Engaging with academics/specialists from outside the Voynich community

[Mark Knowles]

Voynich researchers seem to have a very insular mentality. In my research I would say that many of the most useful contacts, that I have had, have been with academics from disciplines outside of Voynich research, but who have knowledge relevant to Voynich research. I wonder again if Voynich researchers need to cast their net wider.

[Koen G]

I sometimes ask questions to academics, but lately I have had more success if I manage to phrase my question without mentioning the VM. 

Also, I have grown more cautious about encouraging people to contact "outsiders". Some of the more prominent academics in areas relevant to VM research regularly have to fend off deranged theorist types, and I can imagine that this becomes tiring after a while.

[Mark Knowles]

I sometimes ask questions to academics, but lately I have had more success if I manage to phrase my question without mentioning the VM. 

Also, I have grown more cautious about encouraging people to contact "outsiders". Some of the more prominent academics in areas relevant to VM research regularly have to fend off deranged theorist types, and I can imagine that this becomes tiring after a while.

I agree if I contact people I don't tend to mention the Voynich, at least not initially. The academics that I have had contact with don't seem to have had to fend off any deranged theorist types, but maybe that depends on what one's line of enquiry is.

[Koen G]

A few years ago I tried to contact a paleographer to ask something about the script of the month names, but I hadn't noticed she had a specific paragraph on her site that said that she wouldn't respond to VM-related inquiries anymore... Now in an ideal world, people like you and I should be able to ask a specialist's opinion without running the risk of putting them off with the subject alone. But unfortunately we share our interest with people who apparently have the effect of repulsing academics. In my personal experience, not mentioning the VM leads to a polite or even enthusiastic reply and pleasant exchanges. If I do mention the VM, there is either no reply or something along the lines of "please don't bother me about this thing".

[Mark Knowles]

A few years ago I tried to contact a paleographer to ask something about the script of the month names, but I hadn't noticed she had a specific paragraph on her site that said that she wouldn't respond to VM-related inquiries anymore... Now in an ideal world, people like you and I should be able to ask a specialist's opinion without running the risk of putting them off with the subject alone. But unfortunately we share our interest with people who apparently have the effect of repulsing academics. In my personal experience, not mentioning the VM leads to a polite or even enthusiastic reply and pleasant exchanges. If I do mention the VM, there is either no reply or something along the lines of "please don't bother me about this thing".

I tend not to mention the Voynich to start with. However if/when I have established a rapport with an academic/specialist I am quite happy to bring up the fact that I am researching the Voynich and this does not tend to put people off.

[nablator]

A few years ago I tried to contact a paleographer to ask something about the script of the month names, but I hadn't noticed she had a specific paragraph on her site that said that she wouldn't respond to VM-related inquiries anymore...

The paleographer that I contacted recently stopped answering suddenly after complaining about working "in a vacuum": no detailed paleographic analysis of marginalia has every been published, it seems, only blogs. Paleography requires a context, and we don't have one. He said that month names looked late XIVth or early XVth century though.

[Anton]

Voynich researchers seem to have a very insular mentality.

I don't think we are very insular when we run a public forum, are we?

[Mark Knowles]

Voynich researchers seem to have a very insular mentality.

I don't think we are very insular when we run a public forum, are we?

My criticism was not directed at the forum specifically. Rather it was directed an individual and group behaviour.

[Anton]

Nevermind, just kidding!