Bitcoin Forum

I think the word "mining" does not really reflect the nature of the work. As we have moved to ASIC era, mining will become a more specialized activity and no longer a way to attract new users. To make it sounds more professional, I think we should rename it to "transaction validation"/"transaction processing", and miners to "transaction validators"/"transaction processors".

Any thought?

How about "mining?"

I concur

How about ''accountants''?

some have been proposing "auditing".

it seems to me that the term "mining" indeed has always been kind of unfortunate. It makes people suspicious ("what ?!? ??? free money with the graphics card ?!?? ???"), especially gold bugs ("that crap is not _real_ money !!!1!! and they say _mine_ it !!! like gold !!!1! ridiculous !!!1!").

something like "auditing" is much more neutral, and it's more intuitive to understand that users get rewarded for running hardware and software that is auditing transactions.

How about

http://riotandfrolic.typepad.com/.a/6a015431fc4e55970c017ee5e35b15970d-800wi

Hmm...

https://i.imgur.com/FAVyM.gif


Would this be better?

'Transaction validation/processing' may be more accurate, but it lacks the simple appeal of 'mining' imo. Renaming such a widely used term would be extremely difficult in any case.

Lets try a new name for Satoshi while we're at it....................Oh, and the BTC logo, we SOoo need to change that too.

Hashing?........What!?.  "Sorry, I don't do drugs"

Good approximation of a descriptor but the Scientology connotations...?

This person has a point....

Mike Hearn want's us to believe (http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=149668.msg1599676#msg1599676) it should be called "Heating, inefficient but with a few added benefits!"  :D

When talking to newbies I describe the network as a collection of independent auditors, who verify all the transactions in return for a small fee. Then later on I might use the word mining and compare it to gold/silver once they roughly understand the concept.

This really should be the go to phrase and way of introducing new people to mining, many say it and I agree that it's the easiest to grasp.

'Ok, that's good and all, but where do I get coins?'............From the independent auditors?

Currently there's still more than 10% inflation per year because of _mining_. Once this number falls below 1% or so, you might want to call it something else, but at the moment the main income of miners is creating NEW coins, not auditing transactions.

You miss what is important. Being allowed to issue coins does not matter to Bitcoin and with it alone Bitcoin fails miserably. It's the validating of transactions part which keeps Bitcoin functioning, the issuing of new bitcoins and fees are just the benefits.

Get someone to pay you for work.

Yeah makes perfect sense to give it a name we all know ahead of time will be antiquated, deprecated and require explanation about how it used to be forever and ever amen.

This.

On topic: the term has stuck whether you like it or not. In all likelihood it will change of its own accord once actual mining is virtually nonexistent. Until then, calling it something else is akin to vegans that refer to meat as "animal carcass" or the like-- I know what you're saying, but it mostly just makes you look pretentious.

"Mining" is actually a wonderful term. People immediately think about precious metals like gold. The word implies that anyone can get into the game, just grab a pick-axe and go! And it also implies some sort of reward. As far as marketing goes, "mining" is genius. Who cares if it's not technically accurate" The word encourages action.

"Auditing" is a term only an accountant would love. The negative connotations are severe (at least, here in the U.S.).

This, make my day  :D

How about Bitsharting?

Couching

mining is actually a term to make people immediately think about precious metals...

but its not a precious metal.
but its not a commodity (raw material) that can be used to make other products
but its not a element on the periodic table of elements
but its not a physical item you can hold.

so calling it mining is just to add speculated imaginary value by making people imagine gold.

its better to call it something that resembles what it actually is. so auditing is a closer term to use, as is
'vectoring' due to the use of the elliptic curve which is part of the bitcoin system.
'hashing' i would even say 'hashing analyst' but the noobs would be saying "oh look they said anal"

Mining is the outcome of securing the network.

I use either one of them depending on the context,  When explaining bitcoin as a whole I often use Securing.

People running clients are, relaying, storing, and validating block and transactions.  Is that accurate ?

It is.

Why not just call it "processing"?

Like this hypothetical statement: "I just got my ASIC bitcoin processor in the mail the other day, now it is processing away at 2 Ths. I like being a processor because it helps the network, plus I get the 25 bitcoin processing reward when I hit a block."

Seems to work for me, thoughts?

I was following alone with that thread the other day, it was pure comedy.

"Sorry dear, we can't heat the house today, the internet connection to the heater is down and it won't function without a line to the Bitcoin network. :)"

I agree.  I am fine with mining because it is so ingrained into bitcoin but while boring "transaction processing" fits the bill and gives no false illusions of easy profit. 

less then 1 GHash = prospecting

1 GHash - 999GHash = mining


1THash+ = strip mining

For an ordinary human being "mining" looks like "miners" talk to Satoshi's spirit asking for divine revelation called "nonce". "Mining" should be named "performing [of religious rites]".

securitization and its the real type not funny money banking type  ;)

I think if it is ever changed generating might be the most appropriate term? Doesn't bother me too much, what bothers me is when people try to invent their own numbers and math like with stupid crap like 'satoshis'.

How about "crafting"?

How about "digging it out of the digital underground"?

No, seriously, I think "mining" is quite a perfect metaphor and term.

It even communicates Bitcoin's characteristics as a quantitavely limited digital commodity through it's analogy to pm and it creates the association with "work to do".

And it is already established.

Joe

10 THash = thermonuclear mining