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I propose that the technological aspect behind the Monster is moved to a separate page. This page should cover all technological aspects that is part of the Lost universe, i.e., the technology behind DHARMA stations etc. In this way we can reduce the size of pages such as this one that are too long and extensive.

It can be supposed that there have been no mere hallucinations on the island, and that all hallucinations have been the manifestation of some paranormal psychic smoke monster, but this is highly unlikely. While a few of the visions may in deed actually be the “Monster”, or more likely caused by the presence of the “Monster”, it is highly that some, if not all the hallucinations are in fact caused by other factors like stress (Hurley saw Dave back in the US…or was the “Monster” I the mental institution as well), lack of sleep, injury, hunger, and thirst. To label so many things “manifestations of the monster” is like calling wolf, and places doubt on the theory that the “monster” can actually take human form, or more likely cause hallucinations.--ASEO 07:26, 21 November 2006 (PST)

Ring of torches in "The Hunting Party"

They appear and disappear in an instant, possibly turning to black smoke. Since these other Others do not appear in the rest of the episode, it can be assumed that they were an assumed form of the Monster.

Absolutely no evidence that the torches were not Others. We have seen that there are enough Others on the island to have had the torches.--ASEO 07:08, 21 November 2006 (PST)

!
The big black rock in "S.O.S." |Seen behind Kate at the line with Jack.

Is every black rock on the island to be labeled the “Monster”. This is just a black rock.--ASEO 07:26, 21 November 2006 (PST)

!
A long line of black smoke in "A Tale of Two Cities" |Trails the plane during the mid-air break-up. It is the Monster tearing the plane to pieces, or at least assisting it to the ground once it had come apart.

Not all smoke is the “Monster” this smoke for example comes from a plane breaking up in mid air.--ASEO 07:26, 21 November 2006 (PST)

• I think the argument used is not good but the theory that when the torches go out we see the Monster is a good theory. Take a look at Three_Minutes/Theories#The_Torches.--EvilSmoke 07:28, 21 November 2006 (PST)

There is no evidence for that. Post the picture. All smoke on the island is not the "Monster". Torches smoke.--ASEO 07:46, 21 November 2006 (PST)

It is also very likely that, bearing the polar bears and shark as examples, that there are modified animals on the island. It is more probable that the follow animal sightings are not actually the "Monster"--ASEO 07:37, 21 November 2006 (PST)

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Kate's Horse in "What Kate Did" |

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A boar in "The Hunting Party" |The boar that taunted Sawyer

Vincent is more likly a Retriever of Truth than a manifestation of the "Monster".--ASEO 07:42, 21 November 2006 (PST)

!
Vincent |An innocuous method to judge the plane crash survivors.

A stream of consciousness about the monster (in a bad english)

First of all I should say that is not sure that what we call "monster" and what is called "Cerberus" are the same thing (please, tell me if I'm wrong). But I think is interesting that Cerberus, the guardian of Hell, is a dog with three heads, and every head is a symbol: one for the destruction of the past, one for the destruction of the present and one for the destruction of the future. If you remember in "The 23rd Psalm" Eko saw a lot of images of his life (and these images make the counting machine's sounds). So, is Cerberus a machine surrounded by black smoke (maybe expelled from the CVs) that is used by a faction of the Others to know everything about the past (and the future) of the people on the island? And what about the killings of the pilot and Eko?

Another thing. If everything on the Island could be explaned with science, is it really possible that when the producers said we saw the monster in season 2 without knowing it, this was referenced to Yemi and other dead people? A scientific explanation could be that the smoke (and the vents) produces hallucinations. But, who knows?

Also we must remember that the sounds of the monster were not only chosen to make fear. J.J. Abrams, on Season 1 DVD (on the comment for "Pilot: part 1"), said that they (the producers) knew what was in the jungle during the first night, and they've spent a lot of time choosing the right sound for it. In my opinion this is a big hint for monster's nature: there are a lot of mechanical sounds, so it should be a machine. A war machine? Remember: Dharma Project was born during the Cold War, and all these research are on a Pacific Island. Maybe the producers' intent is also to accuse all the (nuclear) tests that destroyed (and are destroying) these little paradises. On the Official Podcast Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse said that season 3 is going to talk about the archeology of the Island, so it's possible that the Others are ex-Dharma people that repudiate what they were doing on the Island when they had found something particular. Or something like that.

I don't really know. I change idea on a possible theory every 5 minutes. 35% is because Damon and JJ are genius, 60% is because Lost has got a lot of narrative plans, so it's impossible to have only one theory for everything (but if it's possible...."Damon and JJ are genius"'s percentual will reach 95% percent), and 5% is because of internet.

Good night, good luck and thank you for reading. --andreapasotti, 14 December 2006

Black Rocks

L.O.S.T is filmed in Hawaii yes? A volcanic island? Would I be right in asuming that therefore it would have volcanic rocks on it? Volcanic rocks are black. This doesn't mean they are the monster in diguise. --Princess Dharma (banned) 13:08, 2 February 2007 (PST)

A couple of ideas

Back to the Jungian theme what if the monster is a physical representation of the collective consciousness of the people on the island?

There are a number of references to a black/white monster, a set of black/white stones, and the Hanso foundation has a Yin-Yang symbol. The Yin-Yang symbol especially is reminiscent of the monster and is also black/white. Obviosuly these colours traditionally imply good vs evil and maybe there is an evil monster and a good 'monster'. The black and white in the Yin-Yang symbol however imply more of a balance between concepts, possibly between physical and spiritual or maybe between faith and science. --Cwhitwell 05:56, 21 February 2007 (PST)

How are the cat and the spider the monster?

This doesn't make sense to me. Sure the cat bears a striking resemblance to the on in Sayid's flashback, but that hardly means it is a manifestation of the monster, especially when Mikhail seems to not only see it, but is very acquainted to it, even naming it.

I also don't see how the spider is the monster. The only similarity could be sound heard as the males came to swarm, but again, that isn't enough to warrant calling the spider the monster. The spider died. So does that mean the monster died too? No.

If we keep blaming everything on the monster, then why not throw in a couple polar bears? Hell, there was a shark a while back, was it the monster too? Those birds that Claire attached the message to, Monster. Those fish the Losties catch, Monster. Please think before you add stuff to the monster willy-nilly.    Mr Vain    talk    contribs    email   07:33, 5 April 2007 (PDT)

I'm deleting these entries in a day or two if no one can provide evidence as to why they should stay.    Mr Vain    talk    contribs    email   16:01, 6 April 2007 (PDT)

(Joke) Or the monster is a Barbapapa

• genius!

From the Id

For whatever reasons, the scene in which smokey is stopped by the sonic fence brought to mind a similar scene in the classic film Forbidden Planet. In that frame of mind, and considering the possibilities surrounding the alleged magic box, the thought occured to me that the monster might be "from the Id". fatcatfan 11:54, 25 April 2007 (PDT)

Absorbtion

It absorbs dead bodies and uses it to confound and confuse its prey by preying on its thoughts and emotions. When traveling it will shapeshift to a black smoke in order to surprise its prey. Examples of the monster in action: 1.) Jack's father's corpse goes missing. Later on it shows up talking to Jack by taunting him. 2.) Yemji burnt corpse is missing from the plane (near the pearl), the person who shows up to Eko looking like Yemji is not Yemji and explains to him, "you talk to me as if I'm your brother." Eko is killed by the monster a few minutes later, apparently he had a revelation as to who the monster was. - User:Gwag/sig 00:53, 30 April 2007 (PDT)

Emily Linus

If her apparition is a manifestation of the smoke monster, how did it manage past the sonic fence to appear next to young ben's window ? FabC 14:49, 10 May 2007 (PDT)FabC

Savior

All of the Losties who have died on the island have actually been the monster. It manages to save them, and assume their form, then give the other survivors the impression that they have died. An example of thie is when the plane fell with Boone in it, the monster took him out, and assumed his identity. The monster then takes the survivor to the second island, where they are under watch by the Others.

Jabberwock

Maybe the monster is something like a Jabberwock. Definition from wikipedia: Jabberwock – A creature with jaws that bite, claws that catch, and eyes of flame. It probably lives in the woods, which is where the hero finds it, and can travel at considerable (whiffling) speed, and is also known for the burbling noise it makes.

--Helohe 11:00, 28 May 2007 (PDT)

Other Theories

• Pissed off Bunny
  • The thoery that the Monster could be a pissed off bunny is very viable. Not proven fact which is why it is in the theory section. The only theory that has been discredited is the nano bot one. so please show citation from where it was discredited. Even if you disagree with a theory, that doesn't make it wrong or right. A theory is just that a theory, until proven or disproven.
  • Fair enough. Since this theory is so out there - it doesn't stand in proportion to any other theory regarded as credible by the community - I urge you to make the strongest case possible. Present as many arguments for your position as you can and let us vote. If enough people agree with you, we'll be happy to present your theory in the theory section.
    • This is not that far out there compared to the nano bot theory. It is simple a theory. According to the Lostpedia Theory submission page, a theory can be placed, then it must be discussed to be removed. The grounds for removal are 1. When information that confirms a theory is revealed by a reputable source, the statement becomes fact and can be moved from the Theories subpage to the main article. or 2.If a theory has been discredited due to the revelation of new facts from a reputable source, the theory should be removed from the theories page. If there is need to keep this theory for historical purposes, please place it on the discussion page of the article.CastorPollock 04:49, 15 February 2008 (PST)
    • This theory is humorous and pokes fun at the phenomena of the show and might fit better in the parody category. However, if a majority of the other members of the Lost-community perceives the idea of a bunny on a revenge-trip as something that's in line with the general atmosphere of the Lost story, the theory will stay where it is (at least until we have new evidence that refutes the possibility that a rabbit is seeking vendetta for past transgressions of laws of nature and violations of animal rights).
    • Well I for one think it would be possible for the monster to have "evolved into something elsed. For instance like the polar bears being bred to survive on the island and the desert. So it could be possible for whatever transipred in the Orchidstation to have changed the psysical make up of a rabbit, or any animal for that matter. The vents could be "rabbit holes".

The Cow

What are the chances the cow from the last episode, that the copter pilot sees and disappears by the time Jack arrives, was the monster? And just an aside.. can the monster move between the two islands or is it constricted by the bounds of some kind.--Nasher 08:37, 16 February 2008 (PST)

• The cow was a survivor from the Flame station as seen in the enhanced version of confirmed deadCastorPollock 09:33, 16 February 2008 (PST)
• It would appear that the monster can not cross water. The monster also shows many animalistic characteristics, ie curiosity, fear sense, aggression, curiosity, and having a lair Cerebrus VentsCastorPollock 09:33, 16 February 2008 (PST)
  • Somewhere TPTB stated that the monster cannot completely leave the ground. Hence why it couldn't just "hop" over the sonar fence Juliet activated.-- Lost Locke 21:01, 22 July 2008 (PDT)
• To paraphrase Freud, sometimes a bovine is just a bovine. - ZachsMind 10:17, 16 March 2008 (PDT)

Judgement idea

I think maybe the monster is the combined spirits/memories/etc (however you want to put it) of the people who throughout the history of the island failed to find a constant. I think they have somehow combined with a security system that already existed on the island and have taken it upon themselves to judge people they find on the island. Some are good some are bad which would explain in the whispers why some of them seem to want to help or give warning and others stop them. Just a thought anyway didn't think it was worth putting on the main theory page without further research and sources to start backing it up.Matthew7785 15:57, 30 April 2008 (PDT)

This addition doesn't make sense to me

From the "Discredited theories" section:

Lindelof explained in no uncertain terms that the mysterious cloud of black smoke is not a cloud of nanobots. "Of course," he added, "that depends on how you define 'nanobot'."

"No uncertain terms" does not match the statement "that depends on how you define 'nanobot.'" "No uncertain terms" would indicate that it's not a nanobot no matter how you define the word. Jinxmchue 22:13, 3 May 2008 (PDT)

• To me, that means he's saying it's not the "traditional" definition of nanobot. In other words, it's not a bunch of flying, microscopic robots in a magnetic cloud.-- Lost Locke 21:06, 22 July 2008 (PDT)

Discreditted encounters

Why are those discredited? Yes Darlton did say that, but they were laughing the entire time and certainly weren't serious. They will not tell us about the Monster until the series finale. While it is probable, Darlton hasn't even confirmed that the Monster is responsible for the visions.

• Carlton and Damon have confirmed that three encounters with the monster have been visions. They did so exactly 13 minutes and 26 seconds into Lost: The Answers. Damon says "We do know that the monster is able to process certain memories that you may have." Then they show three visions confirmed to be evoked by the monster: Jack's vision of his dead father, Kate's vision of the horse from her past and Shannon seeing Walt appear before her eyes though he physically wasn't there.
  • Regardless, Darlton was in a joking manner when they were saying what is and wasn't the Monster. It should ALL OF THEM should be under possible encounters, with none of them being confirmed or deconfirmed. You all are just taking what they sid way too literally. Seems to me those people believed that the Zombie Season was going to happen.
    • Okay. You misinterpreted what I wrote above. I was NOT talking about Lost Podcast, in which I'm well aware they were indeed joking pretty much half of the time and only gave a few reliable answers. What I was talking about was a special that came out right before the finale of season 3. Producers and writers made this special called Lost: The Answers for ABC after there had been many viewers criticising them for never giving definitive answers. The implication here, as you can understand, is that every answer they gave in this special is incontestable.