Cause and Effect - the echoes of voices and numbers
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By raygun
- Cause and Effect - the echoes of voices and numbers
- Created: Nov 30, 2007
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.2: The Glass Ballerina
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
Being realistic about fantasy/scifi writers and the LOST writers, I am confident that they have borrowed ideas and concepts from several sources.
— raygun
First, know that I am a firm believer that before the Swan was destroyed there was some type of time loop occurring on the island. My previous theory dealt with the nature of time on the island, and this one looks at the whispers and numbers with the same reference.
In a Star Trek: TNG episode entitled “Cause and Effect” (Production: 218, Season: 5, Episode: 18), the crew is unknowingly cast into a causality loop — a time warp that dooms them to endlessly repeat the same fragment of time. They hear muted voices very similar to the whispers from LOST. They do not remember each loop, but have strong deja vu experiences. They record the voices and, realizing that they are voices of the crew, determine that a time loop is involved. From StartTrek.com: “Data discovers that it also explains the voices on the tape, which are ‘echoes’ from a previous loop. He isolates pieces of dialogue that indicate that the Enterprise collided with another ship, exploded, and got stuck in the time warp. Realizing that whatever they do to avoid the collision will probably be the same thing they have done before, Data decides the only hope is to send a deliberate message into the next loop. They prepare to send the message, the red alert begins again, and the ship is destroyed.”
Data saves the day by sending a message into the time loop reinforcing the number 3. In the subsequent loop, the number 3 keeps appearing in noticeable fashion in a variety of places. Data in the loop uses the number 3 as a hint to follow the suggestion of Riker (3 pip officer) to avoid the collision and avoid repeating the loop again.
I suggest that the numbers in LOST come from an purely innocent source, like the serial number of the Swan hatch: 4815162342. They may have originally been used as a McGuffin in the psychological experiments conducted in the hatch, and had no real meaning on their own. Through repetition in each time loop they began to appear in noticeable fashion, and through radio transmission over the years even insinuated themselves in the outside world. The numbers and the voices are echoes of previous loops.
Being realistic about fantasy/scifi writers and the LOST writers, I am confident that they have borrowed ideas and concepts from several sources. They may just be experiencing a type of deja vu where the same story ideas keep showing up in noticeable fashion…
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| The Swan station | 2.20, 2.23, 2.14, 2.17, 2.1, 2.2, 1.11, 3.3, 3.8 | 471 |
If you are familiar with “The LOST Experience” then you’re probably aware of the back story regarding the numbers and a man named Enzo Valenzetti.
http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/TheValenzettiEquation
I suppose it is possible that this “reclusive” mathematician was once on the island and began his calculations there, but there is no reference to this.
Interesting theory none the less. Plus one for mentioning that particular STTNG episode. ;)
Raygun you’ve made me think about the connections between Lost and sci-fi. Is it possible that when the writers said everything would be explainable by science they actually meant something more along the lines of, everything could be believable in terms of theoretical science?
In which case there are many examples of time loops, such as the one you mention, in popular culture. Its almost a classic storyline if you like. Viewers can accept this idea even if serious scientists can not.
I’m in the maybe camp for timeloops or time distortion which I guess is the yes camp by definition. Anyway I liked your thoughts and I’m plussing you one.
Though I believe that you are wrong, and though I dislike the time loop theories generally, your theory does have an interesting angle, and I thank you for sharing.
Plus one.
I aslo think the whispers belong to the Losties, but in a very different way then you do. It’s a little to complicated to try to explain here.
As far as the source of the numbers are concerned, I don’t think we can use the Lost Experience and Valenzetti equations in the TV show Lost.. I also believe there is a reasonble explanation of the numbers that has nothing to do with the Valanzetti equations. The Lost Experience is separate from the TV show lost. I realize that ABC sanctions both, but it simply is not fair for people who watch the show to have to use the internet to realize answers. LOST never advertized on the TV show anything about the LOST experience.
Telivision is a business, and ABC will use anything at their disposal to make mony, including websites.
Raygun, well done theory and great back up example. I’m not a fan of time loops myself, but I did like the way you presented this one. +1
Raygun, I like the idea, but have you read the whispers transcripts? They definitely sound like they are currently watching what’s going on with the island, not that they’re the voices from previous loops. If you haven’t read them, I suggest you do.
Also, Bigmouth wrote a fantastic theory on “Cause and Effect” a while back. It’s a fun read even if he isn’t right.
http://eyemsick.blogspot.com/2007/07/cause-and-effect-revised.html
Thanks for the link, Hoodoo! It is good to see that someone thinks along the same lines. A great read!
Raygun, very nice theory, which is well documented, and written. +1
I particularly like the angle of causality. Have you looked up retro-causality? This may also provide an explanation to back up your theory. It is an interesting angle, which could explain some of the things you’ve mentioned.
I really like this theory Raygun, I hope you are right. +1.