Bitcoin Forum

Today I had an opportunity in engaging with some youths, Immediately after Church service, discussing the future of Bitcoin, Their knowledge so far, And what their expectations are.

After long discussion, I found out that a lot of misinformation has be spread to those young lads about Bitcoin, How violating it is, how it can rekt someone, and lot more

Based on the conversation, I found out that the biggest challenge currently within Bitcoin adoption in those Communities is trust issues, It's extremely difficult and hard for people to agree and come to term with anything that has to do with Bitcoin most especially as a result of those government approved school scheme for sensitization about the danger of digital currencies, Thereby corrupting the minds of those young ones

What do you think one can do, to educate those young ones, And drive the point that with all honestly, Bitcoin isn't as bad as they think it is?

I see this kind of not really understanding the trust aspect here. Why trust? You didn't need to do any adopting seminar for bitcoin. The global economy is having need for digital marketing system.


They probably have issue with networking and other aspect of getting rich quick.


Nothing. Absolute nothing. What do you even need to convince someone about bitcoin ?


How do you mean bad ?  :o



What are the dangers?

You have to know how to send coin and receive. You send to a wrong wallet and you lose your coin. Buy in a scam exchange you are scammed.

Have a dialogue with them. There aren't lots of things to do. Essentially what you're asking is: how can I make a conversation with a biased person? Apparently, by doing it. Explain them the FUDs, counter-argue to energy waste, criminal activity, mining pool oligopoly, ponzi scheme narrative etc.

End the FUD (https://endthefud.org/).

Those who are flexible and sharp enough will come through after sometime. The rigid ones will take a lot of convincing before changing their beliefs but don't waste a lot of time trying to convince those who don't want to change.

Most people believe by seeing, perhaps you try to demonstrate them how Bitcoin works through a live transaction showing them how Bitcoin's transactions are boarderless with little transaction fees used.
Also present to the Bitcoin's market data so that they have an idea how far Bitcoin has come.

It can really rekt someone if he's versed into investing and holding bitcoin. Because, that newbie can be scammed if he has no idea of those existing and rotating scams.

Next, they can be a victim of phishing links for which they will enter their private keys voluntarily into thinking that they're on the right app or wallet they've downloaded.

Lastly, if they don't understand volatility and will make them panic during the corrections.

Bitcoin isn’t bad at all. There has been a misconception that bitcoin is a ponzi scheme, it’s one that hasn’t faded because scammers leverage on it. People that say they do not trust bitcoin simply do not understand how the blockchain works. And I think you should start from there, if they understand the nature of bitcoin and how transparent bitcoin transactions are on the blockchain I’m sure they would see things differently.

One solid argument, is that BTC has been running for more than 13 years without any major downtime. Banks and other payments solutions, experience downtime few times a year. Just shows how reliable is BTC

If by "digital currencies" they mean altcoins, that's the absolutely right stance, they are dangerous investment scams. You need to tell people that Bitcoin and altcoins are fundamentally different - altcoins are poor copies of Bitcoin that exist only to enrich the developers, while Bitcoin is a legitimate open-source project.

And people should be aware of dangers of using Bitcoin to avoid doing expensive mistakes and getting negative experience that would turn them away from Bitcoin. So you shouldn't out right dismiss concerns but explain how Bitcoin has both positive and negative sides.

Different people have a different approaches to Bitcoin on how it'll work, in fact, there are some governments that are already making it legal tender.
Might you'll agree once you understand the usage of this technology behind and how useful it is as a digital currency or most especially if you'll show the Whitepaper on Bitcoin which is the goal of why it was created.

Trust issue has been always there when didn't fully understand it, it makes them confused because a lot of news spread that there are a lot of scams in "cryptocurrency" which is speaking of in general, I mean including altcoins.  But Bitcoin alone, it's trusted by the community.

The reason why many communities still doubt with Bitcoin and has a trust issues because the country ban Bitcoin or they're a Muslim who say Bitcoin is Haram. If you live in where Bitcoin wasn't banned and most of the people aren't Muslim, then another reason they're scared of the volatility and don't have physical appearance. It's hard to educate them, personally I will wait until they have a problem at bank aka third parties. You can offer Bitcoin advantage that doesn't rely on third parties to solve their problem.

Let me share my experience. In my country or community. People still don't know about Bitcoin. And Bitcoin Adoption is mush away from their lives. Mostly are youths. And they didn't know about Bitcoin. Know only paper money.

Whenever we talk about digital/crypto currency they just look at our face. And just ask what are you talking about. ;)

Do you live in an environment where the use or possession of bitcoin is prohibited?
if the educational environment provides knowledge regarding the dangers of using digital currencies such as Bitcoin. shouldn't they also provide knowledge regarding the benefits as well.

there is no problem to provide knowledge regarding the real dangers of digital currency. it will actually be good for those who are new to it. it will be even more dangerous if there is a large development of bitcoin adoption without them knowing the risks of what they are doing.
the problem of misunderstanding, I guess it will gradually begin to erode.

Government-sponsored schools and educational programs never have led to anything good: only indoctrinated and very narrow thinking, which makes people more susceptible to propaganda and prevents them from thinking critically and rationally. Homeschooling is the answer to this flawed 'traditional' form of education. With your trained ability to search for and filter the information about bitcoin and all related stuff, it is quite possible to give people around you education of high quality, education which will be free of misconceptions, government narratives, FUD, and other drawbacks which otherwise may corrupt immature minds. Do not be afraid of being a tutor for your kids: there are many sources on the Internet nowadays which can be used to consume educational information of high quality: YouTube is one of them, where thousands of videos about different topics can compete even with high-quality books. Don't underestimate books, though. If written by people who are able to think critically, they may help to understand some nuances of the cryptocurrency world, even better than visualizations like guides on video platforms.

So let it go, there's no point in arguing with the opponent. Their misunderstanding will be difficult to break even if they agree on some point, in the end they convey in the wrong way about our understanding to others. I am only willing to teach people who tend to be neutral and curious, because they will of course empty their cup first.
Regarding the adoption of bitcoin, of course the government will not reveal the shortcomings of fiat to the public unless it comes from self-awareness of the concept of fiat. The government has already tried to build pro fiat trust long before bitcoin was introduced which is the basis of people's trust in general. To introduce the new system to them, at least not insulting the existing system to be more easily accepted.

Set aside Bitcoin, the actual problem is the education system that let those people merely and willingly grasp anything that authorities or governments told them without self-reflecting what it actually means. Rather than solely focusing on bitcoin topics, guiding them to comprehend critical thinking is way more essential, it's not mainly to fix the bitcoin misinformation. Well, actually, if you teach well enough, you can use bitcoin misinformation as an example.

But my point is, try to solve the actual root of the problems.

Tell them legit information about bitcoin, if they will try to oppose it, then I think you can’t do anything about it anymore. Learning is best done when there is willingness, but if they keep on believing that bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme, bitcoin is not legit, then leave them on that. It’s not the loss of bitcoin actually nor the bitcoin community, biased persons will always seen regretting in the end.

Yes because everyone wants to be risk free and no one want to fall the hand of scam the second time anymore, so if you must teach them indeed, then know that there's a little task ahead of you to get them acquire the knowledge about bitcoin and know also the possible risk that may be involved, this will make you also be safe as well from being accused on a later day should in case they anything happens.

It is never the fault because a lot of them join the crypto scheme with the hope that once they invested in Bitcoin their investment will rise. I also once speak with an old friend he's talking about buying a car and I told him that's not an investment and that instead of him buying a car now if he invests the fund in BTC he will thank me when the 4years circle of BTC is achieved.
He told me he knew about BTC and he once invested in it but make lost, I ask him what really happened. He explained everything to me and I see that a lot of newbies always panic sell when their investment in BTC is experiencing a downtrend because they don't understand the market volatility and the potential of the 4 years cycle.

Well people who have trust/risk concern issues haven't done their own research, they only rely on the negative information and propaganda highlighted in the media and by the Government about Bitcoin. People do not have to agree/trust what other people say about Bitcoin, the network is open source and decentralized, they can verify whatever and also be a part of the network. what is required of them is to do their own research, they can't have trust/risk concern issues when they don't even understand a thing about the network.

That's a fact, we can find many people disinformation about Bitcoin in society, moreover for those who believe in one-sided media sources. However we explain to them, this will not affect how they are thinking because they seem to like getting a mindset and the doctrine that Bitcoin is not something to be approached, Bitcoin is a fraudulent investment, a Ponzi scheme, related to terrorism and crime, gambling, and so on. This thought seems quite difficult to erase in society although we have explained it exactly, although we have suggested they take Bitcoin from several sources, they will only believe in one source that they trust most.

Although we can also find some people being open-minded about this and then can understand what Bitcoin is, We also find this in society. But, this is quite small compared to those who are opposite to Bitcoin. I don't know about other countries, but this is what's happening around my environment and areas.

This is not an easy task as it may end up like the crowd versus you. However, if you can manage to start a dialogue between them and would be given a chance to tell about your stand on bitcoin, then always tell the facts provided with some proofs and evidences. If they are intelligent enough and open minded, they can correct their mistakes and shift their perception about bitcoin. But if some end up doubted you, then better to leave them on what they believe. When bitcoin becomes a global currency hopefully, that’s the time they will start to realize that bitcoin isn’t scam at all.

I agree with your statement that the hindrance towards a widescale development of cryptocurrencies is its negative view depicted in the media. There seems to be a stigma whenever a person hears or sees cryptocurrencies. This is so because various media outlets only portray negative experiences of people about their investment in BTC. That is the reason on why its adoption in some countries are prohibited and some people refuse to at least attempt to invest on it.

The only solution to this problem is to counter what the media is trying to portray it. Fortunately, lots of big businesses have started to accept BTC as an alternative mode of payment. Not to mention, some countries have also started to use BTC as their legal tender (El Salvador). All of these contribute towards the overall contribution of its positive outlook in the market.

I hope the discussion topic wasn't CRYPTO. When you said that to people, they don't usually know the difference between altcoins and Bitcoin and from that, they are actually right about what is even happening right now in the markets. Altcoins will get you rekt and what painful the most is that most of them hardly bounce back after their crash, only bitcoin has been the survival of all and it pains me that Bitcoin is always dragged along for these silly mistakes by altcoin projects.

As a pro bitcoiner who can differentiate between wrong and right, it is your responsibility to guide them, tell them the intellectual and values of bitcoin, the importance of bitcoin, what good bitcoin has done in the past and what it will do tomorrow as a decentralized asset

If they are always given information about the Dangers of Cryptocurrencies, then someone needs to provide knowledge about the advantages of cryptocurrencies. Of course, they will also understand how crypto can develop and provide many benefits for them now and in the future. Now that bitcoin adoption is starting to grow, you might be able to give a clear picture of the mass adoption happening so that they have an idea of ​​what bitcoin or cryptocurrency really is. Young people will certainly think critically about the dangers and advantages of cryptocurrencies. it's just like a knife that can hurt and can be used for something more useful.

Actually from the two you listed above, there is no minformation in them. If they are told that bitcoin is volatile, of a truth, bitcoin is volatile there is no doubt about that. The other opinion is that bitcoin can rake someone.
This is truth because when you don't monitor your portfolio and enter the market at the wrong time your portfolio can go to zero.

So, there's no minformation, it is truth told in wrong way. When you meet such situations, don't try to debate in favour of bitcoin. But tell them the truth as it is supposed to be and allow them make their decisions.

If teaching children about bitcoin adoption, it is a bit difficult in my experience, because children tend to not understand, and don't really care about finances.

but if you want to be taught, maybe the first thing to teach is to save money first, from the rest of their allowance, even though little by little they collect money, but that's a good thing.

after being able to raise money, then introduce them to crypto, and invest.
and guide investing using the proceeds
savings, and don't forget to teach about the risks of investing in crypto.

I'm sorry but I do not agree with you, Children seems to learn faster than the adults, the brain is extra ordinary sharp, whatever they learnt at a tender age, stays completely with them, so a thousand times I disagree that Children don't seems to understand

Ask them a direct and precise question about what is troubling them about bitcoin the currency or Bitcoin the network. Then listen for their answers. If you recognize misinformation, correct it and explain why the opinion they have is wrong. Offer examples and supporting arguments to show them the truth. You are going to have to be prepared well. If you think you can do that, good. If you don't believe you have the needed knowledge, you could just make things worse and distance them further away from Bitcoin if they win those oral arguments.   

We may have a hard time teaching them but they're teachable and easy to absorb new information that's being told to them. I can attest to that because I've seen younger kids this day and you teach them the new technology and they will respond so easily as if they're no longer a newbie about it. And as it goes on, relating it to finances, I find much younger age today that are now starting to give importance to relation to money because of how we have dealt with the pandemic and crises that have happened within the short span of a couple of years.

Currently, due to the FTX saga, there is a lot of bad news in the media about crypto and this affects the public's perception of crypto.
When I talk to people about crypto most are negative and when I ask them why it's usually because of something they read in the media.
When people do not understand the subject, they usually believe what they hear or read in the media.
Obviously, meetings should be organized with journalists and they should be educated about crypto, so that they can understand the topic and write their articles based on the right information.
Crypto associations, companies and organizations should initiate this process and help journalists write better and more objective articles about crypto.

I agreed with you on this on this, Nevertheless the people I'm referring to here, ain't even Children they're growth adult of above 20+, and the mindset of Children not understanding things fast needs to be corrected and resshape, my uncle's son who's always sitting with me most of the time, has so much knowledge about Bitcoin and crypto in general already, sometimes I feels he's now wiser than I am, sometimes he seats in the seating room watching YouTube videos of Bitcoin analysis, this is a child of just 10 years, yet when he talks about Bitcoin, he speaks wisdom like an adult, why because of the lessons he's learnt over the period on YouTube.

You didn't say where you are from and which government you are talking about precisely but if your government teaches to people, and especially to children that Bitcoin is a risky asset, "violent" as you say, that can rekt investors it is telling the truth unfortunately. Because it's a good thing to use Bitcoin, but not a good one to invest into it while thinking it's as safe as gold. Layman investors must be cautious about it.

Start an interesting conversation that will correct all their wrong information about bitcoin. Trace the history and share them it’s proven and trusted journey throughout the years. If they are smart enough, they can easily accept the truth about bitcoin and change their corrupt minds. However, expect that not all of them will believe on you, and it’s not your problem anymore, leave those minds that refuse to accept the reality about bitcoin.

I don't think making a case out of someone contemplating a decision to abide by a certain new rule book, should be debatable. Probably a certain previous experience or tale of similar experiences has contributed to forming the ideology of survival they have lived on for sometime now.
Bitcoin adoption trust issues is rare these days or maybe I haven't heard cases of such occurrence lately. Everyone these days, due to recession have had to find a sure way upgrade income, and bitcoin over the years until now has gained traction. The ads and peer to peer discussion, including interviews and papers/magazine that has been aired on TVs and made accessible to public, is more than enough to clear someone's phobia or a second thought kind of moment on this subject matter.

Bitcoin adoption is a gradually process that will take over the world economy sooner or later, as long the community is continues growing and it keep spreading across the globe, which many institute has to do some part as a part of learning curriculum handout.

I have also experienced what you feel when you tell other people about Bitcoin and to be honest it is difficult for us to change their view of bitcoin when the majority of governments still prohibit it.
imo the best way to change their view is you have to show them what you have got while in the crypto ecosystem, many people only see real results rather than words.

It is a pity that they are taking Bitcoin to be altcoin and you should guide them through by taking your time to analyze the benefits of Bitcoin and its value over other altcoins. I have seen a situation whereby I was telling a friend of mine about bitcoin and he was telling me that Bitcoin will not be most valuable coin that a shitcoin which he is mining is better that Bitcoin.

I tried to make him see reasons with me but he was not ready to listen to me instead he said I should continue with bitcoin  while he will keep mining his shitcoin that he believes someday the value of his altcoin will rise. There was nothing I could do about it so I let go of the argument. The problem with these people is that they lack the simple understanding of Bitcoin and don't want to listen or learn about its concept.

Say something true to those who believe, meaning you don't have to force them to believe what you say about bitcoin if bitcoin isn't for them and they don't like bitcoin. Bitcoin is built on the trust of its community, so don't teach them about bitcoin and something they don't want to believe.

Gold investor may not easily believe that bitcoin is better than gold, safer, easier to verify, and easier to transfer. So leave them with their own trust about the assets they believe in and teach those who do believe about bitcoin.