Why is Sayid such a fucking moron?

I read that scene as both Jack and Sayid knowing there was something weird about the compass/island but were just glossing over it in a sort of "We both know it's weird but we'll just blame Locke".

Sayid had a perfectly good magnetized needle floating in water when he got the compass, right? Surely he would have checked to see if botheneedles pointed in the same direction before saying "This compass is faulty". Though I can't imagine what would make a compass point somewhere but not magnetic north (or south).

Perhaps a large outcropping of iron-rich black rock nearby?

Perhaps a large outcropping of iron-rich black rock nearby?

Maybe that's how Rousseau and her team defeated some of the original invisimechasaurs, by luring them to the Black Rock of MAGNETISM, where they became immobile and useless.

Then the Others got wise and started making them out of plastic.

Is the whole thing just a game to him?

I'd actually argue that is anything but a game to him. It's life or living death.

Though much was made of Locke's being denied his walkabout by the Adventure Tourists, I don't think they were wrong. I don't mean that Locke didn't do absolutely everything to prepare for it, but that I think his plan was to live the way he wanted ("Don't tell me what I can't do.") or die. Either outcome would, I think have been acceptable to him, but not to the Tour Co and their insurance underwriters.

What he finds insupportable is to go back to what he clearly thinks of as a living death as the wheelchair bound supervisor at the box company being made fun of by the Boones/Charlies of the world.

I also think Locke feels that his side is the Island's side, so you are not siding with him so much as opening yourself up to the place. He is the High Priest in this scenario and needs a congregation to prove his own belief is correct.

Perhaps a large outcropping of iron-rich black rock nearby?

Ah-ha! And we know that Rousseau went to the black rock(s) after she sent the message. But why? Does it mess up the Others' mojo?

So Locke is bad because he tied someone up and injured them for their own good (and it worked) rather than tying someone up and injuring them in the name of someone else's good, even though it doesn't work?

Totally forgot about the black rock. Has it been mentioned besides in the (untranslated by Shannon) transmission?

I'd say there's a matter of degree involved, as "wants to share a secret with Shannon" doesn't quite scream for intervention to me in the way that "won't tell anyone where Shannon's life-saving medicine is" does. Presumably Locke didn't know how deep and unhealthy Boone's Shannon issues were when he pulled the Perils of Pauline schtick.

Also, Sayid and Jack were at least theoretically better able to control the risks and level of harm than tying someone up in the middle of a forest where wild pigs, bears, and a giant invisible robot dinosaur have been known to roam.