As far as I can tell, the rest of the world doesn't know very much.

i. Both Anthony Cooper and Naomi said they found the wreckage and everyone was dead.
Why? Either they're lying, or this supports multiple time lines I suppose.
ii. The cop who worked with Ana Lucia, said "maybe you met her in the airport? BEFORE the flight?" Making no mention of the fact that they landed and crashed somewhere.
iii. Hurley tells the policeman that he's "One of the Oceanic 6" but what does everyone think happened to them?


Thoughts?

Makes me think they all agreed to say that everyone who *died* had died on the flight, rather than was killed/murdered/etc on the island instead


but who knows...

But how do they explain what happened to them, then?
At some point Oceanic took off, that they can't deny. So are they saying that ... maybe the plane crashed somewhere, and only the 6 survived?
Which would fit, other than the fact that apparently "everyone" died, as stated by Naomi and Cooper ... then again, not sure how reliable that is, I suppose.

I'm thinking that the rest of the world is unaware that some chose to stay behind.

Hopeful search ended eventually. The rest of the world was told that everyone was declared dead after a long search.

Then,
Sam, Talbot and Ockam find the wreckage, only further confirming the dead

Fast Forward:
After this new group takes the 6 off the island (for reasons we have not seen play out), there was no choice but to have a cover up.

A story was whipped up on how these 6 survive. They floated on some debris and survived on an island or floating wreckage for 90 days or so. A miracle of sorts.

Oceanic 6 were told before they officially leave the island that, they must never speak of the island and were bribed somehow (golden pass etc.)

The world must think a miracle happened to these 6 people.

Yeah it seems to me that the entitiy behind all of this would want to make it seem like these survivors are flukes. Mostly everyone died, and since the wreckage was located, it certainly seems to validate that. But if only the wreckage was used to confirm the fates of all aboard in the public sphere, then that certainly leaves room for a few people surviving miraculously.

It definitely was a big news story when they came back (Hurley's comment to Jack about the press) so by that we know that they weren't just transplanted into society quitely. It was big hoopla for them and for Oceanic.

I'm wondering, though, who they (O6) are saying, publicly, found them?

OOOOOh, 7 more eps only seems like a teaser for much bigger seasons to come! Too many questions simply about this specific topic to get any real answers!

Hopeful search ended eventually. The rest of the world was told that everyone was declared dead after a long search.

Then,
Sam, Talbot and Ockam find the wreckage, only further confirming the dead

Fast Forward:
After this new group takes the 6 off the island (for reasons we have not seen play out), there was no choice but to have a cover up.

A story was whipped up on how these 6 survive. They floated on some debris and survived on an island or floating wreckage for 90 days or so. A miracle of sorts.

Oceanic 6 were told before they officially leave the island that, they must never speak of the island and were bribed somehow (golden pass etc.)

The world must think a miracle happened to these 6 people.

I don't know one way or the other, but aren't we making a huge assumtion that it is due to the help from people on the freighter that they get off?

We really have nothing concrete to connect them getting off the island to anything that goes down with the crew of the freighter.

I like the idea that the frieghter has nothing to do with them getting off the island. That would be very "Lost". They must have struck some deal with Jacob about the Island. This deal may have some dire consequences if anyone spills the beans. They could also be protecting the people who do not want to return. I am so happy Lost is back!

What I don't understand is what they blackmail the 6 with. No way is Jack going to keep quiet unless they really have a serious threat to hold over him. When the group split there was more than 6 in Jack's group and something significant had to have changed their minds.:eek2: