The Bitcoin community is doing a good job of selling Bitcoin using rational arguments.
Unfortunately, I don't believe rational arguments are going to convince non-technophiles and non-libertarians (the majority of the population).
My experience so far: When I try to explain the benefits of Bitcoin to friends and relatives, in the majority of cases I get a strong negative emotional response.
This response is almost automatic, knee-jerk like. There seems to be something at the very core of Bitcoin that bothers "normal" people, something irrational (when I ask them to be specific about their objections, they become irritated or change the subject).
When I try a rational response, it doesn't work. Even if the rational part of their brain agrees with me.
I think we need some snappy emotional counter-arguments that we can throw at people pre-emptively.
So here are some emotional objections I've heard:
* Scam!
* Ponzi scheme!
* Name calling. (You are an idiot for falling for something like this! ; Another one of your harebrained Utopian ideas! ; You are clueless because you are no banker!)
* Proof of work is a waste of energy!
* If there is no guarantee, it must be worthless!
* If I can't touch it with my hands, it must be worthless!
* Economic inequality is unfair! Everybody should be issued an equal amount of BTC!
* OMG Deflation! Bad!
* No regulation against speculators? I lost half of my pension because of those bastards!
* Nobody in charge? That's anarchy! Nothing ever succeeds without a strong leader!
* Money Laundering! Kiddie Porn! Gambling! Drugs! Terrorism!
* I hate tax evaders!
* Capitalism/money is evil!
Yup, it can be tough to convince them. I normally point to the uses cases, not only of Bitcoin, but cryptos in general. E.g. if someone likes racing, I would point them to CryptoCarz and so forth.
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