What do people around you think about Bitcoin ?

[Erkallys]

So, what do people around you (relatives, co-workers, co-ed, friends...) think about Bitcoin ? Please, indicate your country, so this way I'll be able to make a synthesis about what people think about Bitcoin.

For me : I come from France. My relatives think that it's criminals' tool and that since they can't touch money they don't trust it (note that those same persons are pro-banks, where you can't touch money). My friends think that it is useless and that it has no future. Both of them agree that scare them the most is the Bictoin's price volatibility.

So not so positive . I hope that you aren't in the same situation.

[jertsy]

I found computer illiterate members of the older generation of pensioners haven't heard about Bitcoin. The ones who refuse to go near a computer don't understand the concept when you try explaining it to them. They stop you half way through your explanation, ask "is it something to do with computers", then refuse to listen to any more of your explanation.

[rally]

I don't know. I never talk about it at my work.
Nobody has mentioned it as well.
I think most of the people i know, don't know the existance of bitcoin.

[ivanst776]

Around me people don't know much about bitcoin but those who know some of them think that bitcoin is illegal and some other think as an usual digital currency like others.

[Erkallys]

Thank you everyone for your answers. Please add the country you come from. Sadly it seems that your in the same situation as me ...

[richardsNY]

The people around me aren't really tech minded. They know about Bitcoin, but more the media version of it. It's quite difficult to convince them that the media is wrong.

[BellaBitBit]

People just don't seem to know and I don't talk about it much.  I asked one of my database developer friend in Seattle what he and his friends (20 and 30 somethings) thought about Bitcoin and he said he did not know about it and none of his friends had mentioned it.  I was surprised that among that age group, and in Seattle, that they were not privy to it.  I told him to do some research.  I just don't think many people know - which might be good news that the price is as high as it is with not much exposure.

[NorrisK]

I'm from The Netherlands and most people around me think they are too late to join the party and that all the gains have been made already.
Next, they keep asking me how it is doing when the price was dropping down from 1200, and after that they never mention it anymore.

[Erkallys]

The people around me aren't really tech minded. They know about Bitcoin, but more the media version of it. It's quite difficult to convince them that the media is wrong.

Ok, I understand. So, according to you, bad image of Bitcoin comes from the medias ? Where do you come from (New-York maybe ?) ? From a developped country I guess, to have your medias talking about it. Also it seems that Bitcoin si too "geeky" for common people.

People just don't seem to know and I don't talk about it much.  I asked one of my database developer friend in Seattle what he and his friends (20 and 30 somethings) thought about Bitcoin and he said he did not know about it and none of his friends had mentioned it.  I was surprised that among that age group, and in Seattle, that they were not privy to it.  I told him to do some research.  I just don't think many people know - which might be good news that the price is as high as it is with not much exposure.

Yeah, I think that major Bitcoin's lack is exposure. Unfortunatly, like richardsNY told it, most of the time, when medias talk about it, that's regarding to drug traffic or fraud ...

I'm from The Netherlands and most people around me think they are too late to join the party and that all the gains have been made already.
Next, they keep asking me how it is doing when the price was dropping down from 1200, and after that they never mention it anymore.

So it seems that people just care about making profit. I've never heard that "it was too late to join the party", interesting.

[okae]

mmm, mostly of them are just expectant, i mean they know im involved in this world but that's all, ofc that i already explained to most of them what is bitcoin ( well at least a simple introduction... if this can be simple ) but they continue to stay away from it.

Few of them already start to show some interest about bitcoin world and everytime i meet them we ended up talking about it

[richardsNY]

The people around me aren't really tech minded. They know about Bitcoin, but more the media version of it. It's quite difficult to convince them that the media is wrong.

Ok, I understand. So, according to you, bad image of Bitcoin comes from the medias ? Where do you come from (New-York maybe ?) ? From a developped country I guess, to have your medias talking about it. Also it seems that Bitcoin si too "geeky" for common people.

People just don't seem to know and I don't talk about it much.  I asked one of my database developer friend in Seattle what he and his friends (20 and 30 somethings) thought about Bitcoin and he said he did not know about it and none of his friends had mentioned it.  I was surprised that among that age group, and in Seattle, that they were not privy to it.  I told him to do some research.  I just don't think many people know - which might be good news that the price is as high as it is with not much exposure.

Yeah, I think that major Bitcoin's lack is exposure. Unfortunatly, like richardsNY told it, most of the time, when medias talk about it, that's regarding to drug traffic or fraud ...

I'm from The Netherlands and most people around me think they are too late to join the party and that all the gains have been made already.
Next, they keep asking me how it is doing when the price was dropping down from 1200, and after that they never mention it anymore.

So it seems that people just care about making profit. I've never heard that "it was too late to join the party", interesting.

Once the media start to cover Bitcoin related news, it always goes like this - Criminals use Bitcoin to extort companies, Bitcoin is the top currency for terrorists etc. They haven't said anything about the features that Bitcoin has that will benefit the people. According to them Bitcoin is the currency of criminals and terrorists only.

[Erkallys]

Once the media start to cover Bitcoin related news, it always goes like this - Criminals use Bitcoin to extort companies, Bitcoin is the top currency for terrorists etc. They haven't said anything about the features that Bitcoin has that will benefit the people. According to them Bitcoin is the currency of criminals and terrorists only.

Yeah, that's true. Also, don't forget that is used for money laundering ! Sadly they don't bring us some new members (this is a bit sectary to talk like this )...

[virtualx]

I have had mixed reactions. Some were very skeptical and wondering why they would need it. One claimed "it makes no sense" and  "value based on nothing". Others were positive  about it.

Everyone had opinions about it but no one knew what they wer talking about 

[ajareselde]

It's the same all over the world; people know and believe what they are told by the media headlines.
Most of my colleagues believe it's a scheme of sorts, and when you try to explain it to them, they either don't understand, or say something like : "If it's so good, why doesn't everybody use it, there has to a catch"
The problem is that average Joe doesn't even know basics of financial system, and therefore can't understand that it needs to change.

[Erkallys]

Thank you everyone to have replied me. Most of the time people are not aware of it or think that is a bad thing. This come from two reasons : medias are not pro-Bitcoin and Bitcoin si still too "geeky". Please guys, think about adding your country.

[yun9999]

I'm a newbie to Bitcoin.  Any good forum post to look at beside the 1 newbie post?

[eternalgloom]

I find it difficult to explain it to people in a simple way. So I think they are mostly confused about it.
Usually I just give up trying to explain all the technical aspects and say it's magic internet money

[Denker]

This is completely different and depends on who I'm talking to.
Guys who studied computer science mostly got it and can see the potential.But they are still heavily influenced by the media and aren't brave enough to buy.
Guys who have studied economics think it's a scam!
But most of them are just stupied.I mean they bearly have a clue how money really works.Isn't that disappointing?
This is like "you get teached what you have to know and that's it".Crazy!

[BellaBitBit]

Once the media start to cover Bitcoin related news, it always goes like this - Criminals use Bitcoin to extort companies, Bitcoin is the top currency for terrorists etc. They haven't said anything about the features that Bitcoin has that will benefit the people. According to them Bitcoin is the currency of criminals and terrorists only.

Yeah, that's true. Also, don't forget that is used for money laundering ! Sadly they don't bring us some new members (this is a bit sectary to talk like this )...

I think that if people take the time to research it more and discover the amazing things it can do for the world as far as currency, then they might jump on board.  Ironically my mom, who is in her 70s, is going to buy her first Bitcoin around Christmas.  She has listened to me about it for months and seems to grasp the possibilities.  She likes it!  But I am still surprised at my Seattle techie friends for not knowing anything about it.  

[OROBTC]

...

Just TWO people I personally know have expressed any interest in BTC (only one who actually has more than $5.00 worth).

USA.

My best guess why "my crowd" is not interested is that it is still too hard to use.  Most people I know are over 40 yrs old.  But even our daughter and her husband (29) show zero interest.

FWIW...