I was thinking about this after my brain reassembled itself after last night's episode. Hurley has the same ability to talk to the dead as Miles does. This is based off of the fact that Locke was SO surprised that Hurley could see the cabin. And with Miles they've already shown that its a possibility.

Think about this... Hurley was in a mental hospital twice, and both times talked to people who 'weren't there'. One of them was Charlie, who we KNOW is dead at that point. The other was Dave, who only appeared to him when Libby was around him (both in the psych ward and on the island). Libby's husband's name was Dave, who died (which is probably why she was in the mental hospital anyway).

I think that we're made to think that Hurley was crazy, but I think we all agree that's not true. So then the other explanation is that he IS seeing these people, because he has the ability to see these beings. I realize this is pretty thin and is all speculation, but what the hell.

I, for one, believe it wholeheartedly. We now have to question who in Hurley off island life was actually real. His friends, family? hmm

Very interesting. I didn't think much of him seeing Charlie since so many dead people have made appearances on the island. But Hurley sees dead people back in the real world. Hmmm. Definitely something to think about. That Miles guy is a trip, he's like John Edwards except ruder.

Dude the whole Libby and Dave thing makes me laugh. I ain't making fun of your theory because I don't want to get another infraction...But if this happened I'd be made at the writers. It makes Libby such a unimportant character.

I don't see how the Libby and Dave thing is dumb? What is dumb about Hurley seeing an imaginary friend and thinking he's crazy... only to have it turn out to be Libby's dead husband?

The fact that it leads to many theories that make me cry at night...While i'm asleep.

we definately know that the writers like to use names for more than one character - Charlotte Malkin-Charlotte Lewis; Kate's childhood friend Tom-Mr. Friendly Tom - Claire's boyfriend, Thomas; Walt's step-dad Brian-Shannon's boyfriend Brian; Richard Malkin - Richard Alpert; Charles Widmore-Charlie; Emily Locke - Emily Linus (interesting that Locke and Ben moms had the same name); plus lots of small character roles that have same names, so it could be that Libby's David (which is also Desmond's middle name) and Hurley's Dave could be one and the same, or they did it just to mess with us....

__________________

`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!'

-- Alice, from “Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland”

David and Dave....Yucky.

I don't know Pip, this all seems very valid.. and it if you can't see the implications for the long run and how Libby is still important, then you are missing the point of Hurley altogether. What are the odds of a guy and girl in a mental institution at one time and on a plane from Austraillia to LA at the same time? What is Dave trying to eventually lead Hurley in doing both times we see Dave... get him out. What is Charlie trying to do now with Hurley..get him back in. Hurley is a wild card. Ben guessed Locke would see the cabin, maybe Jacob... but never had an inkling Hurley would see either.

she was in the mental hospital on assignment from Dharma. She was there to check out the numbers guy and possibly hurley.
this is my convoluted theory anyway.