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

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Back to the experts: What about Alain Touwaide?

Hi, VoynichBombe: I had remembered your (rhetorical, I think) question, and have thought about it in relation to this "expert" topic". The case of Mr. Touwaide is an interesting one. I mean, we have experts accepted or rejected on many different personal criteria: Area of expertise, experience, knowledge of the Voynich in particular, adherence to the range of C14 dates... or not, and many more discussed on this thread.

But Alain Touwaide is a unique case. There was initial excitement that someone with his background took an interest in the Voynich. But it seems that when it was was learned that he took my ideas seriously enough to include them prominently in his lectures, he was suddenly dropped from discussion. This is unfortunate, as he has many interesting insights which cover a lot of ground, and would be of use to many people.

So added to the list of criteria for rejecting an expert might be if they suggest Modern Forgery is an option.

And he didn't even talk about my ideas because he thought Modern Forgery was the solution, he only felt that it was one of multiple possibles. I actually wrote to him, asking him about this, and he explained that he does not have a firm opinion on what the Voynich might be. He said he included my hypothesis in his talk, which he said "surprised the Voynich community", but he had only included them out of a "duty" for "completeness and objectivity".

I appreciate that, and think it is important to discuss everything. And I've often said that even though I disagree with people, I always want to hear them out. I always learn something new, like new things to look for, or ways to test my own ideas that I had not thought of.

Rich.