How old IS Richard Alpert? + more R.A. questions

Geez - this guy could be a million years old! What is up with Richard? He's kind of hot, seems like a pretty nice guy. I am just really trying to figure out his role in all this. Could he be Jacob and nobody knows it? That's why no one can "see" him? It just seems strange that the one person who has been involved with this island seemingly forever would let people like Ben, Locke be trusted with its fate. What are your thoughts on this guy?

I was thrown for a loop when I saw Alpert. this proves people have been moving off and on the island since the 50's. Do you think maybe Ben was on the same list as hopefuls for a leader for the others as Locke was? So since they couldn't get Locke they went with number two, Ben.

Really old I guess, what suprised me is he came to see Locke just after his birth in the hospital.How spooky was that?

Seems logical. Locke was not ready to lead them but Ben was. But why not take him when he was young and mold him? It seemed like they wanted Ben but he must come on his own free will. It was weird he ran the science camp also.

Maybe Richard is the Ben of old?

Richard gave way to Ben, Ben gives way to Locke.

ben was locke's stand-in until locke made it to the island. yes, i like this theory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandgirl8

Really old I guess, what suprised me is he came to see Locke just after his birth in the hospital.How spooky was that?

Very Spooky. Seems like he has followed Locke all his life.

what was spookier was how upset he got when john couldn't remember the things that were his (as a child). maybe he needed john to be a leader then, but realized he wasn't ready.

Just occurred to me...maybe Alpert isn't ageless after all. Maybe he just has a corner on the time travel market and is traveling back in time to change events. Maybe something happens to Locke that makes him unable to fulfill his destiny of saving the island and Alpert desperately goes back in time trying to bring Locke (just a younger version) back to the island to finish the job?

I would be surprised if Abbadon and Richard were opposed to each other. After all, Richard seems upset that John Locke refuses to accept his destiny (to be a farmer, not a hunter.). On the other hand, Abbadon seemed to be encouraging him not to just accept fate.