Moral Obligations of Bitcoin - page 2.

Akka

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Quote from: dave111223 on February 11, 2013, 09:15:11 AM

Quote from: Akka on February 11, 2013, 09:08:55 AM

As for the rest, I wouldn't help someone doing something in my eyes evil for personal gain.

But money is just a tool, it doesn't have any morals. It can't be "good" or "evil".

Would I take money that was some time ago involved in something terrible. Yes.

Would I do so if by doing so I help someone doing this. No.

But with Bitcoin you can choose to "not ask" and thus never know that something is going to be used for evil. Is turning a blind eye the correct solution (ignorance is bliss)?

You are not asking with every deal you make with conventional money where it comes from, or what you a financing with this.

Imagine the cashier in the Supermarket would ask every customer where his money comes from.

Only when you get sketchy deals there is a point where you can tell there must be something wrong.

One reason I never "invested" one BTC into pirate was, that the only way I could explain his high rates was that he is either a scam, or gets his money from a source were I don't want to have any involvement. And it was the latter that restrained me (I'm greedy and stupid).

niko

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There is more to Bitcoin than bitcoins.

Quote from: dave111223 on February 11, 2013, 09:02:01 AM

Quote from: cbeast on February 11, 2013, 08:58:56 AM

That would be like asking a walmart clerk handing you change where they got that cash.

I think it would more if a sketchy guy on the street walked up to you and saying "I'll give you this $100 bill for a $50 and a $20". (Would you ask him where he got it, assuming that you were already able to determine the bill was real?)

You've got it all mixed up... Really sketchy guys you should be worried about wear suits and offer you lines of credit, bright future, and fight against "terrorists" from your OP. Do you ask them about the origin of their money? You should. You should gather facts before attempting to come up with the "moral obligations" you brought up in OP.

dave111223

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Quote from: Akka on February 11, 2013, 09:08:55 AM

As for the rest, I wouldn't help someone doing something in my eyes evil for personal gain.

But money is just a tool, it doesn't have any morals. It can't be "good" or "evil".

Would I take money that was some time ago involved in something terrible. Yes.

Would I do so if by doing so I help someone doing this. No.

But with Bitcoin you can choose to "not ask" and thus never know that something is going to be used for evil. Is turning a blind eye the correct solution (ignorance is bliss)?

Quote

I would however avoid trade with people I believe aren't working towards the same goal as me, the goal of living in a society that is free to maximize it's potential. In fact I'd actively ostracize such people.

But how would you know what they are working towards? When trading bitcoins for cash you really need to know nothing about the other party.

I'm generally getting the feeling that a "Don't ask, don't tell" policy is the rule of thumb?

P.S. I'm talking about person to person trading (not via Exchanges where coins are mixed and pooled, then spat out to you) When one person is trading directly with you.

hazek

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Quote from: dave111223 on February 11, 2013, 08:57:04 AM

I'd be interested to hear how others feel on this topic.

Let's suppose someone offers to sell you some bitcoins at a good price, do you feel you have any obligation to know where the bitcoins came from?

For example let's say a terrorist group in the Middle East buys or mines bitcoins, send them a cell in the USA. The cell member trades them with you for cash, and then uses the cash to buy bomb parts to blow up a building killing 100s of people.

Would you feel any remorse or would you just feel like it was nothing to do with you? And if you would feel remorseful do you feel that you have any obligation to inquiry before you buy the coins as to where they came from and how the owner got them?

No?

Remorse for what? Voluntary trade of value? I would however avoid trade with people I believe aren't working towards the same goal as me, the goal of living in a society that is free to maximize it's potential. In fact I'd actively ostracize such people.

Akka

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Quote from: dave111223 on February 11, 2013, 09:02:01 AM

Quote from: cbeast on February 11, 2013, 08:58:56 AM

That would be like asking a walmart clerk handing you change where they got that cash.

I think it would more if a sketchy guy on the street walked up to you and saying "I'll give you this $100 bill for a $50 and a $20". (Would you ask him where he got it, assuming that you were already able to determine the bill was real?)

Well, I would at first think of various con stunts that start that way. And solely for that reason ask why and be very skeptic.

As for the rest, I wouldn't help someone doing something in my eyes evil for personal gain.

But money is just a tool, it doesn't have any morals. It can't be "good" or "evil".

Would I take money that was some time ago involved in something terrible? Yes.

Would I do so if by doing so I help someone doing this? No.

cbeast

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Let's talk governance, lipstick, and pigs.

Quote from: dave111223 on February 11, 2013, 09:02:01 AM

Quote from: cbeast on February 11, 2013, 08:58:56 AM

That would be like asking a walmart clerk handing you change where they got that cash.

I think it would more if a sketchy guy on the street walked up to you and saying "I'll give you this $100 bill for a $50 and a $20". (Would you ask him where he got it, assuming that you were already able to determine the bill was real?)

I don't make change for strangers at all unless it is business. It is estimated that fully a third of all cash is counterfeit. I prefer to handle as little as possible.

dave111223

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Quote from: cbeast on February 11, 2013, 08:58:56 AM

That would be like asking a walmart clerk handing you change where they got that cash.

I think it would more if a sketchy guy on the street walked up to you and saying "I'll give you this $100 bill for a $50 and a $20". (Would you ask him where he got it, assuming that you were already able to determine the bill was real?)

deadweasel

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Quote from: dave111223 on February 11, 2013, 08:57:04 AM

I'd be interested to hear how others feel on this topic.

Let's suppose someone offers to sell you some bitcoins at a good price, do you feel you have any obligation to know where the bitcoins came from?

For example let's say a terrorist group in the Middle East buys or mines bitcoins, send them a cell in the USA. The cell member trades them with you for cash, and then uses the cash to buy bomb parts to blow up a building killing 100s of people.

Would you feel any remorse or would you just feel like it was nothing to do with you? And if you would feel remorseful do you feel that you have any obligation to inquiry before you buy the coins as to where they came from and how the owner got them?

I am not responsible for investigating the source of bitcoins. They are fungible. There are mixers. That makes it impossible to do. The fiat cash in your pocket has been used for multiple drug trades, prostitution, etc. Do you have a moral obligation to burn it? Would it change anything?

cbeast

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Let's talk governance, lipstick, and pigs.

That would be like asking a walmart clerk handing you change where they got that cash.

dave111223

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Activity: 1190

Merit: 1001

I'd be interested to hear how others feel on this topic.

Let's suppose someone offers to sell you some bitcoins at a good price, do you feel you have any obligation to know where the bitcoins came from?

For example let's say a terrorist group in the Middle East buys or mines bitcoins, send them a cell in the USA. The cell member trades them with you for cash, and then uses the cash to buy bomb parts to blow up a building killing 100s of people.

Would you feel any remorse or would you just feel like it was nothing to do with you? And if you would feel remorseful do you feel that you have any obligation to inquiry before you buy the coins as to where they came from and how the owner got them?

Topic: Moral Obligations of Bitcoin - page 2. (Read 2032 times)