- Geert Wilders cleared of hate charges by Netherlands court.
- Anti-Islamist politician Geert Wilders cleared by Dutch court of inciting hatred.
- Dutch Court Acquits Anti-Islam Politician.
- Geert Wilders has been acquitted; that he went on trial at all is a disgrace.

Dear Mr. [PROFESSOR'S NAME GOES HERE],

I am writing on behalf of [PREDICTION MARKET SOFTWARE VENDOR'S NAME], a Netherlands based consulting firm, because our research has identified you as a scholar with some expertise in Prediction Markets or a related field. [THEY JUST SCRAPPED MIDAS ORACLE'S LISTINGS.] We would like to assess your suitability and interest to join the panel of scientific advisors with [PREDICTION MARKET SOFTWARE VENDOR'S NAME] (www.url.com).

In doing so, we propose to explore your area of experience and knowledge of Prediction Markets. Having established this, we would like to list you as our scientific advisor on your area of expertise on Prediction Markets. This will allow us to seek your services for a negotiated fee, once your particular expertise in developing or interpreting a Prediction Market issue is required.

I trust this message clarifies in short the mutual benefits in our cooperation. Please feel free to contact me to discuss further details.

Sincerely,

[LOW-LEVEL EMPLOYEE'S NAME GOES HERE]
Communications Manager
[PREDICTION MARKET SOFTWARE VENDOR'S NAME]

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Some prediction market scholars have responded positively, and are now listed on the Holland-based consultancy firm website. Once the professor has agreed to have his name listed as an “advisor”, the consultancy firm gets a bit of the prestige associated with the first-tier university employing the scholar. The web visitors are lead to believe that those scholars are in deep cooperation with the consultancy firm. But as the letter above shows, the relationships between those US-based scholars and the Dutch consultant are completely shallow.

1. You give me your name (associated with your prestigious university) so that I can use it in my publicity.
2. If one day, by any chance, one gullible client wants to pay $150/hour for additional advice, we will ring you. {Don’t hold your breath, though.}

This is not a strong relationship. This is a weak relationship. It is not a relationship based on research and development [*] of the prediction market technology, and the pertinence of its applications in the business world. Another reason to be skeptical about the field of enterprise prediction markets.

[*] At the contrary, the relationship between Robin Hanson and Consensus Point is deep and real.

Dear Mr. [PROFESSOR'S NAME GOES HERE],

I am writing on behalf of [PREDICTION MARKET SOFTWARE VENDOR'S NAME], a Netherlands based consulting firm, because our research has identified you as a scholar with some expertise in Prediction Markets or a related field. [THEY JUST SCRAPPED MIDAS ORACLE'S LISTINGS.] We would like to assess your suitability and interest to join the panel of scientific advisors with [PREDICTION MARKET SOFTWARE VENDOR'S NAME] (www.url.com).

In doing so, we propose to explore your area of experience and knowledge of Prediction Markets. Having established this, we would like to list you as our scientific advisor on your area of expertise on Prediction Markets. This will allow us to seek your services for a negotiated fee, once your particular expertise in developing or interpreting a Prediction Market issue is required.

I trust this message clarifies in short the mutual benefits in our cooperation. Please feel free to contact me to discuss further details.

Sincerely,

[LOW-LEVEL EMPLOYEE'S NAME GOES HERE]
Communications Manager
[PREDICTION MARKET SOFTWARE VENDOR'S NAME]

Next: How some US-based university professors endorsed a Holland-based consultancy firm

But after reading Medemi’s comment, popped up an idea in my mind. Medemi tells about the assassination of Pim Fortuyn, an extremist politician in Holland —who received many death threats and did not get appropriate protection. His assassination was predictable. (He was indeed gunned down during a political campaign.) If, at the time, a prediction market had been opened on the likelihood of his violent death, the high probabilities would have attracted attention —and, as a result, maybe the Police would have granted Pim Fortuyn a special protection.

What do you think?

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