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Tiktok Theorist slop

  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    Koen G > 30-09-2026, 04:24 PM

    I had a lot of doubts about making this video, for many reasons:
    • I don't want to be a gossip channel.
    • It doesn't feel nice to "kick down", by which I mean, shred someone's argument to bits when most people already know how bad it is. They're a very easy target, like mocking the mad drunk on the street corner.
    • By lecturing them, I'd basically play into their narrative.
    • Depending on one's viewpoint, they were basically crossing all the boxes: misogyny, misandry, perpetuating the patriarchal ideals of bionormativity feminism should be fighting, racism, maybe even some latent antisemitism.... and that's not even getting to the scientific part of it.

    Normally I'd just let it be, really, just like I won't make a video about every new Voynich theory that doesn't work. But it blew up so much, and I noticed that people who don't know much about the VM were wondering: was something actually discovered? So I ended up recording something after all. I see a lot of appreciation in the comments, so I think it was useful for many people who don't follow the research closely.
  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    pjburkshire > 30-09-2026, 04:43 PM

    I wish there was a way to leverage their current popularity to reach experts in 15th century West Slavic languages.  The western European languages have been extensively researched but I think the eastern European/West Slavic languages need to be given more attention.  I think Russian is the only Slavic language that has been given much attention.  I'm not a TikTok user and I have no desire to become one or I would jump into it.
  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    bi3mw > 30-09-2026, 05:03 PM

    (30-09-2026, 04:24 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.It doesn't feel nice to "kick down", by which I mean, shred someone's argument to bits when most people already know how bad it is. They're a very easy target, like mocking the mad drunk on the street corner.

    The key question here is: Can you hold someone accountable for their theory, or not? In this case, I believe the answer is clearly “yes.” To be clear, I’m a big fan of free speech. Everyone should have the right to express their views, no matter how absurd they may be. However, if he or she does so publicly, it should be clear that the response—especially outside one’s own “microcosm”—will be commensurate. As I already mentioned, this isn’t really about the VMS at all (“The manuscript is merely a vehicle for promoting a completely bizarre conspiracy theory”). Opposing something like this is absolutely legitimate for anyone who truly wants to engage with the VMS.
  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    medievalmaxxer > 30-09-2026, 05:15 PM

    (30-09-2026, 04:12 PM)rikforto Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I think its taken on quite a life of its own now that it is on English-language WitchTok---nothing here demands women drop plant fragments in "moon water". The "growing plants from moon water" thing appears to be an anglosphere innovation, which I do not love for us!

    Reading through all the amazing excerpts you shared, they remind me so much of an AI output. The cadence, even translated from German, is uncanny. I'm not entirely shocked that all the stuff on WitchTok is based on genAI claims...
  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    joben > 30-09-2026, 09:16 PM

    (30-09-2026, 04:24 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I had a lot of doubts about making this video, for many reasons [...]

    I understand exactly what you mean.

    Airing this sort of criticism could easily backfire or be interpreted the wrong way if not done with some tactfulness and clear communication.

    I think you nailed it.
  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    bi3mw > 30-09-2026, 09:52 PM

    Another comment on YouTube:

    Has TikTok decoded the Voynich Manuscript?
    You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    Jacob Carolus > 30-09-2026, 10:22 PM

    (30-09-2026, 09:16 PM)joben Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I think you nailed it.

    In a perfect world these people really needed even harder derision and more jokes directed at them : D
    But i digress and understand even by addressing it, it put eyes on Koen and this website and keeping a balance of having any reason to comment. 

    We can all be wrong and i also agree with most everyone who agreed here.. about freedom of stupidity... but they have crossed all lines in impropriety of opinion, and should be fully made aware of their own psychosis. (i'm serious... its obvious from ricforto's post long time ago.... a spring and a screw went bouncing).  i didn't digress fully. But now i do.
  • RE: Tiktok Theorist slop

    LisaFaginDavis > 30-09-2026, 11:03 PM

    I appreciate the mention in your video, Koen. Thank you for putting that list of Women-Who-Voynich out into the world!
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