I've learned to always steer the discussions not towards bringing down the status quo (most people don't want that), but instead towards the technological revolution that Bitcoin represents, with these two points:
- For the first time ever, you can send money to ANYONE ANYWHERE in the world INSTANTLY and for FREE.
- For the first time ever, you can use a digital cash equivalent. Previously, every transaction had to go through a bank or other central entity, but now, you can send money digitally without a bank or any other entity having to clear or deal with your transaction, or take transaction fees from it.
Those are both points that most people can relate to. Those showcase why Bitcoin is so much better than the current systems. Stay out of the anti-government, anarchist viewpoints, because most people (myself included, I'll admit) don't want that to happen.
Good points. I think I served him (the dev) those points as well, but our conversation turned more into him defending the status quo, and he used a lot of arguments that I don't think holds water, and sadly, when people use arguments like that, I'm starting to think there's no point of discussing with them.
Also, it was never my point to 'convert' him. I wanted to mention bitcoin, because as a fellow tech person, he might see the potential for it and drive to dive a little bit into it, without going to a complete fight and using lot's or arguments that's right out from negative articles from the mass media.
Anyway, Bitcoin will succeed or not succeed on it's own merits. Those who are now using the argument: "But it's not main stream", will start using Bitcon when it becomes mainstream, because then it's mainstream... doh..
I read somewhere a quote that most people will not believe something can happen until it has happened. That's human nature. Resistance to change is also human nature.
First, when I heard about bitcoin, I was also sceptical, but I used a week for research (reading whitepaper, downloading the source, gawking over it, trying out the client, visiting the forums, going onto irc and so on ) and I came to the realization that this can be something really great in the future, and that I want to be a part of it.
Sure, it's still small, but it has grown, and everything big started small at one point. Many people would laugh at someone starting in their garage and saying they want to change the world, but it has happened, and it will happen again.
We need the dreamers and the visionaries to propell the world forward, and to make a better world. If everyone just were concerned with the status quo, we would never have any progress.
I love people with an open mind. Of course it's important to be sceptical, and do research, but so many people are negative to bitcoin without actually understanding it. I look at that as lack of intelligence, or lazyness. At least, do an honest effort in understanding the technology, and what impact it can have on society, and then please give me your opinion.
This is technology, logics and facts, and of course there can be subjective opinions, but the nice thing about mathematics and science is that it's cold facts, there's no room for interpretation. The source is available for anyone to read and thinker with.
And as for coders, these come in many sizes and shapes. They're not all alike!
