Encouraging people to adopt Bitcoin.

[acroman08]

i would, but the adoption of bitcoin will be
a long process, and many people will have
a second thought of using it.

[bryant.coleman]

I would support this but of course, change starts with yourself.
The only way the whole world will adapt to bitcoin is when bitcoin users are informing other people.

Easier said than done. With scams and wallet robberies occurring at such alarming frequencies, I find it increasingly difficult to convince ordinary people to use Bitcoins. When I started collecting the coins in 2012, it was not this difficult. But now it is getting a lot harder, especially with scandals such as the Mt Gox robbery and the Silk Road arrests.

[Snorek]

I would support this but of course, change starts with yourself.
The only way the whole world will adapt to bitcoin is when bitcoin users are informing other people.

Easier said than done. With scams and wallet robberies occurring at such alarming frequencies, I find it increasingly difficult to convince ordinary people to use Bitcoins. When I started collecting the coins in 2012, it was not this difficult. But now it is getting a lot harder, especially with scandals such as the Mt Gox robbery and the Silk Road arrests.

Bitcoin world is different, because everyone is master and commander here. You are in charge of your money, and no one is gonna help you when you fail.
That is the problem for the most people, as masses are used to having banks, financial institutions, payment processor which manage their money for customers.

[bryant.coleman]

Bitcoin world is different, because everyone is master and commander here. You are in charge of your money, and no one is gonna help you when you fail.
That is the problem for the most people, as masses are used to having banks, financial institutions, payment processor which manage their money for customers.

If everyone is tech savvy, then this wouldn't be a problem. But less than 1% or 2% of the world population possess sufficient technical knowledge to trade bitcoins and to hold them safely. In the near future, this percentage might rise to 3% or 4%, but even then they will constitute a small minority of the world population.

[HarryKPeters]

Bitcoin world is different, because everyone is master and commander here. You are in charge of your money, and no one is gonna help you when you fail.
That is the problem for the most people, as masses are used to having banks, financial institutions, payment processor which manage their money for customers.

If everyone is tech savvy, then this wouldn't be a problem. But less than 1% or 2% of the world population possess sufficient technical knowledge to trade bitcoins and to hold them safely. In the near future, this percentage might rise to 3% or 4%, but even then they will constitute a small minority of the world population.

The tech aspect is something that frightens many people to use it. they find the process of owning/spending bitcoins complicated. So yes in a way we should make it more simple. F.e. make it possible to sent to an e-mailadress or username.

[franky1]

Some very interesting points made here so far. I wasn't expecting much of a response to be honest but I'm glad to be wrong. I do agree that at this stage, encouragement generally needs to be directed at businesses. I would say that supermarkets might be a great place to start with that, considering what franky1 said.

In terms of explaining it to people, I have a few ideas on that. One of them is to give people paper wallets with $5-$20 worth on them. Then sit with them and walk them through several processes like making a purchase with bitcoin and how to transfer btc between accounts. Also explaining to them how everything works as they themselves are actually doing it. People like to have their hand held through new experiences. This method also takes away the risk people would see with using their own money, at least to start with.

Another way to educate people is to sit down with them and walk them through ways of acquiring bitcoin. Starting with faucets, which may be obvious to many, but most likely not newcomers. Then move on to other possibilities such as local trading (with advice on security of course) or buying through sites. I have a few in mind but don't want to name them for multiple reasons.

My idea of pitching it big is basically the fact that I, or someone else, would personally sit down with a person and take them through the various processes. The hands-on aspect is what makes it work.

As a side note, I, or someone else, could also walk them through how to tip with bitcoin. A learning experience that benefits both parties. Not a necessary part, but a possibility.

just giving someone $5-$10.. thats too much. make it $1 so they can buy a pepsi at the 7eleven (once you sort out retailer adoption first). also think about how you can make it easy for noobs to start using bitcoin without hand holding them for an hour, step by step..
after all 99% of apple users dont need hand holding to set up applepay

as for showing people how to earn it.. forget faucets.. thats like 5% of minimum wage.. plus telling the world about faucet giveaways actually ruins the perception of bitcoin.

imagine it.. you want to advertise dollars to europeans.. so you throw out a few american pennies on the roadside you see someone pick one up and then you tell them every 10 minutes you will throw another penny down, hoping they come back.. most will just walk on by others will pick it up, but not suddenly want to buy $400, or hang around 24/7 to make $1 mainly because they cant use the $ bank notes in european supermarkets, so its not worth their time.

instead look at all the businesses using bitcoin, everything from coinbase to overstock, etc.. look into the jobs those places are offering and get people real jobs earning bitcoin. along with helping new businesses accept bitcoin

otherwise you are just spending an hour of your own time handing out $10, to someone that will ultimately feel its like facebook credits that can be used on limited things.

[Monnt]

This whole forum is made to spread and discuss about bitcoin. Of course we'll all work toward a mass-adoption of bitcoin, it'll help us personally, too!

If there's anything you want us to help you with, maybe spread bitcoin to our friends, don't be afraid to ask us for help!

[n2004al]

I've been in and out of the Bitcoin scene since it's start. More and more, over the years, I've been overwhelmingly convinced that it is worthwhile. I believe there is a need to get more people to accept Bitcoin as something very real and useful. It will help with the growth of the community and help to insure the future use and growth of Bitcoin in general if we show people that they can be a part of it. I do not have the money to do something like this alone, but what I do have is passion, tenacity, and of course time. Personally, I see a huge opportunity here and hope others do to.

I wold suggest that you must give more detailed data about such important thing. Even if you will wanted some nuts everyone will thought twice before giving those. Not because of their cost but because don't see valid reason and argumentation to give those. And not when it is talked about money. You tell that have a long experience with bitcoin. Since its first day. And you are entered in its forum only two weeks ago. How is possible this? A first bitcoiner who join its forum after 6 years. Then at your third post in its forum you ask money. Another question-mark in the mind of everyone: without telling any word about bitcoin and giving any kind of data except the above three-four rows, ask money using the name of bitcoin?

If I would be a normal person, my thoughts about you (and this doesn't mean that can be true; would be only mine) would be that you are an impostor. Someone which make as its third post a post with four-five rows in which request to have money for something "big" which can be read in other tens of posts make before its enter in bitcointalk, cannot have other name.

But I am not normal. I am a strange person. So I don't think that you are an impostor. As a strange person I would advice you that, to ask money, needed more than your rows. Much, much more. Give a good detailed project and a very good plan about what you want to achieve and in which way (exactly and step by step) think to realize that. Then put all here in this thread or in a new one and then try to ask money. After reading those things all the strange people (because the normal ones wouldn't believe again you having this kind of experience before) can read what you have invented and, if will like it, maybe will give you the needed money. Or that they can.

I understand you completely and no offense taken. As I said, I've been in and out. I'm a very private person in general. I don't typically come to forums and voice my opinions, and this is the only forum I'm even part of. I'm not asking for money. I'm gauging interest in this and seeing what peoples' opinions are. As for a detailed plan, this is part of the process for building it. Everything has to start somewhere.

In your poll you ask if you would have support for that you want to do and in your post you tell to not have money to do alone that you want to do. As I wrote in my previous post EVERY normal people would understand this as a request for money. Only the strange people like me don't.  As such I have no doubts in your good intentions. But you most know (if you really don't know this) that what you want to do, is the most normal and common thing that needed to do regarding bitcoin. Known by everyone which is involved with it even within few days. And learn from the beginners as a first thing about it. So nothing special or new in your words or in your idea for which you want support (and according to normal people even money). If I would borrow the words of a very big writer I would tell: nothing new under our "bitcoin" sky.

Anyhow to many speaks and only few acts. The number of those who achieve that they want to realize with their projects is irrelevant. Maybe you are irrelevant. So go ahead, show to everyone that you are such kind of people and forget my posts. 

I wouldn't call you strange for your thinking or opinions. From my point of view, I think I'm mostly talking to people like you here. The fact that it is such a normal concept and talked about constantly only shows the further need for it. I'm not good at talking in general. You can look at that from many different angles. Most of my life I have had to accomplish everything alone, but ruminating on this for so long and seeing how big of an issue it is has made me realize that I need to ask for help to be able to be successful. I won't forget your posts either. Feel free to post more if you wish. You state valid points and give me insight. Thank you.

Good. I see that you have taken the good and the right meaning of my words. And this make me feel satisfaction. Even the fact that you have the courage to accept such kind of words and have reflections about those. This make me double happy because at least my words (that are only words and as such don't need to much or at all fatigue to  be made) had some value. Reading your answer and seeing that you in your life have made everything yourself, make me to be interesting in participating in your initiative. But the problem is that I have very few to offer. Mainly my words. I have not other important resources. Me too have build everything myself. I don't know about your results but mine can be considered sufficient only to maintain my family. My situation is another fact who justify my above posts about the need of a concrete project if you want really to have support. If you will present a good or, at least, a real project everyone can see when and where can help. And offer real support. If are offered only words by you (as it is) may be to many them who want to help and will offer their help but when the project will be ready and will be presented, many of those may not find themselves on it. In other words may see that the kind of help they can offer may not be necessary or may be not at all needed. Anyhow these are only (again) my words. You have yours. See and act as you will think is better according to you. You are the "owner", you will be even its implementator. 

[LuckyYOU]

This whole forum is made to spread and discuss about bitcoin. Of course we'll all work toward a mass-adoption of bitcoin, it'll help us personally, too!

If there's anything you want us to help you with, maybe spread bitcoin to our friends, don't be afraid to ask us for help!

That's why when I mention bitcoin to people around me, I also link them to some helpful sites where they can read it later in their own time if they are interested. Most do and some have joined this site as well but are just reading for now. There's some really helpful things you can find here if you know where to look and of course ignore the trolls.

[MaxTax]

general public right now no..

and here is the reasons.
to advertise to 7 billion people will cost millions
the average person wants to be able to buy toilet roll, cigarettes, alcohol, baked beans, electric, gas, rent. all of which bitcoin is not ready for
the average person would get too confused. not sure where to buy it and then not sure who to trust to use it with or what to spend it on.

bitcoin is still at the innovation stage and as such there should only be campaigns directed at businesses.. not the public(yet).
bitcoin will only be 'average joe' ready when its truly easier to use than fiat and just as usable as fiat for daily life stuff.. which you'll see if you put the bitcoins utopian concept aside and think about the reality of real life bitcoin use..

It doesn't have to cost millons to advertise, you could start with simple flyers, spreading it around with the official bitcoin site on it. I do a bit of my own advetising by talking about it to people around me. Whenever they ask me how I make money and such, I mention bitcoin.

[tom555]

I've been in and out of the Bitcoin scene since it's start. More and more, over the years, I've been overwhelmingly convinced that it is worthwhile. I believe there is a need to get more people to accept Bitcoin as something very real and useful. It will help with the growth of the community and help to insure the future use and growth of Bitcoin in general if we show people that they can be a part of it. I do not have the money to do something like this alone, but what I do have is passion, tenacity, and of course time. Personally, I see a huge opportunity here and hope others do to.

yes of course i would ecourage people to adopt bitcoin,or at least i introduce bitcoin to new people i know.
everywhere i go,i always ask to new people about bitcoin,and almost all of them dont know what is bitcoin,and there i start to explain about bitcoin.

[thejaytiesto]

I would support this but of course, change starts with yourself.
The only way the whole world will adapt to bitcoin is when bitcoin users are informing other people.

Easier said than done. With scams and wallet robberies occurring at such alarming frequencies, I find it increasingly difficult to convince ordinary people to use Bitcoins. When I started collecting the coins in 2012, it was not this difficult. But now it is getting a lot harder, especially with scandals such as the Mt Gox robbery and the Silk Road arrests.

I think it's too early to talk to ordinary people about Bitcoin. The whole things to become more user friendly, and safe devices to store coins need to be developed (a computer with Windows 10 which is what most people use out there is definitely not safe for Bitcoin and not viable long term).

[Mr. Forum]

It all begins with me and you. If at all we want to have this bitcoin thing get rooted among the people around us, then we should take each opportunity we get to share the benefits of the coins and how people can easily trade. Just offering to help the new users through a few frist steps is the best thing you can do. have your friends, family and even workmates get to know about the bitcoins and  try to explain to them what they have been missing. People find it easy to here from the people around them to believe.

[DrxGxr]

no i don't think so . why ? let me explain there are too man cowboys in the crypto world that can and do cause serious damage to the trust and value of crypto. too many negatives outweigh the positive to many untrustworthy people running  exchanges and think they can do what ever they like with other peoples money. i see no future in crypto has it stands looking like a cowboy show . so why should involve the general public get involved with this ? so they can loose their hard earned money to some junky hiding behind a computer screen claiming to be a exchange. so if you ask me what i think would happen based on this the banks will copy the technology to suit themselves and business will carry on has usual. when that time comes you should all look back and think to yourselves what really killed bitcoin/crypto. you had your chance and you are blowing it big time. so i don't think you want to get the general public involved in this fiasco just yet unless you want them to consider it has a joke. 

[goosoodude]

Right now there is no need for the general population to use Bitcoin, especially as it's not easier and in some cases costlier to use. I can't even recommend others to save it as investment as the value may change quickly in the wrong direction.

Bitcoin came about as a result of the banking crisis. When the next one comes we will see true adoption.

[freedomgo]

I tried to promote bitcoin with my friends. I told them that I would send them 0.01 bitcoin each. Nobody was interested.

[ReigningPigs]

This is probably the thousandth thread on encouraging Bitcoin adoption lol.
When it comes to Bitcoin adoption, I think the best thing that can be done is education, because if you walk up to someone on the street right now and ask them about Bitcoin, they will not have the slightest idea what Bitcoin is. People need to be educated on Bitcoin and that will encourage adoption, start by posting the "What is Bitcoin" video on your Facebook wall. Tipping can also help.

[n691309]

Yes of course (like 95% others), why not promoting a coin which i believe that will be very successful in the near future.

[Mickeyb]

Bitcoin adoption is going just fine and as it's supposed to if you are asking me. Spending all bunch of money on advertising isn't an answer either especially since this money can be spent elsewhere on development, etc.

People don't realize how hard and difficult process is to change people's habits when it comes to money and to do what we are doing at the moment, introducing a first trustless truly decentralized money.


Patience people, patience!

[knowhow]

Bitcoin must be showed as the revolution to earn an income online ,before bitcoin we were able to make something like 0.20dollars daily with ptc and some surfs websites,meaning something around 10 or 20 dollars montly revenue,doing solo.Bitcoin offers to those who has no skills a easy way to get a bigger income,nowadays im making those money weekly ,bitcoin open several doors and allowed all to earn something that can pay the internet cost and have fun at computer.
Besides this i understand faucets shows a bad way about bitcoin,dropping some pennies ,but well there are people who dont speak english or dont know there is a free way to earn bitcoin without skills,i were introduced to bitcoin with faucets i were very happy when i got 50k satoshis into my blockhain.I hade then done my own research to know more about it and what it were,i found this forum and well since then im making an extra income as the most here.