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Discussion: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto?

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denkiva	Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Feb 26 2009, 9:29 PM EST Walter discovered the manifesto was typed on his typewriter, but was the author? Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you? Keyword tags: None
BluesCrew1	1. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Feb 28 2009, 11:16 AM EST I was left with the impression that Walter definitely wrote the "ZFT Manifesto". The writing is consistent with his "stream of consciousness" writing patterns/style as well as his nominal personality when speaking. Totally unrelated items within the same thought pattern. What does this trait have to do with the "Pattern"? Post reply Do you find this valuable?
arjay999	2. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Mar 2 2009, 11:08 PM EST "I was left with the impression that Walter definitely wrote the "ZFT Manifesto". The writing is consistent with his "stream of consciousness" writing patterns/style as well as his nominal personality when speaking. Totally unrelated items within the same thought pattern. What does this trait have to do with the "Pattern"? " Apparently Bell is the same kind nut/genius as Walter. The writers said in an interview that Walter 'thinks' he wrote it. I don't... Wouldn't make sense. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
gil_cdn	3. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Mar 3 2009, 11:40 AM EST When asked this question, the show producer Jeff Pinkner has this to say (Quoted from the Chicago Tribune) QUOTE: Q: Did Walter write the "ZFT" manifesto seen in "Ability"? Pinkner: "He thinks he did." Q: Will we learn more about Peter and Walter's past? Pinkner: "We'll learn more specifics as time goes on" about what Peter went through. "The truth is, a lot of the things Walter has done, he fundamentally doesn't recall or misremembers." Post reply Do you find this valuable?
bostonstyxboy	4. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 7 2009, 11:40 PM EDT I have to agree with other comments made here. Walter definitely thinks he wrote the Manifesto, but I think it was William Bell. While we still don't know who Bell is, it seems as though he and Walter are very similar in their thinking and work. Plus, the typewriter used to write it was in the lab they shared. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
lilcassandra	5. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 28 2009, 2:17 PM EDT We have to take everything at face value, and the only proof we have is a broken keyboard. With Walter's memory problems, it's beyond easy to think that he has a false memory about writing it. Maybe someone else planted the memory in his brain to cover their own tracks? It just doesn't seem like a Walter thing to write/do, though. Everything he does has a purpose. So far, this wouldn't have a purpose. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Verenek	6. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 28 2009, 11:02 PM EDT I disagree with those who say Bell wrote it. Jesus founded the Christian church, but he wasnt the Pope. Whoever wrote it is like jesus, and Bell is the Pope. we found out this week that Bell is funding ZFT, and you dont typicly found something you found. I believe walter wrote the manifesto. it could have been a factory error and hundreds of typewriters have that, but given the fact that Walter is a genious, has a typwriter like that, worked with Bell, and has some severe memory loss, and he is one of the three main characters, the odds are so high it couldnt be anything else Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Monshanjik	7. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 29 2009, 3:32 PM EDT It should be well noted that, just like handwriting, most older lever-type manual typewriters, especially cheap portable models like the one in the Kresge Building lab, do have "personalities" or "fingerprints" due to factory defects (e.g., the Shift key does not elevate the drum sufficiently to place upper case letters in-line), as well as unique characteristics in how the letters are situated on the receiving page (e.g. individual characters not in-line with the others) and casting defects in the type (e.g. missing dot over a lower case I or missing serifs), so much so that lever-type manual typewriters have been historically used as evidence in criminal cases to prove the identity of authors of threatening letters, in divorce cases for determining authorship of correspondence between a cheating spouse and his/her lover, and in civil cases for copyright determinations. Only very highly priced lever-type manual typewriters are usually free of such defects, and - with very few exceptions - these almost all of these models were non-portable (i.e., gross weight in excess of 20 pounds due to the use of cast iron for the frames) manufactered during the 1920s (i.e., before the advent of the electric typewriter). In light of this, I accept without question that the typewriter in the Kresge Building lab introduced in "Ability" (Season 1, Episode 14) was used to author "Destruction by Advancement of Technology" ("Zerstorung durch Fortschritte der Technologie" in German). I am, however, not certain who used the typewriter to write the manuscript. Assuming Bishop and Bell are not the same person -- a fact of which I am not convinced -- both men shared the laboratory in the basement of the Kresge Building at Harvard University for several years. Both men had access to all equipment in the lab, including the typewriter with the defective lower case Y. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Monshanjik	8. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 29 2009, 3:34 PM EDT In view of Walter's memory loss, I view his belief of ownership as an "assumption" on his part due to its presence in the lab. The typewriter could just as easily have been William Bell's, some other employee's, or a common property item used by any and all employed in the lab. It is fairly obvious to me that Walter displays signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If, in fact, Walter suffers from PTSD, I cannot with confidence say I know when the PTSD began; perhaps it is a result of the horrible conditions at St. Claire's Hospital, perhaps it is a result of witnessing the 1991 accident that killed the assistant in the Kresge Building lab. PTSD is often a precursor to a dissociative disorder. Walter has some serious mental disarrangement and memory loss both of which are typical of dissociative disorders, so it isn't beyond reason that he may be suffering from some form of dissociative personality disorder (DPD), specifically dissociative identity disorder (DID). DID is perhaps better known under its former, obsolete clinical nomenclature: Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). The names of the two "mad scientists" bears a curious similarity: Walter Bishop, William Bell. Both men's initials are W.B. It could be coincidence, but hardly believe anything in the story is mere coincidence. I see nothing in the back-story we have been given that excluded the possibility that Walter is also Bell. Yes, Walter was confined to St Claire's Hospital from 1991 until 2008. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Monshanjik	9. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 29 2009, 3:34 PM EDT \| Post edited: Apr 30 2009, 1:00 AM EDT William Bell was ostensibly able to found and operate Massive Dynamic for many years until removing himself (ostensibly voluntarily) from public view at some unspecified time. In the pilot, Nina Sharp is presented as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Massive Dynamic and intimates that no one has seen Bell for a considerable time. I do not recall Nina giving a specific date for when she became the COO, if she had given a specific date this might offer us a date for when Bell disappeared. (This data may not be canon: The Fringepedia site states Nina Sharp has been with Massive Dynamic for 17 years in various positions, but she may have held multiple posts simultaneously, including COO. If Nina has been COO for 17 years, this could result in a possible date for Bell's disappearance roughly contemporaneous with Walter's confinement at St Claire's Hospital). To date the only "physical" evidence we have of the existence of William Bell as a person separate from Walter Bishop is the VCR tape at the end of "Bad Dreams" (Season 1, Episode 17). Neither Walter nor Bell appear on that tape, only their voices. This does not prove that Walter and Bell are not the same person, merely establishes that - for all intents - Walter and Bell may have been distinct, different personalities at the time of the taping and this may have been an accepted "norm" in the lab. On a side note, if the little girl in the video tape is Olivia Dunham and what Nina Sharp said about the second site for human testing of Cortexiphan (i.e., Jacksonville, Florida, 1981-82), then Walter was present in Jacksonville, Florida in 1981-82. The video tape also introduces another B-named character, "Brenner" (most probably a last name), who may also be another W.B. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Monshanjik	10. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 29 2009, 3:35 PM EDT In "Safe" (Season 1, Episode 10), Walter states that he designed the device used by Mitchell Loeb to assist David Robert Jones to escape Wissenschaft Prison in order to discover a cure for Hepia (a sort of bird flu), which Peter Bishop suffered from at the time. The purpose of the device was to travel backwards in time to confer with Dr. Alfred Gross, a Swiss physician responsible for the only historical success in curing Hepia. Walter states he did not use the device because Peter began to recover or recovered completely from Hepia before he could use it. In "Ability" (Season 1, Episode 14), while having a conversation with Astrid, Walter restates that the purpose of the device was to travel through time. However this raises some serious questions. Walter states that the device does not kill the user as Astrid assumes, but does something too horrible to contemplate. How does he know this is the result of using the device? What precisely is happening to David Robert Jones as a result of using this device? Is this device related to the missing "Brenner" mentioned at the end of "Bad Dreams" (Season 1, Episode 17)? Does this device relate to the child discovered to have been in the basement for some 70 years during "Inner Child" (Season 1, Episode 15)? Eliot Michaels from the Department of Social Services [sic, most likely a front for another government "dark ops" agency or cell of ZFT] says they have found "another one" (i.e., the child discovered in the basement); does this mean that there have been numerous pre-teen Observers discovered? With no clear evidence to the contrary, it is possible that Bell is Walter Bishop having travelled through time, if not during the current time-line, perhaps at some future point. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
plusonefan	11. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? Apr 29 2009, 11:29 PM EDT I think Walter did write the manifesto, after 1.18. The ZFT followers who have met him had been ecstatic from the opportunity of doing so, and then we have this episode's scientist (forgot his name) who didn't seem as enthusiastic about meeting him. After all, he opposed what the ZFT was doing, so I think it makes sense that he wouldn't be thrilled about meeting the man who wrote the Bible for the people who endangered his wife. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Takamu	12. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 2 2009, 10:21 PM EDT I think that William Bell did, because in 118 Midnight spoilers ahead for those who haven't seen it yet , Olivia found out that William Bell funded ZFT and the typewriter was in Walter's lab, and Belly and Bishop used to work together. So, essentially, this leads us to point our fingers at one person...... Spock.(Whoops, wrong series). Post reply Do you find this valuable?
fat_rabbit_kemz	13. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 3 2009, 2:20 AM EDT \| Post edited: May 3 2009, 2:20 AM EDT "I was left with the impression that Walter definitely wrote the "ZFT Manifesto". The writing is consistent with his "stream of consciousness" writing patterns/style as well as his nominal personality when speaking. Totally unrelated items within the same thought pattern. What does this trait have to do with the "Pattern"?" I disagree. Walter is definitely ANTI-ZFT. I am SURE of it now! I've watched these episodes so many times - I NOW believe Walter is ANTI-ZFT and Peter is his weapon of choice. The weapons Bell has = Cortexiphan subjects, scientists and element of surprise. I think Peter is the PERFECT WEAPON. Which is EXACTLY WHY Walter required Peter to attend visits. Peter is a weapon. And I bet Walter (or the real Walter) will be able to ACTIVATE HIM. Yeah!!! I'm LOVING THIS NOW!!! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Woolyworm	14. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 3 2009, 4:43 PM EDT \| Post edited: May 3 2009, 4:43 PM EDT Do we even have a timeframe of when the ZFT manifesto was written? A copy was destroyed 10 years ago in germany. Walter was locked up 17 years ago. Was it then written Before the accident in the lab? If that was the typewriter used, it couldn't have been done by Walter if not before then (assuming of course someone doesn't have teleportation as a superpower we aren't yet aware of). Hmm... could/did the/an observer visit Walter while he was locked up? Might he have gotten the typewriter for Walter, assuming the observer helped with the writing? How do we know that Walters time in lockup wasn't a tidy cover story for him sliding back and forth between worlds? He seems to know alot about 'modern' science having been locked away for 2 decades.... Post reply Do you find this valuable?
fat_rabbit_kemz	15. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 3 2009, 6:09 PM EDT \| Post edited: May 3 2009, 6:09 PM EDT "In "Safe" (Season 1, Episode 10), Walter states that he designed the device used by Mitchell Loeb to assist David Robert Jones to escape Wissenschaft Prison in order to discover a cure for Hepia (a sort of bird flu), which Peter Bishop suffered from at the time. " Monshanjik - bird flu..bird flu. Isn't that "avian" flu? And isn't Avian one of the secret code words??? Post reply Do you find this valuable?
fat_rabbit_kemz	16. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 3 2009, 6:13 PM EDT \| Post edited: May 3 2009, 6:13 PM EDT "I am, however, not certain who used the typewriter to write the manuscript. Assuming Bishop and Bell are not the same person -- a fact of which I am not convinced -- both men shared the laboratory in the basement of the Kresge Building at Harvard University for several years. Both men had access to all equipment in the lab, including the typewriter with the defective lower case Y." Well, you're wrong. Even if they were "the same person", they aren't the same person. They have 2 very distinct personalities - think of it as - even if Walter were both himself and William Bell, both have had sufficient experiences independent of each other to constitute TWO DIFFERENT PERSONS. So, even if Bell was a clone of Bishop, Bell is a different person. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
arjay999	17. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 4 2009, 3:32 PM EDT \| Post edited: May 4 2009, 3:32 PM EDT "...However this raises some serious questions. Walter states that the device does not kill the user as Astrid assumes, but does something too horrible to contemplate. How does he know this is the result of using the device? What precisely is happening to David Robert Jones as a result of using this device? Is this device related to the missing "Brenner" mentioned at the end of "Bad Dreams" (Season 1, Episode 17)? Does this device relate to the child discovered to have been in the basement for some 70 years during "Inner Child" (Season 1, Episode 15)? Eliot Michaels from the Department of Social Services [sic, most likely a front for another government "dark ops" agency or cell of ZFT] says they have found "another one" (i.e., the child discovered in the basement); does this mean that there have been numerous pre-teen Observers discovered? With no clear evidence to the contrary, it is possible that Bell is Walter Bishop having travelled through time, if not during the current time-line, perhaps at some future point." Your post made me think. Perhaps the "horribly disfigured" Peter that according to Walter was saved from the car accident by the observer, was an inter-dimensional being that was pulled thru the dimensional barrier by Walter's machine. Rather than allow this person to die, Walter transferred the consciousness of that being into himself. Would certainly explain the dual personality he sometimes exhibits. Could also drive a guy mad, make you crack up, and possibly try to destroy the science you're working on so it couldn't be used again. Tearing into another dimension couild also have been the nexus (Origin point) of the progression of the Pattern. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
rogue72	18. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 5 2009, 10:34 AM EDT If he didn't why would people involved with ZFT be copying and following his work, and making a big deal about him? ie: the scientist who's wife was injecting with the syrum that turned her into that creature. There's no reason the guy and Walter should/would have ever met but the guy knew about him and his work and held him in very high esteem.(I don't remember his exact words but he definitely gave me that impression) Post reply Do you find this valuable?
BluesCrew1	19. RE: Did Walter write The ZFT Manifesto? May 5 2009, 2:32 PM EDT \| Post edited: May 5 2009, 2:32 PM EDT "If he didn't why would people involved with ZFT be copying and following his work, and making a big deal about him? ie: the scientist who's wife was injecting with the syrum that turned her into that creature. There's no reason the guy and Walter should/would have ever met but the guy knew about him and his work and held him in very high esteem.(I don't remember his exact words but he definitely gave me that impression) " I agree! It is apparent that Walter is much more and much better thought of than let on at the beginning of the series. What with Walter's memory lacks, and considering what he was exposed to as well as to what he exposed himself to, it makes sense that he did write the ZFT. It is the current users and followers of the ZFT have taken the manuscript and are using it for some form of bible to drive their cause. The current preview for next weeks "Fringe" has the "observer" telling Walter that it is time to go. To me, this causes me to wonder if the observers appreciate Walter and wish to use him,, not only in the battle, but also as a communication tool. I guess we will see, sooner or later! Post reply Do you find this valuable?

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