Bitcoin Forum

The Jerusalem Post: Virtual terror finance
http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=310318 (http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=310318)

LIGNET: Bitcoin Virtual Money Opens Door for Terror Finance
http://tinyurl.com/d2urh4z (http://tinyurl.com/d2urh4z)

This thread is to discuss the impact of headlines like these on bitcoin and what could be done about it, without political thread-derailment. Please try to keep political NPOV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view) in this thread and try to avoid cheerleading or denouncing any particular state, government or political group.

The unmoderated thread is here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=180537.0 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=180537.0)

What can we do, as individuals to promote btc? Or at least present the positive possibilities,
Wouldn't it be so grreat if when people save for retirement, that the money they put aside 20 years ago actually could buy more goods and services later instead of half as much or even less.
Without them having to risk it in stocks or other risk assets, just try to prevent inflation eating it up.

I don't believe people are as influenced by the media as they were before the Internet, so it's hard to peg exactly how people will feel about Bitcoin and how easily they'll be swayed into not using it.  In countries where the Internet is censored, I feel they'll have a harder time with mass adoption than would a society with open Internet.

For myself, whenever I read something in the MSM, I figure that the opposite is likely true, or that such a large part has been omitted as to make the story nothing more than a jump point to figure out what is actually happening. Perhaps I'm a tad cynical...

However, I know a lot of people that believe that if it's in the news, it must be true.

In the short term, I think hit pieces will have a negative effect on bitcoin adoption. However, I don't think that they can stem the tide forever. Eventually people will catch on.

One only needs to look at how the pundits never seem to be able to predict anything useful to see that they're just full of BS. Where were they in predicting the dot-com bubble or the sub-prime mortgage crisis? Hmmm... I suppose their records speak for themselves.

Keep in mind that the lone voice that predicted the sub-prime crisis was ridiculed and dismissed as being a kook.

So, while people may swallow these kinds of headlines right now, they won't forever. Reality will reveal the pundits scare tactics for what they are - eventually. When? Dunno. But it will come to light at some point.

Another article: How FBI Entrapment Is Inventing 'Terrorists' - and Letting Bad Guys Off the Hook

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/how-fbi-entrapment-is-inventing-terrorists-and-letting-bad-guys-off-the-hook-20120515 (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/how-fbi-entrapment-is-inventing-terrorists-and-letting-bad-guys-off-the-hook-20120515)

That is genius.

One thing is to get rid of the bottlenecks that currently hold bitcoin back. Centralized markets and exchanges do not represent a good support for something that was created as decentralized.

Having 76 to 80 percent of all the bitcoin buying and selling going through the hands of one web site is not the right way to be.

I think the Bitcoin ATM is a great way to achieve this goal. Any ideas on the price and availability?

The BTC ATM would definitely improve availability.  Unfortunately, it's going to be attached to the Gox price, further increasing the centralization of the price of Bitcoin.

I'm not sure; I've seen a few more exchanges open recently, but everyone still flocks to the Gox.  How do we stop them?  If they'd hurry up and shut down operation in the US, the transition would finally happen.