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Hoax Websites of Lost
Status: A few hoax sites
After getting the first season of Lost on dvd for christmas, I've become hooked on the show. Although I'm beginning to suspect that the writers of the show are simply going to introduce one mystery after another without ever offering an explanation for anything. But anyway, here are some hoax websites related to Lost: Oceanic World Air (the airline that the Lost passengers were flying on), Dharma Industries (the mysterious project that was being conducted on the island), and The Hanso Foundation (The philanthropic foundation funding the Dharma Initiative. This page is part of an alternate reality game, as is the Dharma Industries site). If you know of any other Lost-related hoax sites, let me know.

And here's something that isn't a hoax, but is rather curious. If you type the mysterious numbers from Lost (4 8 15 16 23 42) into google maps, they correspond to the approximate latitude and longitude of an island in the middle of the Pacific. My guess is that this probably isn't an accident.

Update: A few more hoax websites of Lost:

http://www.driveshaftband.com (the website of Charlie's band. Thanks to Nordan for this link.)

http://www.mrcluck.com or http://www.mrclucks.com (websites of the fast-food restaurant that Hurley used to work in, before he won the lottery. As far as hoax websites go, these aren't very fully developed. The front page simply links to a podcast about the show.)

The island in the Pacific mentioned above is Kosrae Island (Thanks to Eric Schucard and Tim for this info).
Categories: Entertainment, Websites
Posted by Alex on Sat Jan 28, 2006
Comments (63)
More from the Hoax Museum Archives:
Is that the show about the Burmuda Triangle? If so, I'm obligated to bring up the fact that the Triangle has no more disappearences than any other equal size of land (proportional to its traffic).
Posted by Citizen Premier  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  04:16 PM
No, it's not about the Bermuda Triangle. Wrong ocean.
Posted by Dan  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  04:55 PM
Oceanic World Air and Dharma Industries are both made by fans of the show, but ABC made two sites for the show
http://www.oceanic-air.com/
http://www.thehansofoundation.org/

Both have some things that are clues, and some things that are red herrings.

There are two more fan sites that relate to a season 2 flashback
http://www.mrclucks.com/
http://www.mrcluck.com/
Posted by Robert  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  05:02 PM
A don't know any other hoax site, but I know there are "hidden" stuff in the Hanso website, like some weird flash animation and some documents about the nature of their "research"...
Are you watching this season?
Posted by Carl_P  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  06:05 PM
hmmm... putting just the numbers as you've typed them into google maps brings you to the middle of africa. clicking the link you provided shows the island that you mention. looking at the links created:

4 8 15 16 23 42 (copy/paste the numbers into google maps:
+4
Posted by kaufman  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  06:36 PM
Just as a quick aside - over here in the UK, we've only just finished season 1.

Please - no-one tell me what's happening in season 2.
Posted by Boo  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  08:29 PM
Alex, you hit on what I've been suspecting for quite some time, though I keep watching out of curiousity.

I think that the show "Lost" is the greatest hoax played on the public since the radio broadcast of War of the Worlds, though for a completely different reason.

It's a slightly-known phrase: "Tension Breeds Attention." (Used to guide people in selecting their opening lines as stand-up comedians.) Basically, while people are confused, they'll pay attention.

I believe the authors are just throwing out plot twist after plot twist, with no explanation in sight, and no explanation planned. They're going to ride this out until we're all tired of it, and the show is cancelled.

As I type this, I even think the title is a double-meaning: not only are the characters lost, but the viewers are "lost" (i.e. bewildered) as well.
Posted by karen  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  09:53 PM
Karen, you haven't watched the show in a long time, haven't you? Because the whole "they're not answering things" isn't true at all. The reason why TV sucks now is because of people who have no patience and want TV dumbed down for them and have quick answers to everything.
Posted by Dan  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  09:56 PM
Yah, many of my friends are starting to give up on it, because they keep introducing these huge mysteries then just moving onto something else with no explanation. Then they put in stupid episodes like last week with the whole baptism thing that didn't have to do with anything. I'm still completely hooked, but I am getting a bit impatient as well. Hopefully they'll leave religion out of the coming ones.
Posted by Razela  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  10:40 PM
Foreshadowing

fore
Posted by Dan  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  10:44 PM
they foreshadow a lot actually. But nothing ever pans out.
Posted by Razela  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  10:47 PM
How so? We've been getting a steady stream of answers this entire season, beginning with the biggest one of what exactly was in the hatch. If you want them to answer everything all at once, this show would've only been one season long and incredibly lame. I'd rather have it this way and wait each week than have it all spoon fed to me really fast because I feel like being a little baby about it.
Posted by Dan  on  Sat Jan 28, 2006  at  10:50 PM
The island that pops up on Google Maps also pop up on Google Earth. It seems to be the island of Kosrae in Micronesia. Kosrae is apparently a resort island/tourist attraction. Looks quite nice, actually. Definitely not a deserted island.

Here is a map, just so you can take a look:
Posted by Tim  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  09:09 AM
Yes i as well only get a location in africa when i enter trhe numbers
Posted by tim  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  11:38 AM
Dan. I can definitely see that, and for one thing, I am a definite fan of subdilty (even if I can't spell it).

I think you're right, and that is actually my usual argument to my friends who complain about not getting any answers.

I think I'm just bitter because this weeks episode was so bad with the whole baptism element. Seriously, I mean, did anyone notice that Michael is still missing and what about the whole army thing? It was just annoying how they set up for some amazing plot twists and it panned out to nothing. Maybe this week will be redeeming.
Posted by Razela  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  03:40 PM
This episode was pretty much just setting everything up for the long term major events. I.E. the survivors vs The Others, Claire's reassurance that her and her baby will be okay no matter what, and the whole Michael and Walt thing. Not only that, but it showed us a really dark side of Locke and really made you think what his real motives are. It was a great episode as well for character development, and really made Charlie even more 3-dimensional.
Posted by Dan  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  03:45 PM
By the way, on both google maps and google earth I get africa as well using the numbers.
Posted by Razela  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  03:47 PM
Actually, I've been watching the show since day one, and (though I'm loathe to admit it at the moment), I haven't missed an episode, thanks to my trusty DVR.

OK, fine, so we now know what's in the hatch. One mystery answered. But, the price of having that one mystery answered?

??? POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW ???

Numerous new mysteries: Where'd the guy go? What's the dharma project? What's with the weird splice in the video? What's the countdown? What would happen if they didn't enter the code? What's the significance of 108 minutes? Oh yeah, those lottery numbers are "back" - what's the deal with them again?

* SPOILER WARNING FOR THE PARANOID OVER *

I maintain my original statement: "They're going to ride this out until we're all tired of it, and the show is cancelled." Honestly, I hope I'm wrong.

Oh, and using literary devices, such as foreshadowing, in film and television? Very familiar with it, but we've gone way beyond foreshadowing. (And, foreshadowing is typically only used for one or two significant events, as a way to help the reader not feel sideswiped by a dramatic change. I wouldn't consider these mysteries to be foreshadowing (or even often foreshadowed)).

Oh, and quick answers? Not for me. I prefer entertainment that makes my brain work for meaning and understanding. You can drop the subtle insults now. I am patient. But, I'm beginning to believe that there are *no* answers here. Big difference.

Again, I hope I'm wrong.
Posted by karen  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  03:58 PM
I'm highly indicisive and everyone else seems to be more articulate then me. Karen sums up my own worries well when she writes "I'm beginning to believe that there are *no* answers here." That's kind of how I've been feeling.

On Dan's side (because I can't make a decision which side I am on) if you think back to when x-files was big, they started a million mysteries and really, the show only started to suck when they actually begain to solve them, because in the end, one's own imagination is no competition for what a tv producer can give you.
Posted by Razela  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  04:08 PM
The most glaring flaw in Karen's theory is that she has no idea what she's talking about. Unlike other shows, the creators of Lost have this planned as a series that will run 6 seasons long. It's a very cocky move nowadays to state it outright like that, but it's been getting the ratings to allow that to happen. They already know what they want to do and how they're going to get there.

They have also admitted they probably won't be able to fully say what the "numbers" represent because it's really alot of things. Alot of people have already found many meanings within the numbers (I.E. coordinates, the flight number, how many survivors there were, etc.) so by the time it's all said and done anyway we might've already figured it out without the help of some dumbed down storyline.
Posted by Dan  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  04:16 PM
I didn't know about the 6 seasons thing. That really changes a lot.

The whole numbers thing entrances me. I don't think they need any more explanation. As dan says, they have slowly been giving us clues throughout the series so far, and I'm sure the coincidences will just keep getting bigger.

It's the button that is driving me crazy.

I still hated that last episode, but I think that may be the atheist in me speaking.
Posted by Razela  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  04:20 PM
You may get the answer sooner than you think:

***SPOILERS***
(From SpoilerFix.com)

The Walt story will be resolved this season. In future flashbacks, we will get more answers about Jack's past. We will soon know why Hurley hasn't lost any weight. We will get more information about the hatch, what's behind the magnetic wall, what happens when we don't push the button.

**************

I'd say the end of this season is going to shut alot of people up, but more questions will undoubtedly be brought up and therefore people won't care and just complain about THOSE questions not being answered.
Posted by Dan  on  Sun Jan 29, 2006  at  04:25 PM
I just wonder how many people are playing 4 8 15 16 23 42 in the Lotto on a regular basis.
Posted by Nat  on  Mon Jan 30, 2006  at  07:40 AM
The site is running slower than GW Bush trying to spell 'Louisiana.'
Posted by Craig  on  Mon Jan 30, 2006  at  10:42 AM
I disagree that the "loose ends" themselves make Lost a frustrating experience for the viewer. The real irritation comes from the characters' reaction to them - I'm perfectly willing to accept that the writers want to delay answering the mysteries, but the survivors' willingness to quickly accept and forget the momentous, messed-up stuff they've seen is frequently implausible.
Posted by Guy  on  Mon Jan 30, 2006  at  11:39 AM
*SPOILERS!*

I don't think that the Lost writers know everything they're going to do. For instance, killing off Boone and Shannon. Killing off Boone I can understand, but with Shannon, they killed off their whole storyline. Why even introduce them if you're not going to do anything with them? Carlton Cuse said "'Deciding which character would be next to perish, however, proved relatively painless. After Boone's death in April, producers realized that "the story avenues for Shannon felt limited," Cuse explains.' That tells me that the Lost writers have not entirely planned everything out and that there could be more disappointing "endings" to the storylines like this one.

It really irritated me, because Boone and Shannon were two of my favorite characters. Oh well.
Posted by Sakano  on  Mon Jan 30, 2006  at  01:58 PM
Nat - There was an article about that a few months ago, apparently it's a really popular set of numbers.

Sakano - They killed Shannon off because she had no storyline left. There's really nothing left for her role to play that isn't already being done by someone else. There really is no need for *another* same old front section survivor relationships, we already have enough of that. There is also absolutely no need for a prissy rich girl either since her brother was pretty pivotal to her character and he was off'd. I'd say it was a mistake to kill him off, but it was a damn good episode for character development.
Posted by Dan  on  Mon Jan 30, 2006  at  07:52 PM
*Spoilers*

Yes I realize that Shannon needed to die. But what I'm saying is the writer's didn't plan it out well. If they had...they would have foreseen the fact that Shannon's character would no longer have a use. Though I don't necessarily agree with the fact she was useless. She had a couple of loose ends that were never tied up. Why have Jack be the one operating on her dad if it never came up on the show, for instance? Why not have another doctor do it? It had nothing to do with the plot and it was random. It wasn't even a good red herring.

Also there's the fact that the only two main characters that have died so far have been Boone and Shannon. It was predictable. If they wanted to off Shannon, they shouldn't have made it so obvious WHY they were killing her off. (which was because they didn't know what to do with her.) If they had killed someone major in between them it would be a different story. Don't get me wrong though. I actually do like Lost...but Lost is hailed for being such an edgy show. Shouldn't they do something, you know, edgy? Maybe like killing off someone the viewers actually LIKE and would be upset about.
Posted by Sakano  on  Tue Jan 31, 2006  at  09:45 AM
First of all, Jack didn't operate on her father if you any paid attention. Shannon's father was in an accident with Jack's future wife, and when they were both admitted to the hospital Jack chose to focus on the younger person as opposed to the older one, which happened to be his future wife. Jack never so much as looked at Shannon's father because he died within minutes after arriving.

Secondly, I beg to differ on it being predictable. It was anyone's guess as to who was going to die up until a few episodes before hand, and not many people would've guessed that they would off the one remaining sibling out of the two that were on the island. It doesn't seem like the logical choice.
Posted by Dan  on  Tue Jan 31, 2006  at  01:03 PM
A few points:

The only thing worse than Bible-thumpers are the people who over-react to proselytizing. How can you have a TV show with big metaphysical questions without having spirituality brought into it? its not likely an island of rational, hyperanalystical atheists. more like a cross section of America: 82% theists,5% atheist, and 13% 'dont know'. (reference: US Census, 2000).

secondly, just because YOU dont like unanswered questions doesnt mean the storyline is flawed. in fact, J.R.R. Tolkein often criticized C.S. Lewis for not letting some things simply be mysterious and unanswerable--like life. he claimed C.S. Lewis was overly concerned with direct allegory and not allowing mystery to be an ingredient in his books. isnt that what life is?

finally, i believe this show may have a reference point in the 4th, 5th, and 8th Steps of a 12 Step group. this metaphor fits very nicely and those who i know in 12 Step groups seem to have an 'Aha!' experience whn the theory is put to them. how so? seems like every one on the island is being led to do an inventory, understand the consequences of their actions, and then to own up to these 'wrongs', real or perceived--just like real life--to themselves, to God, and to another human being. so far, this interpretation has been working very well.

thats my take...thanks!
Posted by kipster  on  Tue Jan 31, 2006  at  02:46 PM
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