no bones along the deadly barrier.

Barrier against Hostiles? Like the Lostees who defeated it so easily?

I don't think the fence was designed to protect against a coordinated assault, but was intended for "shock and awe." Let's say you're an innocent hot-air balloonist stranded on the island with your buddy. You've survived the elements, the polar bears, the "Hurley"-shrieking thunderbirds and the mechanized wisp of smoke that yanks up trees and tosses them like toothpicks. You find a bucolic pastureland decorated like a modern art version of Easter Island (or ringed with giant metal phalluses, if you prefer.) Your buddy goes strolling through only to go all scanners on you. What do you do?

A. Follow him, thinking the odds of the same thing happening to you are extremely low.
B. Fashion an axe out of nearby rocks, cut down a tree and create a bridge to cross the fence, because any place that's protected by a fence that fries your best friend's brain is worth checking out.
C. Turn tail and run back to that cave with the bodies in it that you just thought was creepy.
D. Try to fashion some new underwear out of nearby foliage.

answer: D
Although I'd have been doing that just for pleasure from day 1.

But I agree with you. Its easy for us to sit back and watch this on our HD TVs and scoff at the seeming crapness of a security system that can be bested by a girl scout and her jovial jungle chums but we're not really putting ourselves in the moment. They've just watched foaming Lenin die in front of them from the effects of a pretty frightening sonic barrier. Its seriously deadly...what would most people do?. What Kate did was virtually foolhardy. There was every chance she could have suffered the same fate. How many of us would really be willing to do that so immediately?. While I might not stand at the back of the queue I would at least seek out the nearest fluffy bunny and lob him over the top to see wether he suffers the same fate. Whatever, I'd have been a little freaked....and I'm not what you might call weak stomached.

Anyway...seems like a segregation system for keeping people away to me. I am intrigued as to why it can't just be walked through though. Did Mikhail purposely stop?. And why was his voice so heavily modulated when he said 'thankyou'?. Just the sonic effect on his voice?. It sounded almost alien.