I can't remember who he said it to, It was a few episodes ago but didnt he say he was born on the island or that he lived there all his life?

Just wondering why he would have said that when we now know that it isnt true

I can't remember who he said it to, It was a few episodes ago but didnt he say he was born on the island or that he lived there all his life?

Just wondering why he would have said that when we now know that it isnt true

Yes. Ben isn't always truthfull would be putting it mildly. :)

I can't remember who he said it to, It was a few episodes ago but didnt he say he was born on the island or that he lived there all his life?

Just wondering why he would have said that when we now know that it isnt true

He said this to multiple people. Most notibly Jack in the first episode of this season, just before he showed him the Red Sox winning the World Series.

He also said it to Locke in The Man From Tallahassee. This episode confirms Ben as a lying liar.

Did you guys watch the whole episode? Ben clearly stated to Locke that 1) he was lying when he said he was born on the island, and 2) that he doesn't always tell the truth.

Just wondering why he would have said that when we now know that it isnt true

To remind us what a liar he is, when it suits his means.
D'oh, we figured that out back when he was in the hatch.
Why beat us over the head with it?

Ben lies. We know. We're over it. 'Nuff said about that.

Yes. Ben isn't always truthfull would be putting it mildly. :)

You can say it, he's a bloody liar.

If this episode proved anything, it's that Ben's even more of a little worm than anyone previously thought.

But WHY is he lying? Why would anyone care if he was born on the island or not? Is he trying to show he has some sort of power?

But WHY is he lying? Why would anyone care if he was born on the island or not? Is he trying to show he has some sort of power?

Sure. I'm assuming that by saying he was born on the island, he was separating himself from the other 'Others', instilling a confidence in his leadership as new recruits came (ie: Juliet) and planes crashed.

more important: is he lying when he says he is the only one that can see/hear Jacob (before Locke came to the Island)?

If this is true.......then who was in charge of the Hostiles before Ben came? (because if only he can see/hear Jacob, then no one would have heard of Jacob before Ben)

He lied because he is as nutty as the proverbial friutcake :biggrin:

Did you guys watch the whole episode? Ben clearly stated to Locke that 1) he was lying when he said he was born on the island, and 2) that he doesn't always tell the truth.
Like, DUH. :rolleyes:


If Al Franken ever writes a "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, Part II," it should be EXCLUSIVELY about Ben! :24:

Darlton, of course, would probably say he was only 'truth-challenged'. :10:

I'm surprised Jacob's two words to Locke weren't "HE LIES."


You get the idea!

Or "Paulo lies!"
Or "Para-lyzed!"
Or "Power lines!"

The reason Ben would want to make people believe he was born on the Island is because he wants to be on the same level as the Hostiles like Richard. if he presents himself that way when new recruits arrive, no one can say, "well, you're just a Dharma brat!"

Another way to take is this, he was born in a nonliteral sense on the Island. As in he was made into the person he is now. Doesn't seem Little Ben had much of a childhood before coming to Island, an even more depressing one while growing up there. Maybe he is considering the day of the purge to be his rebirth.

So I guess in a way he is lying and telling the truth. Just a thought.

I assumed he LIED to the others saying that he could hear Jacob thus becoming their leader (some sort of prophecy or something) and when John could hear him, Ben knew that it was in fact John who "fulfilled" this so he killed him. I mean, obviously the others see some signs in John that they KNOW he is special and more obviously, Ben is threatened by this.

Maybe John is, in fact, the one who was born on the Island?

Another way to take is this, he was born in a nonliteral sense on the Island. As in he was made into the person he is now. Doesn't seem Little Ben had much of a childhood before coming to Island, an even more depressing one while growing up there. Maybe he is considering the day of the purge to be his rebirth.

So I guess in a way he is lying and telling the truth. Just a thought.

that's what i was just about to post you took the words right out of my mouth, I buy this idea.

Ben lies, especially when he said he is not always truthfull.

This is nothing new. We knew Ben was a liar a long time ago, when he said he was Henry Gale.

If a man lies about his identity, its not so much of a stretch that he'll lie about any and everything else.

This is nothing new. We knew Ben was a liar a long time ago, when he said he was Henry Gale.

If a man lies about his identity, its not so much of a stretch that he'll lie about any and everything else.

But what purpose does it serve telling Jack and Locke he was born on the island?

Is it possible this was the writers' original intention but that "The Man Behind The Curtain" is ret-conning Ben's past?

If Ben doesn't need a reason to lie then he is just nuts and, therefore, not really a compelling character.

Another way to take is this, he was born in a nonliteral sense on the Island. As in he was made into the person he is now. Doesn't seem Little Ben had much of a childhood before coming to Island, an even more depressing one while growing up there. Maybe he is considering the day of the purge to be his rebirth.

So I guess in a way he is lying and telling the truth. Just a thought.

Similar to what I posted in another thread but worded better - Ben and Locke are both "Born Again Islanders":biggrin: . Ben only counts his island life as meaninful.