One of the things one learns (preferably) soon after entering the online Voynich world, is that speculation is a bad guide. We only speak confidently about those things for which we believe there is evidence, and make sure to express our uncertainty when there isn't.
Speculating is fun, though, when it is clearly separated from evidence-based analyses. I thought it would be interesting to determine, by a set of questions, which beliefs are currently (i.e. at the beginning of 2017) held by the community.
Then, at the end of 2017, we answer the same questions again. Like that we can see how a new year of research has influenced our personal beliefs on the one hand, and those of the community on the other. I'd find it very interesting to be able to keep a finger at the pulse of the community. Which ideas are held, and do these evolve over time?
Rules- Everybody who was a member of the forum in 2016 is encouraged to participate.
- For Yes/No questions, answer the most likely. If you give "yes" 51% chance, then answer "yes".
- For the few open questions, again answer what you find most likely. If you really can't think of anything, "I don't know" is allowed as well.
- This thread will be closed at the end of January. At the end of the year or in January 2018, we will run the questions again and see if anything changed.
- Please answer in a numbered list!!! to avoid confusion.
- If you want to participate but don't want your answers posted publicly, you can always PM your list to me and I will post it in a thread in the mods forum (for control). Like that only the mods will ever see your answers. Sharing your answers here in this thread is encouraged of course.
- The more participants, the better: we want the entire community to be reflected. So don't hesitate to participate!
Yes/No questions::
- Does the text contain any meaning?
- Has the text been purposefully enciphered to conceal its meaning?
- Do the images match the text?
- Are the plants meant to refer to real plants?
- Is the majority of the plants exotic from a European perspective (Asian, African, American...)?
- Have the images been made ambiguous or otherwise strange to conceal their true meaning?
- Is alchemy an important part of the manuscript?
- Is astronomy and/or astrology an important part of the MS?
- Is medicine an important part of the MS?
- Is the MS the creative product of one mind, i.e. an author? (Taking into account the possibility that one or more scribes helped to fashion the physical manuscript)
- Is the MS authored by a known historical figure?
- Will we ever be able to read the MS?
- Will there be any breakthrough in Voynich studies in 2017?
- Is the MS any kind of hoax?
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Open questions:
- In a few words, what is quire 13 about? (bathing, anatomy, angels......)
- In a few words, what is quire 20 about?
- If we were able to read the script, which language(s) would we read, if any?