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Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

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Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#21

Post by greghinch »

jmathai wrote: post #18
greghinch wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get this obsession with gold. Yes it's shiny and has historically represented value and wealth, but people apply it as the unit of currency society will fall back on in times of crisis, like a civil war. If there's fighting and chaos all around and infrastructure is cut off, clean water, food, medicine, and weapons are pretty much all that will hold any value.

During a war, perhaps. But once things settle down I think gold will be the go to unit of currency. In a functional society no one wants to pay for their goods with food or water.

Right but then wouldn't you just go back to standard currency?

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#22

Post by tomkarlo »

Lambdanaut wrote: post #8
cookiecaper wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is what bitcoiners and similar don't understand. It's not like your internet connection will remain happy and stable while the rest of the world goes to hell around us. Telecomms will be a first-class target, and most systems have some pretty central points of failure that would make juicy (and easy) targets. In such a situation, if you've chosen to use an electronic cryptocurrency dependent on things like r…

1) We're heading closer and closer to a world where none of this bullshit(pardon my Frank) can happen. 2) You think REGULAR currencies have much more value than cryptocurrencies during these types of crises? 3) If Syria hypothetically still has a working "intranet" but not a working "internet", then Bitcoin will continue working just fine for them while they're not connected to the rest of us. After the Syrians re-co…

If we dropped you into the middle of Syria right now, would you rather have: 1. $10,000 in USD currency 2. $10,000 USD equiv in gold 3. $10,000 USD equiv in bitcoin

I'm pretty sure the only practical answer is (1). That pretty much answers your question (2).

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#23

Post by cinquemb »

BCM43 wrote: post #7
cookiecaper wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is what bitcoiners and similar don't understand. It's not like your internet connection will remain happy and stable while the rest of the world goes to hell around us. Telecomms will be a first-class target, and most systems have some pretty central points of failure that would make juicy (and easy) targets. In such a situation, if you've chosen to use an electronic cryptocurrency dependent on things like r…

What would you suggest people put their money in then? Gold? Guns? The problems you describe are problems for just about every currency right now. How much of your money do you have in cash, and how much is in the bank? Do you think you will still be able to use the bank in a situation like the one you describe?

>The problems you describe are problems for just about every currency right now. How much of your money do you have in cash, and how much is in the bank? Do you think you will still be able to use the bank in a situation like the one you describe?

I believe cyprus had to find out the hard way as well sans civil war. They had internet, but no access to bank accounts (still very limited to this day). And I doubt the the 25%+ in spain and greece are much better off…

Call me a nut but at this point, people who have the means should put their money in things they can live off of sustainably or at least partially (PV's, rain water catch, DIY small greenhouse) because things are not getting any better globally and we seriously can't expect the printing press to get us out of this.

Oh yeah, DOW closed above 15000. quelle chance.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#24

Post by venomsnake »

mindslight wrote: post #11
cookiecaper wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is what bitcoiners and similar don't understand. It's not like your internet connection will remain happy and stable while the rest of the world goes to hell around us. Telecomms will be a first-class target, and most systems have some pretty central points of failure that would make juicy (and easy) targets. In such a situation, if you've chosen to use an electronic cryptocurrency dependent on things like r…

> the blockchain depends on a consistent, global view of network transactions Actually the chief effect of the continual hashing is robustness against netsplits. By defining the longer-hashed chain as prevailing, global reconciliation is actually possible . All protocol-following parties agree - double spends on the smaller side lose out.

In a case where the entire country is cut from the internet double spending will be insignificant - the coins cannot transfer out of the country, so it will be minor.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#25

Post by eurleif »

Anderkent wrote: post #15
Jabbles wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Re-merging does not work like that. All Syrian transactions will effectively be reversed. That's assuming that they managed to mine anything, with such a small fraction of the usual computing power available.

The difficulty level adjusts to the mining power. And only transactions that were double-spent will be reversed, since nodes will re-broadcast transactions from the short chain onto the long chain, and those that weren't double spent will be accepted.

>The difficulty level adjusts to the mining power.

But difficulty adjustments occur every 2016 blocks, not instantly. https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Difficulty#How_often_does_the_dif...

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#26

Post by xerula »

greghinch wrote: post #16
3am wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gold and guns would both be much better decisions that Bitcoin in a raging civil war. So would food, and transport to safe haven. Bitcoin would be insane. Even if you had extra money, that's what Swiss bank accounts are for. edit: to be clear, the utilities of these items is relative, think a DAG. gold > bitcoin. food > gold. transport to safe haven > food,guns. Maybe. Medicine > gold, also. Not trying to say anythin…

I don't get this obsession with gold. Yes it's shiny and has historically represented value and wealth, but people apply it as the unit of currency society will fall back on in times of crisis, like a civil war. If there's fighting and chaos all around and infrastructure is cut off, clean water, food, medicine, and weapons are pretty much all that will hold any value.

In absolute life-or-death situations, yes. But as soon as we move even a tiny bit past that point, history shows we seek universally recognized, convenient mediums of exchange. And for every culture that has access to them, precious metals have fulfilled this role since year dot.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#27

Post by venomsnake »

daniel-cussen wrote: post #17
cookiecaper wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is what bitcoiners and similar don't understand. It's not like your internet connection will remain happy and stable while the rest of the world goes to hell around us. Telecomms will be a first-class target, and most systems have some pretty central points of failure that would make juicy (and easy) targets. In such a situation, if you've chosen to use an electronic cryptocurrency dependent on things like r…

You can memorize the keys to a bitcoin account and carry your wealth with you in your head until you get to a place with an internet connection. Better that than diamonds in tubes of toothpaste.

Go on :) Lets see how long it will take, and how many times you will be able to reproduce it without error.

qWoXWwQQQyVF69SkJfGgG/x9ehR8NQmXwDvLxMbh2iALkGe0nd+NiFgvtXseoHn0 mEfjKXDbMMY7wyU8Xv1yNQGYw/V+pnfG/qiw8dirIF5jQOQprS/5YWt2Ts803pzu Y8V+FhMHoKtKozHKemH6THRQ0QbasdlO21+uwk7HGtKZh60NSEre+90I9GNEE8lO Vjq1r5YwdHpe7VZAyAYdJOJCS2wKKh7yJowOBLReyF7nR+hKw4ZAXibmg0/WM6tF tcccKbNPZZDYt9han1SsiCFew/6dUNoa5Qt+Q9wiDrZ9YLqRduULMQcOZhgPqN96 E5C1+TpaWj6w8JSXU016Nd6QWocGMYt/BvvzLwbcyMEAs5LWECsMkWBtjPI4pELJ Ft4MqCEROR5Q0QgcVu4W2ePEUMz2/C7WPziCebvMvHQgvwMpCVw/10dtZrvYsp0m ofOA0HJIsw92yqPd1ZDLzTnvCt4PuBIzWeyx7bWryWfO1fZQFw8IFENoZ7xlDuba yIu1eCceri2dEHAIzlwkMtkWWaXSNN9x9w4pA2MacDHdvyCmeIPmm71TAXskITZz cse3fZb50xhstQaH5IFPw+auSW2Q1KykT/KS8+wjjwclYjnqFshjpmHEdjiRIH5r zvZwvlRQwFw5ssRxuQPWSr216MZN/SUrhGjFV6L4drsoKaPfsCwBSvC0hu+IUYuj GJNNuzxcCYeTjYyELhVXVsDIs7z8m44ZxJ0FTtjQ7dHl4FoTRIb9SceB86ylrNTp Da0MYqHb3UBq0GxGMtTLmTqfel1S7MhaI7LDha9y6F4v/TGwTtfKrcV1EEPRtL2P RaRLnuRrOC4QOqMCryPlBG4P5nusqiN225xuF5fuJCG5pJBGZWML63L2ThlsrvZ7 FZUyza7Zz5wT7FrFPlVGV+mY7p2faZ4BKtwhOIHHCJbUz/22S8jmIQdqedfhkiGb Tz/nYpN6VfJYl/aXAn/Kz1mO0ejLgPkKOcEfamA8mvu8nK0u+weSHkx08ckhuV6n ecNMOdkFWjbz2zpsaAITcz0kuG6Z5A97gMpjCXqinNIuKNlrZHKoWZzBJSlrdRX+ OCyhroVFKS2iL+V/XIqCRmnTIh4D1cCYlo/Q1VdIjsNBcoBB/uUtgNu21X+Mh3Ob wrTnCzjUBZm5Ozo9ZWbvsS5oe23KnWvsdMpwBvddFUJzafPviIm/vQJKzRS2mVvg RpOzlwwl5nfi6Q/dWO45b35O6lvRuwOPnx+v9A29pWm30CWce4XKGxoIsuCCVFfn CHhjRhqjYXAuHJTbUjAOK+1mBB+DhNMmOnkUiGR2DLZJ48lb3+a+JadALZjKdDhU Tdys2E1d8qjBTKkyHY3MV7cILyW623qLrFTtOA4DnXJzZF7zDz/pufFECDOibEkI 8IZRFViimAQHRH4rAmToihh7cQwkY3u7tKd6wl5GxP/R4deY566/8xxMzNz2/wrS PA74sh2yuuRcv9+qeKitpjY1z0B9sYPLzgBpDfCptKoaSdYRXiPXINgKCyaq84p1 o51S6xvGBbbVhe/wYnUfHgOtAWLX50etfBQ7zGe7Yy9NjCpBg/OcFPWgRMxL86un

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#28

Post by mindslight »

venomsnake wrote: post #24
mindslight wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the blockchain depends on a consistent, global view of network transactions Actually the chief effect of the continual hashing is robustness against netsplits. By defining the longer-hashed chain as prevailing, global reconciliation is actually possible . All protocol-following parties agree - double spends on the smaller side lose out.

In a case where the entire country is cut from the internet double spending will be insignificant - the coins cannot transfer out of the country, so it will be minor.

Transfer the private keys ahead of time, to a program which waits for a significant split and then automatically spends to a new address.

Which means that one can't really trust generic spends in the cut-off area.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#29

Post by [deleted] »

greghinch wrote: post #16
3am wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gold and guns would both be much better decisions that Bitcoin in a raging civil war. So would food, and transport to safe haven. Bitcoin would be insane. Even if you had extra money, that's what Swiss bank accounts are for. edit: to be clear, the utilities of these items is relative, think a DAG. gold > bitcoin. food > gold. transport to safe haven > food,guns. Maybe. Medicine > gold, also. Not trying to say anythin…

I don't get this obsession with gold. Yes it's shiny and has historically represented value and wealth, but people apply it as the unit of currency society will fall back on in times of crisis, like a civil war. If there's fighting and chaos all around and infrastructure is cut off, clean water, food, medicine, and weapons are pretty much all that will hold any value.

[deleted]

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#30

Post by gaussianblur »

greghinch wrote: post #16
3am wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gold and guns would both be much better decisions that Bitcoin in a raging civil war. So would food, and transport to safe haven. Bitcoin would be insane. Even if you had extra money, that's what Swiss bank accounts are for. edit: to be clear, the utilities of these items is relative, think a DAG. gold > bitcoin. food > gold. transport to safe haven > food,guns. Maybe. Medicine > gold, also. Not trying to say anythin…

I don't get this obsession with gold. Yes it's shiny and has historically represented value and wealth, but people apply it as the unit of currency society will fall back on in times of crisis, like a civil war. If there's fighting and chaos all around and infrastructure is cut off, clean water, food, medicine, and weapons are pretty much all that will hold any value.

Gold is special because of its universal value, and it is especially useful in refugee scenarios where your war-ravaged currency has lost value, but your asylum country still has a stable economy. Gold is easily concealed, transported, and exchanged. My father's family converted much of their assets to gold when fleeing to the US from Vietnam at the end of the war.
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