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Topic: [2014-07-31] CT: Bitcoin's "Political Neutrality is a Myth" Amir Taaki interview (Read 1346 times)

newbie
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legendary
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Monero Core Team
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These people are dangerous because of the influence they wield over Bitcoin that can destroy it as a free and open system. Recently Gavin made a post calling to raise the blocksize limit which is connected to this vision of Bitcoin as a system for payments. There is an agenda behind that kind of talk because raising the blocksize limit morphs Bitcoin as a better payment's system but centralizes more power with miners - which is already at dangerous levels in Bitcoin. We can either have a decentralized, free and uncensored Bitcoin, or a centralized Bitcoin good for payments (same as the banks).

He is completely wrong on the raising the blocksize limit issue. The problem with his analysis is that there are enough people "living in squats" around the world to bring the Bitcoin network to its knees should even a very small fraction of them use Bitcoin with the current 1MB blocksize limit. Furthermore that is without any of them using Dark Wallet. As a programmer he should simply know better. The fear of "bloat" leading to centralization and corporate control is in reality FUD because of Moore's law. Ironically keeping the 1 MB blocksize will lead to a situation where only the very wealthy will be able to use Bitcoin cost effectively because of sky-rocketing network fees.

Edit: I have lost a lot of respect for Amir because of his position on the 1 MB blocksize limit.
sr. member
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I'm 50/50 on Amir. I think he's getting too consumed by his own anarchist ego.

I agree with this. I think he's got a bit of a one track mind when it comes to bitcoin and he's not seeing the bigger picture. I think he soley wants bitcoin to fuck the government and bankers over, and whilst yes bitcoin can be used for that its not its only purpose.

I think in general he wants more freedom. Technology can be very powerful as many of us have probably experienced here.  I mean, some of the older amongst us may have experienced a time without the world wide web.. technology can empower people.
311
full member
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Come original.
I'm 50/50 on Amir. I think he's getting too consumed by his own anarchist ego.

I agree with this. I think he's got a bit of a one track mind when it comes to bitcoin and he's not seeing the bigger picture. I think he soley wants bitcoin to fuck the government and bankers over, and whilst yes bitcoin can be used for that its not its only purpose.
sr. member
Activity: 274
Merit: 250
I'm 50/50 on Amir. I think he's getting too consumed by his own anarchist ego.

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Bitcoin is a shitty payments system.


Wow, way to go at promoting Bitcoin Amir by slagging it off. Amir's got a lot of good ideas but I'm almost certain he's going to end up in the gutter someway whether that be he gets in trouble with the law or just goes nuts.
legendary
Activity: 1540
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I'm 50/50 on Amir. I think he's getting too consumed by his own anarchist ego.

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Bitcoin is a shitty payments system. It is not meant for buying coffee at Starbucks. It is an economical tool to enable new forms of trade to thrive which extends further into the areas of resource management, decentralized law, and digital governance. We can use this to create the next generation of economic activity between humans, and organize on a local level much larger than ever before possible. We can find new ways to disempower banks, politicians, lawyers, police, judges and institutions.

I mean why is he saying stuff like that? Bitcoin isn't just for anarchists to get their jollies. It's for everyone. If someone wants to use it to buy coffee they should. If they want to buy drugs with it they should, and of course if anarchists want to use it to bring about a revolution; go for it, but don't make out it's for only one agenda.

We'll do our thing, you do yours, just don't go bitching to the government when we actually succeed Wink

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He is a fascinating individual. Beyond the monetary use I do think bit coin will be a powerful political force. Bit Coin will develop into a robust and efficient payment system as well.  

There are already some very interesting projects evolving from the Bitcoin protocal, Open Bazaar, a spin off of the Dark Market that was prototyped by UNsystem and then there's twister and that new Dark Mail that's supposed to be in the works as well as Dark Wallet being worked on by Amir and the people he works with to keep the government away from Bitcoin.
sr. member
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He is a fascinating individual. Beyond the monetary use I do think bit coin will be a powerful political force. Bit Coin will develop into a robust and efficient payment system as well.
rtt
newbie
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Love it.

But I wish he didn't hold back and would tell us how he really feels about this fucked-up world run by bloodthirsty lunatics. Wink
legendary
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I predict that Amir Taaki will become this century's Tesla. He is very smart and he is very productive. His contributions have been impressive and will continue to be noteworthy.

In the end, his grip on reality will be questioned and he will eventually be pushed into obscurity by people with money and power.
legendary
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In Satoshi I Trust
for me he is always a little bit to fanatic (and libertarian) but we need that kind of guys too.

@Sutters Mill

100%
hero member
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Cryptophile at large
I'm 50/50 on Amir. I think he's getting too consumed by his own anarchist ego.

Quote
Bitcoin is a shitty payments system. It is not meant for buying coffee at Starbucks. It is an economical tool to enable new forms of trade to thrive which extends further into the areas of resource management, decentralized law, and digital governance. We can use this to create the next generation of economic activity between humans, and organize on a local level much larger than ever before possible. We can find new ways to disempower banks, politicians, lawyers, police, judges and institutions.

I mean why is he saying stuff like that? Bitcoin isn't just for anarchists to get their jollies. It's for everyone. If someone wants to use it to buy coffee they should. If they want to buy drugs with it they should, and of course if anarchists want to use it to bring about a revolution; go for it, but don't make out it's for only one agenda.
hero member
Activity: 875
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Great read.

Every bitcoin user should read this article to understand his point of view so that we can, as a group, stop regulation and centralization of Bitcoin through covert and hidden means.

I agree with everything Amir says in this article. He is a genius in his own way.

He has a talent for seeing the eventual effects of actions taken now, such as regulations in the guise of "helpful activities to boost Bitcoin adoption". Really all that is happening is there are individuals trying to covertly attack Bitcoin and take away its power.

If all of us are aware of this, then we can stop it by refusing to agree with bad decisions and proposed changes that would cause harm to Bitcoin.
newbie
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