New Post: "I Do Listen to the Experts. Do YOU?"

[ReneZ]

While who is or isn't an expert is entirely subjective, I can think of several very reasonable criteria:
    * substantial experience dealing directly with the topic
    * knowledgeable on the broad set of facts about the topic and on the history of activity on it
    * a depth and breadth of applied research on the topic
    * active participation in discussions with the community of researchers around the topic
    * a considered opinion on specific aspects of the topic
    * a continual accumulation of information about the topic.

Expertise and experience, and the criteria to judge these (by peers only, of course), for me depend on whether one is talking about:
- science
- engineering
- crafts
- art

Having both training/education and practical experience is a bonus, but in different ratios for the above categories.

In science, you won't go anywhere without a long education. Many jobs will be inaccessible if you don't also have proven experience.

The example of the Wright brothers in engineering is interesting, but should be ranked as an exception, and nowadays no longer to be expected. However, people can still do very clever things with little education.
In crafts, you would need considerable training, but may never have to pass any tests.

Most of the types of knowledge that will help to better understand the Voynich MS for me fall under science and require a significant amount of education. This would include history in general, history of science and/or history of art.

The main exception for me is the text analysis, where the playing field is relatively even.
Understanding maths, statistics will be necessary.

And still, having gone through an academic education is a great bonus, in having at least been taught to judge  things, to be critical and self-critical. You would know that you start by studying (reading) what has been done before.

Denying anyone to be an expert on the Voynich MS because he or she cannot answer all questions is certainly not useful.
It is also completely to be expected that experts do not agree on all aspects. But that is hopefully no longer in doubt.