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Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

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Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#71

Post by nora4 »

joshfraser wrote: post #40

There are four reasons I think decentralized marketplaces are inevitable: 1) Throughout history middlemen have suffered a common fate. They get squeezed out at every opportunity. We have a chance to cut out the rent-seeking middlemen, with revolutionary new business models that allow fees to go to ~zero. 2) Blockchain technology gives us a censorship resistance. Not only from governments that like to ban certain type…

In my view what you are saying is a libertarian pipe dream. A fully decentralized world (mostly I mean web) will be a nightmare. People are already mad how Reddit/Twitter are so abusive as platforms. And these are still centralized systems, albeit more free compared to Facebook/Instagram. Just imagine the kind of hate, racism, nazism, *-ism that will be unleashed in a fully decentralized system. We are already complaining about Fake News and its torpedo effect on US democracy and the world. Now imagine if on top of that Facebook and so were in fact decentralized and permissionless.

In one corner of the web, I hear people being mad when Twitter doesn't ban the POTUS. And on the opposite side I hear you complaining about centralization. I can't somehow get around both of these angry voices operating at the same time (even maybe by the same people). Do we want a centralized system at the end, or a decentralized permisionless system with all the nasty things it entails? For me, I don't know. I lean toward preferring centralized systems. I rather embrace the devil I know.

Not sure, why you are so in love with decentralization. Are you sure we really want it? It's not all roses and flowers with decentralized systems.

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#72

Post by nora4 »

Donzo wrote: post #41

A lot of people here have jaded views. Perhaps because they feel like they missed an opportunity. I believe that the Eth rocket is just about to launch. I recommend jumping aboard. Don’t fall for the sunk cost fallacy. Just because you started walking in the wrong direction doesn’t mean you have to keep walking in the wrong direction. Go to Coinbase.com if you reside in the US. Get in now. Go long, I do believe. You’…

Right, a decentralized marketplace is also going to have the customer service and delivery speed of Amazon too. Because blockchain...

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#73

Post by panda88888 »

visarga wrote: post #67
joshfraser wrote: post #40

There are four reasons I think decentralized marketplaces are inevitable: 1) Throughout history middlemen have suffered a common fate. They get squeezed out at every opportunity. We have a chance to cut out the rent-seeking middlemen, with revolutionary new business models that allow fees to go to ~zero. 2) Blockchain technology gives us a censorship resistance. Not only from governments that like to ban certain type…

> We can redistribute value to the people who actually contribute the most value in the network. Actually that is how I envision people becoming self-reliant in a post-job society. Being jobless and with little money means you got: 1. free time, and 2. needs to fulfil. But jobless people are not without skills - we don't suddenly forget everything we learned when we lose our jobs. There's plenty of skilled people wit…

How is the human coin different from existing currency? They are both store of value so a person can still exchange for goods and services when he or she doesn’t have things that the other party wants? I don’t see how the human coin can be more efficient and easier to use than standard currency, especially for local transactions.

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#74

Post by nora4 »

protomikron wrote: post #53

Ok, maybe I missed something, but can someone explain to me why a decentralized marketplace is an important thing to have? Apart from the fact that you can pay there with Bitcoin (which you can also do at other e-commerce stores), it seems similar to Shopify from a merchant's (or vendor in OB slang) perspective. So I get that makes it simpler to use for products that are not simple to get otherwise (e.g. drugs), beca…

The logic is usually that decentralized system allow greater innovation, faster development, third-party integration. By taking no centralized control, allowing everyone be partly owner of the network, they will have much greater network effect than the centralized counterparts. The analogy is usually the free internet vs proprietary CompuServe, AOL, Prodigy systems.

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#75

Post by cgmg »

dane-pgp wrote: post #59
UncleMeat wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I consider network censorship to be a feature, not a bug. I want airbnb to be able to enforce that hosts are not able to deny service to black people. I want my uber driver to have insurance and a quick background check. From the perspective of somebody in the marketplace I prefer having people who break the social contract removed. Now there can be marketplaces that screw this up and perhaps there is some place for…

The feature you are looking for is not "censorship" but "reputation metrics" (in fact, they should be "uncensorable reputation metrics"). If a trusted third party (not necessarily Uber) told you whether a given driver had insurance, then your decision to transact with the driver could be based on that. (More likely, whoever made the app you use would do the "has insurance" check for you, and not show you any drivers…

Proof of Burn solves the reputation problem. Here's an example: https://www.openbazaar.org/blog/why-proof-of-burn/.

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#76

Post by cgmg »

QAPereo wrote: post #58
wyager wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I consider network censorship to be a feature, not a bug. No one’s going to stop you from using an unfree, censorious system if you want to. However, we’re going to object vociferously if you try to force it on everyone else. > I want my uber driver to have insurance and a quick background check. The advantage of censorship-resistant markets is that added features are opt-in. I don’t really care if my uber driver i…

The average person wouldn’t even know what you were talking about, never mind actively trying to stop you from pursuing it. The only way they try to enforce anything on you is by dominating the market for a given service, and you are not going to change that .

How is your comment relevant to the GP? Did you mean to reply to someone else?

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#77

Post by cgmg »

nora4 wrote: post #71
joshfraser wrote: post #40

There are four reasons I think decentralized marketplaces are inevitable: 1) Throughout history middlemen have suffered a common fate. They get squeezed out at every opportunity. We have a chance to cut out the rent-seeking middlemen, with revolutionary new business models that allow fees to go to ~zero. 2) Blockchain technology gives us a censorship resistance. Not only from governments that like to ban certain type…

In my view what you are saying is a libertarian pipe dream. A fully decentralized world (mostly I mean web) will be a nightmare. People are already mad how Reddit/Twitter are so abusive as platforms. And these are still centralized systems, albeit more free compared to Facebook/Instagram. Just imagine the kind of hate, racism, nazism, *-ism that will be unleashed in a fully decentralized system. We are already compla…

There's a simple solution: Filter out what you (or your community) don't want to see, but don't force your sensibilities on everyone else.

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#78

Post by cgmg »

UncleMeat wrote: post #50
joshfraser wrote: post #40

There are four reasons I think decentralized marketplaces are inevitable: 1) Throughout history middlemen have suffered a common fate. They get squeezed out at every opportunity. We have a chance to cut out the rent-seeking middlemen, with revolutionary new business models that allow fees to go to ~zero. 2) Blockchain technology gives us a censorship resistance. Not only from governments that like to ban certain type…

I consider network censorship to be a feature, not a bug. I want airbnb to be able to enforce that hosts are not able to deny service to black people. I want my uber driver to have insurance and a quick background check. From the perspective of somebody in the marketplace I prefer having people who break the social contract removed. Now there can be marketplaces that screw this up and perhaps there is some place for…

>From the perspective of somebody in the marketplace I prefer having people who break the social contract removed.

This statement is meaningless. What are the contents of this alleged social contract you're referring to? I bet your answer is going to differ from mine, or from the next person's.

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#79

Post by siruncledrew »

visarga wrote: post #67
joshfraser wrote: post #40

There are four reasons I think decentralized marketplaces are inevitable: 1) Throughout history middlemen have suffered a common fate. They get squeezed out at every opportunity. We have a chance to cut out the rent-seeking middlemen, with revolutionary new business models that allow fees to go to ~zero. 2) Blockchain technology gives us a censorship resistance. Not only from governments that like to ban certain type…

> We can redistribute value to the people who actually contribute the most value in the network. Actually that is how I envision people becoming self-reliant in a post-job society. Being jobless and with little money means you got: 1. free time, and 2. needs to fulfil. But jobless people are not without skills - we don't suddenly forget everything we learned when we lose our jobs. There's plenty of skilled people wit…

>Using a "human coin" we could create a marketplace of skills and services without corporate money.

That system has existed since civilization began - it's called bartering.

Re: Decentralized Blockchain-Based Electronic Marketplaces

#80

Post by jraedisch »

cgmg wrote: post #77
nora4 wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my view what you are saying is a libertarian pipe dream. A fully decentralized world (mostly I mean web) will be a nightmare. People are already mad how Reddit/Twitter are so abusive as platforms. And these are still centralized systems, albeit more free compared to Facebook/Instagram. Just imagine the kind of hate, racism, nazism, *-ism that will be unleashed in a fully decentralized system. We are already compla…

There's a simple solution: Filter out what you (or your community) don't want to see, but don't force your sensibilities on everyone else.

That's what I thought: in a world with decentralized markets, people will probably spend more on the (software) clients or filtering services.
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