Then why leave the island to 'recruit' Juliette, if he already knows the answer to whether women can get pregnant or not. I'm not arguing here, i think Richard is a pretty special character, and obviously since he could be a 1000 years old makes him even more special. I'm really confused about the hostiles.. others, whatever they are.. i had once even thought of them as apparitions, but then knowing that Richard can leave, well, it's all pretty wierd

So is Jakob the guy that was mentioned in the dream-vision that Locke had in the sweat-tent? The dream where Locked saw all the Losties in the airport, camera visiting each one of them through Locke's eyes, as if searching for someone, some voice telling Locke this person will be alright and that will be fine, but at one point Locke hears "only you can help him". At that point I thought "him" was Jack, but looks to me it was Jakob being referred to, there..

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"Bear...? Is that you?"-- Hurley S03E4

Yea thats a good point flaneuse. I think that he was talking about Jacob. But why does Jacob want help if he is the leader of the others or something like that. and the thing about richard i think that people born on the island can live forever or live for a long time. Thats why richard was there and i think mickeal was born on the islaend as well. Even if he told ben that the fence was on low. I think that he cannot die, thats why tom and richard left John to beat him up.

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Hurley: What about the B-O-D-Y-S?
Michael: What are spelling, man? Bodies?
Walt: B-O-D-I-E-S.

Hurley: Dude, you've got some Artz on you.

Bernard: I'm a dentist, not Rambo.
Rose: And don't forget that!

I thought Locke's sweat lodge vision was about Eko.

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Doctor playing golf. Woo, boy howdy, now I've heard everything. What's next, cop eating a donut?

When Eko was killed, didn't he talk to his dead brother? Who got mad and said, "You talk to me as though you know who I am?" and turned into the smoke creature and killed him.

I think Jacob is the same thing.

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charlie98210
"Whoa!" she said. "Cry 'Havoc!' And let loose the dogs of war!"
And, like Banquo's ghost, they just won't go away.

I agree with Flaneuse about Jacob needing the help and not Eko. Eko did need help, but it was too short sighted to have an extreme vision like that for one guy. Plus, in the cave where Eko was found, there were dead Dharma people. If you remember the sweat lodge vision, Ben was security and was scanning people, Jack and SawKate at that moment, but perhaps it meant he was looking for other special people like himself, to get rid of.
i don't know, I think that vision had farther ranging effects then just help out Eko. At the end of the vision, Boone made Locke get to the escalator and UP by himslef, perhaps signifying the hole he now finds himself in? Locke's faith will be tested here, and I believe he will be rewarded if he doesn't falter.