I'd pick Jack over Locke or Jin because I'd figure the odds of Jack figuring out how to gather protein (and while fish and boar are definitely more conventional protein, grubs are a traditional and easily accessible form if you start suffering from deprivation) are a lot better than Locke or Jin learning how to diagose, treat, and perform surgery. If we are picking teams, he's definitely my first choice. Second would be Sun, as an all purpose all star -- extra medical support, food gathering skills, and generally very calm and practical.

I think Jack is more situationally important, but when you need him... you really need him. So, if I stay healthy, thanks to Jin who brings me food (although, it's unclear to me whether he's sharing with everyone), then Jack? Eh, whatever. But I might hurt myslef of contract a dread disease, and then I'd be looking for Dr. Hero, youbetcha. He and Sun together would make me feel marginally less afeared of dying from some horrible wound or disease. And Michael of the "Hey, let's build a viaduct [I don't mean viaduct. What do I mean? Oh! Aqueduct. That's it], whaddayasay?" seems useful. And cute. And Hurley would keep me from dying of boredom, I think. And they all seem relatively sane. Or, would to me at this point, I think. I mean, OK, Jin's a little temperamental.

So. I need a team to keep me happy. Huh. Wonder what I'd have to offer them?

The thing is, after a certain amount of time, others can learn Locke's skills. After a couple of weeks, I can probably figure out (with 1 or 2 others) how to trap a boar.

After a couple of weeks, I can probably figure out (with 1 or 2 others) how to trap a boar.

But then there's mixing hallucinogens, tracking, predicting weather, orienting spatially, throwing knives, tying knots -- that makes Locke useful in that you need him around to learn from.

I dunno. Jack is just so lame so much of the time.

Wonder what I'd have to offer them?

Sexual favours, I'd go for.

Yeah, that'd be OK. I could live with that. In my grouping, anyway.

I'm not sure that Jack's skillset is all that useful, though. A surgeon can't do much if he doesn't have scalpels and clamps and anaesthetic and instruments, so barring some really spectacular coconut-technology, he's pretty much down to country doctor level. And country doctor stuff, well, at this point Sun does as good a job at that as he does.

Of course, there is Sawyer's injury, but if it was really as serious as they let on (arterial bleeding), how was it resolved without instruments?

For that matter (a) what emergency kit in the world is equipped with antibiotics, (b) sure hope Jack asked Sawyer in advance about any drug allergies and (c) why on earth would you waste your antibiotics on some shmuck you hate anyway with a flesh wound, when you might have a case of dengue any minute now?

I dunno. Jack is just so lame so much of the time.

This I don't get. I can see why he's boring to some people -- not to me, I find him compelling -- but lame? He's saved more lives than anyone else on the island, and that's not even counting *medical* saves, he's found water and shelter, he's proved himself canny enough to catch Kate's manipulations and lies and to be wary of Locke... he's pulled his own weight and several other people's.

Yeah, Nutty, I do see where his options as a doctor who can actually do anything are limited. But, you know, at least he'd have a knowledge base and skill set. So, maybe he could reset my broken leg or something better than the others. On my team, he and Sun have a complementary medical practice. She'll, you know, make the sterilization goo, and the anesthetic goo. And now I need to go check my spelling goo.

so barring some really spectacular coconut-technology

Hey now. Let's not be barring coconut technology.

I'm with tavella.

mixing hallucinogens

ita, were you being funny? I can't see how this skill of Locke's is really useful. :-)

Jack is positioned as a leader, and I don't think he's even compellingly reluctant.

He's saved more lives than anyone else on the island, and that's not even counting *medical* saves

If we don't count medical saves, has he saved more than Locke? Given that both Sayid and Locke have the skillset to find water too?

I guess I'm counting value in terms of uniqueness. Sure, Jack is the only doctor, but most of his skills will never come into play. And only a few people have needed what only he can bring to the table.