I haven't seen a topic about this anywhere and this is one of the biggest stand outs of season 6 to me. Can anyone explain exactly what shorter not ghost kid Jacob was?

My personal theory. I think the ending of the show was only made to be what it was at the very last minute. I think before they decided on purgatory that there was to be some sort of loop going on and not-ghost kid Jacob was to explain and be part of the result of that. Something like all those ashes that Smokie couldn't cross were actually all Jacobs ashes from the countless times this loop had previously occurred. Other than that I can't make any sense out of him.

May I ask why you think the kid was not a ghost? It seems like it was just ghost jacob appearing as a child.

Because everyone could see him, and not everyone can see ghosts. So he was a not-ghost.

And even if he was a ghost, which he wasn't, but if he was, does anyone have any type of explanation for him?

Because everyone could see him, and not everyone can see ghosts. So he was a not-ghost.

Everyone could see adult Jacob's ghost by The End.

It seems like it was just ghost jacob appearing as a child.
why did he do that? It seems like a really stupid thing to do, why not just walk out of the jungle and say "Hey guys, what's up?" Then say the part about the dust and the next Jacob. I just don't understand why all the trickery?

why did he do that? It seems like a really stupid thing to do, why not just walk out of the jungle and say "Hey guys, what's up?" Then say the part about the dust and the next Jacob. I just don't understand why all the trickery?

Not just all the trickery, but adult ghost Jacob had already appeared to Hurley at least three times in season 6 (LA X by the Dharma Van, at the temple, at the lighthouse) so why didn't he just appear to Hurley again and say "Hugo, make a fire and place my ashes on it. Everyone will be able to see me for a moment, and I need to talk to you all."?

Instead, shorter not-ghost kid Jacob runs up to a stunned Hurley and steals the ashes and brings them to a fire he must have already made. But why was shorter not-ghost kid Jacob even around at all? That's a season 6 introduction and there was no rationale, or explanation, or even a need for him to be there.

Unless I missed something this to me is maybe the biggest proof that what the viewers got in the end was not the end that was conceived through the first 3/4 of season 6. Something changed, because while season 6 was generally weak, I'm having a hard time believing it was so absolutely terribly weak and the writers lost their way that much that they introduced this... whatever that kid was, for absolutely nothing during the final episodes. Again, maybe I missed something, but I don't think so.

I think the reason for child Jacob was to foreshadow the history of MIB and Jacob both being kids on the island. Ghost Jacob probably changes between child and adult at will just to mess with people. Or maybe he just misses being a kid with his brother so he reverts to a childlike state.

Ghost Jacob probably changes between child and adult at will just to mess with people. Or maybe he just misses being a kid with his brother so he reverts to a childlike state.
That first part is what I have the problem with, why does he feel the need to mess with people. He is the ruler of mystery Island, there is no need to mess with people the Island takes care of that. The second part of the quote is interesting to me and a plausible explanation, I guess.

I think the reason for child Jacob was to foreshadow the history of MIB and Jacob both being kids on the island. Ghost Jacob probably changes between child and adult at will just to mess with people. Or maybe he just misses being a kid with his brother so he reverts to a childlike state.

So ghost Jacob, that no one but Hurley can see, changes to not-ghost kid Jacob, that everyone can see, to steal his own ashes to put on a fire so everyone can see him as an adult for a minute?

Sorry, but something's wrong with that. Why didn't he just stay as not-ghost kid Jacob everyone can see and say what needed to be said?

They just had a not-ghost kid running around for half a season that interacted with characters for no other reason than to foreshadow that we would see Jacob as a kid at some point? Why not have people start talking about purgatory to foreshadow that we would see purgatory? "Wouldn't it be nice if we could all create a place to meet up when we die before we move on?"

And how about the not-ghost kids arms that were all bloody? Do we have any idea why?

I don't want to just be sarcastic and say "Real good job they did with the not-ghost kid" because, you know, maybe I missed something. That's why I'm asking you guys. Does anyone have anything about this not-ghost kid that makes him make sense rather than him just being case numero uno for why the writers lost their minds in season 6?

yeah the kid makes no sense. in my mind the final episode is a bit like highlander 2- it should have never been made.
(i dhould explain that highlander 2 was written by somebody who obviously had never seen the first one and therefore had no idea)

Because everyone could see him, and not everyone can see ghosts. So he was a not-ghost.

Richard couldn't see him.