unforum

[Hep Alien]

[THEORY] The coughing represents smoke inhalation

[xemnasvii]

Funny I used to draw pictures of the Operator as a smoke monster.

[Janthran]

I like it.
Don't forget the fact that Jay's house was burned down as well

[Spritey]

I think I'm gonna have to subscribe to this theory, because it's the only one I've heard that makes sense.

However, I'm strongly against the idea of the Operator being the ghost of an actual person. That idea makes the whole series sound like a campfire story rather than a well-written psychological horror.

There are two fundamental aspects of the Operator that make it scary: 1) Nobody knows just what the fuck it is, and 2) Nobody knows just how the fuck to stop it. The Operator has been so distant and untouchable for 8 years of in-game time that it'd probably be really underwhelming if they gave it any kind of backstory.

[lonsumtravlr]

I don't subscribe to it (I'm one of those who think that the coughing represents some form of radiation exposure emanating from The Operator, sort of like the "sigma radiation" that was developed in EMH and a few other subsequent series), but it's a good theory. Especially as there's a lot in MH about trauma, including suggestions about repressed trauma (especially after repeated teleports and memory wipes have so discombobulated one that he or she doesn't remember basic facts of mundane life) and possibly trauma that's projected onto or that "infects" others (through the videos, for example--even watching the videos or picking up a camera associated with TO's stalking of the MH cast and crew apparently draws others into it).

The hitch in it is that the coughing as smoke inhalation theory doesn't really explain the distortion when a coughing fit and seizure turn up, though, or when someone such as Hoody or as Alex turns up on screen in some videos. (Hence why I subscribe to the theory that some sort of radiation exposure is the cause of the symptoms.)

Joseph, I believe, is the member of the trio who said that TO "loves fire" (or something like that) in an interview or podcast. I have to agree with Spritey that TO isn't any sort of "ghost" but is some sort of other phenomenon. Whatever TO is, TO seems to be trying to pass as human or adapt itself to a human reality by taking on what it thinks is a human form. And TO does seem unstoppable, although whatever that anticonvulsant is that Tim was taking seems to lessen its power. Water seems to have some connection to TO--though it's unclear whether it strengthens or weakens it (though when you add water to fire, you do get smoke as the fire gets dampened).

[ydna]

Well, I haven't been around for a while, but I'm going to say something on a whim. I imagine at least some of you watched Lost, right? Saying TO is a smoke monster immediately made me think of that, which is not a good thing for Marble Hornet's sake. So I'm going with that's not the case, because that's the smart choice I expect TTJ to have made.

That said, smoke does make a lot of sense, at least as far as explaining the coughing goes. It could also explain seizures and a bunch of other stuff, even though it would need the help of other mechanics to explain the camera distortions and other things. But I do think some form of radiation is a more elegant explanation to all of that, specially considering that I think of TO as something other than a matter being. I like to think that it resides in people's minds, but that's beside the point.

There is, however, an undeniable connection of TO with both fire and water, and somehow I think this is crucial to understanding its nature. Being reminded of Lost made me realize that in that mythology, the smoke monster was born of both water and fire, which is odd enough in this context. It begs the question of how far MH is heading in the magic/science spectrum. Is TO of ritualistic origin, something of a natural phenomenon or a more artificial, perhaps not so supernatural existence? Lost became much more underwhelming when it defined its position, so I hope MH never does.

In the end, it's probably better if we never get a straight answer on "What's The Operator?". One of the most brilliant aspects of Donnie Darko (which, funnily, also involved a watery hyperdimension in which space/time travel was possible) is that it seems magical at first, then it's perhaps science after all, but in the end it's neither. It's got its own rules, which make a lot of sense and work as consistently as science, but that transcend linear, mundane reason.

[granitemoth88]

You are definitely onto something! I am totally on board with this theory!

[Marble Hornets]

I've always thought the operator emits some kind of gas that makes people cough. It also must destroy their insides though. Smoke itself wouldn't cause as much blood to be coughed up as Tim has been seen coughing up though. It would have to be another gas.

[JAL13]

[Marble Hornets]

your opinion is factually wrong, but ok

[JAL13]

[Beidah]

[JAL13]

[Beidah]

[wassupbro]

I never thought of it as gas, thats actually interesting. I always thought of it just as some sort of radiation that makes people and technology sick.