I hope I'm not stating the obvious. In a previous episode where Ben leads Sawyer to the top of the hill, Sawyer asked why the "others" don't leave the island. Ben rhetorically responds with something to the effect of, "Yes, that's a good question. Just why wouldn't we?" It was a taunt and a tease.

Tonight, Ben and John's conversation pretty much confirms a belief that the island has magical healing powers.

So, is that why the others stay? Are they all afflicted with some debilitating injury or disease and have come to the island to regain some sort of a normal life?

Would "Patchy", for allowing the communications station to be blown up, have been sent back to the real world to re-suffer whatever ailment he has? Was death preferable to returning to his previous condition? Was that why he said, "Thank you." as he died?

I hope I'm not stating the obvious. In a previous episode where Ben leads Sawyer to the top of the hill, Sawyer asked why the "others" don't leave the island. Ben rhetorically responds with something to the effect of, "Yes, that's a good question. Just why wouldn't we?" It was a taunt and a tease.
Actually, I think this was a conversation with Jack inside the Hydra station:

JACK [laughing]: If you could leave this island why would you still be here?
BEN: Yes, Jack, why would we be here?
JACK: You're lying. You're stuck here just like we are. You don't have any...


I think the powers of the island go deeper than just healing, though. Obviously we are getting strong hints that the island can somehow "judge" people, and affects each person differently, since Locke was healed and Ben was not. I think this ties into Ben's dialogue about the "box" and how everyone gets something different from it. How that is determined is unknown. It seems Ben is trying to figure out what power the Island has and to control it if he can.

Would "Patchy", for allowing the communications station to be blown up, have been sent back to the real world to re-suffer whatever ailment he has? Was death preferable to returning to his previous condition? Was that why he said, "Thank you." as he died?

he said thank you because he was planning on turning the gun to himself way back after he shot Klugh.theres some kind of rule,as we learned from Klughs words.They had to die rather than let info slip or betray their cause.and maybe a painful gross brain melting death is far better than what could happen to one from the others hand.let alone that Mikhail is not even dead,so....;)

The way Ben was talking on several occaisons shows that there must be a reason the Others stay here, and why the recruited others want to come in the first place. But the way Ben was grilling Locke about being able to walk tells me it isn't about the healing powers.

The way Ben was talking on several occaisons shows that there must be a reason the Others stay here, and why the recruited others want to come in the first place. But the way Ben was grilling Locke about being able to walk tells me it isn't about the healing powers.


exactly!!and a dead important one
!!!!!:cool:

judging by some spoilers for bens centric coming up, i would Guess that maybe ben, who was born on the island has not only some kinda connection with the island, but also since its his home and he is at peace there, why would he want to leave a place where he is in charge and has total freedom.