The tail sectioners are the Other Others.

Warning: a rambling Lost rant follows:

Shannon's death was just annoying. It's not that I'm going to miss her or anything, but it was just so arbitrary. Hyping a major character death is a cheap stunt to begin with, but killing off a character just after you start planting the seeds for an interesting character development arc? I mean, she finally starts to become interesting with losing Boone and having to become independent and fixating on Walt and the dog, and then they set up some major Sayid movement...I think had they killed her towards the end of the season it might have made sense. Her death this past episode was just arbitrary. Scripted television is not supposed to be arbitrary, it's supposed to be an interesting story - that's why it's scripted. Just because any character could die at any time doesn't mean any character should die at any time. They could have killed Sun, just as Jin got back to camp. Ditto on Rose. They could have killed Claire leaving Charlie with the pain and a baby. Instead they chose the easy way out. Pass off Vincent and the Walt visions to Sayid and set up up a stupid grudge between him and Ana for a nonsensical shooting...ugh, I can't even articulate how poorly I think the whole setup was executed.

It's bad enough they've spent hours this season torturing us with boring scenes of people walking through a jungle. I really need to quit this show.

Pass off Vincent and the Walt visions to Sayid

Hee, a little more action than a kiss required for it to happen and no blue glow, but it did the trick! See, sex is bad! Not only does it get you killed, but you get to be haunted, too.

I think we should start shunning users with the ID numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42.

Crap.

Shunned users unite! We're really not all that evil. Step this way, I gotta hatch I want to shove you down show you.

Support for the notion the The Others took children from the tailies:

When Big tracker guy brought back Jin and Michael:

BTG: "I saw them"

Various: "How many were there?" "What?" "!"

Libby: "Did you see the kids?"

Ana, hushing with her VOC: "Libby."

In the promo I'm fairly certain somebody says/yells something about the kids too.

I just finished rewatching. It appears that Cindy was still onscreen after she handed the bag to Libby (unshown).

She might have just slipped and conked her head and rolled under the downed tree, maybe to be found next episode, or to emerge dazed as everything comes to a head after the shooting.

I'm finding the whole logic of who to run screaming after in the jungle a bit wonky. It may just be that the Tailgaters have only a limited amount of sanity available to them and this is coloring their decisions.

But first, they tie Jin to a stick, but let him run away. Then they stick all of the rafters in a hole. Then they stick Ana in the hole with them. Then they haul everyone out of the hole, less gun. Then they go back to the cave, but Michael runs away. Then Echo goes with them to go after Michael. Then they go back to their cave, but most of their people are missing. Then they go along the coastline to the Frontloaders camp. Then they go through the jungle to the Frontloaders camp. Then they want to leave Sawyer. Then they take Sawyer. Then they lose Cindy, but they don't go after her. Then they, for realio, trulio, no reason whatsoever, shoot Shannon.

Right? So, like, what? Do they want to capture, befriend, follow, find, leave, kill or make sweet sweet love to the rest of their fellow passengers? I am confused by their motives.

[This post was brought to you by the hour 2. If it is nonsensical and not in an entertaining way, blame Canada. Thank you very much for your attention.]

Do they want to capture, befriend, follow, find, leave, kill or make sweet sweet love to the rest of their fellow passengers?

No, but I think the writers want to, Liese. I just want Sawyer.