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Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

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Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#101
post #94
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what?! My brother studies in Hatay, a city near Syria. This city used to be a safe, liberal city. Until the fucking "civil war". Now, it's filled by a kind of some radical islamists migrated from Syria because of the "civil war". Now women and children in Hatay are afraid of going out of their home because their streets are full of aggressive and criminal North Syrian extreme islamists. Check those links. This war…

It's a conflict between the Syrian government forces and several militias of (mostly) Syrians. So it's a civil war. Yeah, some of the militias aren't interested in democracy, and some are funded by external powers that have various interests in Syria. It's still a civil war.

It is definitely not.

As you can see the prove in my other comments, Free Syrian Army was established by a NATO sponsored Libyan terrorist. As you can see in their videos, these fucking terrorists don't even speak the Syrian dialect of Arabic.

We are talking about a global terrorist organization and huge manipulations made by NATO countries to legalize this terrorism.

Please go to do some research.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#102

There is civil war. And cables will always be delicious target for any party. No bank transfers for the fleeing elite or being able to deal with external affairs, total blackout for the defender (military and police have their own systems usually so the ruling party is not that affected) The situation in Syria is dangerous. A failed state in that location ... Arab Peninsula in the 2013 is the Balkans in 1913 ...

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…

Bitcoin isn't to defend against the end of the world as we know it, its to defend against the end of your country as you know it.

This time when you end up at Ellis Island, you don't just have the shirt on your back.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#103
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes there are people building real world offline transactions. See the whole API: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Raw_Transactions Typically they use this API for offline cold storage wallets.

Any offline transaction which is spec'ed with JSON-RPC doesn't pass my apocalypse test. I'm sorry dude, but if the bombs are flying and buildings burning, just admit it: Bitcoin is not a suitable currency.

> but if the bombs are flying and buildings burning

And state issued currency that could be worthless after a civil war or invasion would be better? Technically you could argue that bitcoin, being not issued by a government or controlling entity and possibly still in use in less volatile parts of the world is more likely to retain its value, as would a cold-storage BTC wallet hidden until afterwards when the internet is back.

However if you are thinking along the lines of of gold, silver and gems, then yes, bitcoin can't compare .

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#104
post #58

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…

Currency should never be used as a primary value store. You should minimally hold as much currency as you need to perform the transaction. The only purpose of currency is to facilitate trade.

That really depends on circumstances.

If conditions favor liquidity and portability, and your currency is stable, it's a rational choice as a value store.

Your _best_ value store is investments which grow in value. In a well-functioning economy, stocks, other investment vehicles, a business, agricultural or other productive land, etc.

Where this isn't the case, your most valuable assets are those which can protect you, support you, and/or get you to where you will be safe. If you've got value left over at this point, a convenient store that's readily convertible at your destination is best. If things aren't horribly bad, a fiat/hard currency (even bitcoin might work), gold, or other items of high but convertible value.

One argument in bitcoin's favor (and I'm not generally a fan) is that you can store immense quantities in very small physical space, or (assuming communications) transmit them elsewhere quickly. The main caveat is their utility (and value) once you're outside the trouble zone. Assuming there is an "outside the trouble zone".

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#105
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because they said there was no civil war going on in Syria.

So what?! My brother studies in Hatay, a city near Syria. This city used to be a safe, liberal city. Until the fucking "civil war". Now, it's filled by a kind of some radical islamists migrated from Syria because of the "civil war". Now women and children in Hatay are afraid of going out of their home because their streets are full of aggressive and criminal North Syrian extreme islamists. Check those links. This war…

I lived in Syria for 8 years. Some of the early members of the FSA were good friends of a cousin of mine. This war wasn't started by outside forces, no matter who got involved after te fact.

Sure, there's all sorts of crazies involved now, but there are also still plenty of Syrians involved. Which makes it a civil war.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#106
post #101
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a conflict between the Syrian government forces and several militias of (mostly) Syrians. So it's a civil war. Yeah, some of the militias aren't interested in democracy, and some are funded by external powers that have various interests in Syria. It's still a civil war.

It is definitely not. As you can see the prove in my other comments, Free Syrian Army was established by a NATO sponsored Libyan terrorist. As you can see in their videos, these fucking terrorists don't even speak the Syrian dialect of Arabic. We are talking about a global terrorist organization and huge manipulations made by NATO countries to legalize this terrorism. Please go to do some research.

At what point does it go from terrorism to a civil war?

I'm not saying syria is or isn't one, but you got me thinking about how a civil war could very well be labeled terrorism and vice versa depending on the spin you wanted to put on it.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#107
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The links don't help though. The main one is an Op-Ed piece. The other is from GlobalResearch which is borderline conspiracy drivel.

If you are looking for the truth, it's really not hard. Go to Youtube, search about the street reviews in Syria made by BBC, see how Syrian people expressed themself to rest of the world.

Just because some Syrians express a view on does not make it the view held unanimously by all Syrians, and thus 'the truth'. Different folk will be benefiting and supporting the existing regime while others will be protesting it, look at the States, or any nation and how easy it is to find differing viewpoints on almost anything.

I don't know what the truth about the situation in syria is, nor do i think i ever fully will no matter how many youtube videos/interviews i watch, however from what i have seen of the government's response to the protests makes me lean towards thinking that government is not deserving of the power it has.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#108

There is civil war. And cables will always be delicious target for any party. No bank transfers for the fleeing elite or being able to deal with external affairs, total blackout for the defender (military and police have their own systems usually so the ruling party is not that affected) The situation in Syria is dangerous. A failed state in that location ... Arab Peninsula in the 2013 is the Balkans in 1913 ...

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…

I never saw anything to suggest that Bitcoin is built to withstand Syria-style collapse of society. (Not to say that we shouldn't try to design our networks to survive that if possible.) It looks more like a way to counterbalance gradual bullshitization of monetary systems of otherwise civilized societies.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#109
post #84
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People can write bad checks or create fake money orders too. It holds as much value as the faith the recipient puts into it.

Which is why many places don't accept checks. In other words they don't consider it a valid currency.

Hell, some of us don't even accept the word checks! Let alone cheques which seem archaic to someone who doesn't ever use cash (last used about 6 months ago), regularly used... Never.

Re: Traffic From Syria Disappears From Internet

#110

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.

In stressful situations I've know people to give names other than their own (Maiden name when married for 30ish years), forget their birthdate and a host of other missteps. War is (I imagine), stressful. I wouldn't be setting up systems that that required a lot of thought if I was off to some sort of high stress environment.
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