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.
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.
