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Is Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project ever?

launch.is

11–20 of 33 posts

Re: Is Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project ever?

#12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's a great article.

I am a great writer, yes. :-) Seriously, let's break this down: a) I hear about a trend b) I read everything I can find about it c) I have two full-time analysts read everything on it and talk to 10 people. d) I have 30+ producers of my show do research e) I host a podcast with the lead developers f) I read a ton of comments and listen to the feedback on the show g) I write a piece two weeks later after taking it all…

I'm sure you've put time into reading about BitCoin but it's difficult to take a "piece" seriously when the grammatical and mechanical errors in your writing are abundant. Additionally, beginning a "piece" with a vapid 6 point list.

Also not to mention the comment stacking with "bradpineau". Whatevs, I guess I'm just feeding the shark. Please flag this submission to anyone who get here - it's obvious social media spam.

Re: Is Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project ever?

#14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's a great article.

I am a great writer, yes. :-) Seriously, let's break this down: a) I hear about a trend b) I read everything I can find about it c) I have two full-time analysts read everything on it and talk to 10 people. d) I have 30+ producers of my show do research e) I host a podcast with the lead developers f) I read a ton of comments and listen to the feedback on the show g) I write a piece two weeks later after taking it all…

The article was pretty good, but the title was definitely sensationalist. We don't take kindly to that around here. I almost didn't read it because of the title alone.

Re: Is Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project ever?

#15
post #2

Oh fuck, Calicanis is on the bitcoin-promotion train now. Now here's a note to the other bitcoin article-spammers. Watch Calcianis and learn. He's done everything right for memetically engineering the kind of article that gets upvoted. 1. He's asked a provocative question, the kind which makes people want to argue with it ("Why no, I'd say that such-and-such is the most dangerous open source project ever"). 2. He's u…

1. Why so angry? 2. Calacanis is how my name is spelled. 3. It's just one person's opinion--but a well informed one. Why not spend your time reading the piece and pushing the discussion forward based on merit? best j

To respond to your points in reverse order (ignoring "3" which isn't actually a point):

Firstly, there's really no need to sign things with your name. Your name is at the top, it doesn't need to be at the bottom too.

2. Sorry. Many letters. Small font. Light grey text. Calacanis. Got it now.

But (1) is a good question. I'm not angry, but this "bitcoin" meme does annoy me. Why? Because it's one of those viruses that can be really dangerous to social news ecosystem. Much like those parasites that burrow into the brain and take over the host's motor functions to spread itself more easily, everybody who gets bitten by the meme (ie winds up with a few bitcoins of their own) suddenly has an incentive to start spreading the bitcoin meme as far and as wide as possible to drive up the value in the (imho extremely forlorn) hope that someday it will become truly widespread. Since it only takes a few well-timed votes to push something to the front page of HN, this makes HN fertile ground for being manipulated by this kind of thing.

So I approach bitcoin advocates the same way I approach folks selling Amway or religious missionaries.

Re: Is Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project ever?

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a great writer, yes. :-) Seriously, let's break this down: a) I hear about a trend b) I read everything I can find about it c) I have two full-time analysts read everything on it and talk to 10 people. d) I have 30+ producers of my show do research e) I host a podcast with the lead developers f) I read a ton of comments and listen to the feedback on the show g) I write a piece two weeks later after taking it all…

Outside of members of the bitcoin project, Jason is probably the most qualified to write a bitcoin article. As he states above, he definetly did the research.

To paraphrase reddit: "Nice try: one of the 'c) I have two full-time analysts'..."

Re: Is Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project ever?

#18
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Why so angry? 2. Calacanis is how my name is spelled. 3. It's just one person's opinion--but a well informed one. Why not spend your time reading the piece and pushing the discussion forward based on merit? best j

To respond to your points in reverse order (ignoring "3" which isn't actually a point): Firstly, there's really no need to sign things with your name. Your name is at the top, it doesn't need to be at the bottom too. 2. Sorry. Many letters. Small font. Light grey text. Calacanis. Got it now. But (1) is a good question. I'm not angry, but this "bitcoin" meme does annoy me. Why? Because it's one of those viruses that c…

I approach advocates of the central banking system the same way I approach psychotic prison inmates.

Re: Is Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project ever?

#20
I'm not sure it's 'dangerous,' unless you're seeing through the eyes of a government, credit card company, or financial middle-man. Bitcoin empowers people, and removes companies or governments out of simple value transfers.

It's as though someone has created another Napster, except everyone's a 'node' and music isn't transmitted, 'wealth' is. Bitcoin is only as revolutionary or 'dangerous' as you want it to be.

HN folks may be interested in some of the discussions going on in Quora: http://www.quora.com/Bitcoin

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