Roger Ver and Jon Matonis pushed aside now that Bitcoin is becoming mainstream

[2weiX]

Roger Ver and Erik Voorhees, are the only people that can defend and show there passion for bitcoin at the same time. That is what we need in the press. They both kill it every interview, and really can explain bitcoin to the people that are techies correctly and to regular people. Yet both of them are not on the list. This is why the foundation is horrible, the best speakers aren't even ON THE PRESS LIST. Come on!!!! You have people that can't even speak on there but yet people who are amazing bitcoiners, they don't even make it. I am sorry but this is why the foundation is a useless, entity in the community and Gavin should be ashamed every time he get a pay check.

+1

[cypherdoc]

Roger Ver and Erik Voorhees, are the only people that can defend and show there passion for bitcoin at the same time. That is what we need in the press. They both kill it every interview, and really can explain bitcoin to the people that are techies correctly and to regular people. Yet both of them are not on the list. This is why the foundation is horrible, the best speakers aren't even ON THE PRESS LIST. Come on!!!! You have people that can't even speak on there but yet people who are amazing bitcoiners, they don't even make it. I am sorry but this is why the foundation is a useless, entity in the community and Gavin should be ashamed every time he get a pay check.

+1

Don't blame the foundation.

It's garzik, gmax, Luke, and saivann.

[charleshoskinson]

garzik, gmax, Luke, and savanna.

There is no one to blame just a fundamental difference in opinion. If it continues, then a fork will occur and we will let the market sort it out.

[abbyd]

if you don't like it... fork.

Don't you mean fork off?  JOKE PEOPLE.  For god's sake people stop this trollwar about press reps.

The real war about regulation will start when:
a few top bitcoin devs are quietly asked to make tools that track bitcoin users...
probably not that hard to do (heck, GPL it for all I care)...
and then those tools are used in the first litigations...

There might be some justifications: "because child porn"...
...but ultimately it could end in tears on either side of the fence.

[caveden]

Whose idea was it, for a start? Seriously, who thought that putting a small list of people on bitcoin.org as "press contacts" would be a good idea?

Just remove this damn list from bitcoin.org for fuck sake!

It should have never been created in the first place. Journalists seeking for information should keep doing what they used to do: contacting people like those in the Bitcoin Magazine, in the Bitcoin Foundation, or individuals like Voorhees, Ver and Matonis.

Bitcoin.org should be as neutral as possible. Just expose the technology, that's all. Matonis, Ver and Voorhees are obviously perfect for PR, have been doing it greatly so far. The simple fact that they are not on this list shows how biased the list is. And IMHO bicoin.org should do the most it can to be as unbiased as possible. So, just remove the damn list.


Actually, where is sirius? Is he really OK with this? Does he really believe that Satoshi left him the domain so it could be used like that?

[caveden]

Don't blame the foundation.

It's garzik, gmax, Luke, and saivann.

And they have absolute control over it or what? Why can't all other developers simply "band up" and remove this trouble from bitcoin.org? Why can't sirius do it? I thought he controlled bitcoin.org.

[RodeoX]

I have not forgotten. In fact I see more Of Jon's work than ever.

[Arto]

Actually, where is sirius? Is he really OK with this? Does he really believe that Satoshi left him the domain so it could be used like that?

Sirius can be contacted via the forum's private messaging feature. Thus far, though, it appears that he remains unaware of the present situation.

[Monster Tent]

Why would such hardened statists insert themselves into such an anarchistic project ?  They really dont like you nor understand the word NO just like every other agent of the beast. Why would you say no to your own enslavement they have cookies.

[cypherdoc]

From Jon's latest article :

"The powerful Bitcoin open-source development funnel will begin to suck in greater and greater talent driving applications that will have the broadest overall impact in the payments sphere."

I think we need to be open to the fact that this could mean new core developers as well besides Gavin. Is it likely that we got the perfect set right off the bat?

http://www.americanbanker.com/bankthink/the-elephant-in-the-payments-room-bitcoin-1058703-1.html?zkPrintable=1&nopagination=1

[marcus_of_augustus]

A video clip just came out about the upcoming Bitcoin documentary. Trace Meyer says Silk Road will contribute to a more peaceful world. He is probably correct but that will be seen as extremely radical just like the things Matonis writes about. This is why this exercise is a waste of time. the free market will take care of itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW42PeZVzJc

This is an excellent point refuting the complete basis for excluding Matonis and Ver based on their "radical" postions and highlighting a source of a lot of the consternation on both sides.

The simple fact is BITCOIN IS A RADICAL TECHNOLOGY.

It is impossible to have any spokeperson representing bitcoin and NOT be radical. Excluding bitcoin experts because they were perceived as being radical under the old paradigm is to ignore that these people were leading the charge precisely because they were radical thinkers and therefore early adopters of the new technology. Who better than such people as the spokespersons since these guys are the leading thinkers by definition?

tl;dr

"When things get weird, the weird turn pro!" - Hunter S. Thompson

Unleash the the pros, please.

[Dusty]

[...]
Chamath was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in Canada, and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Please do not put him on the PR page.  God forbid we have this type of megasuccessful, megasmart person with an impeccable CV representing Bitcoin, spreading the news to people living under economic dictatorships the extremist idea that Bitcoin can make their miserable lives better.  Too political!

I LOLled hard

[aantonop]

bitcoinpresscenter.org, a redesigned fork of the press center, inclusive policy, will launch before monday

[sirius]

I agree it's unjust to hand-pick a small group of "bitcoin representatives" for the press page. The bitcoin-press mailing list is not very democratic or transparent either. I vote for removing it.

How about replacing the interviewee list with a link to the wiki? A wiki page where we can add all volunteers who meet some notability requirements. There should be a short description of the contact's association with bitcoin and a couple links from previous interviews.

Linking the press page to https://bitcoinfoundation.org/contact seems reasonable too.

"Pictures" and "Quotes" sections could be moved to the wiki. "Press coverage" is rather harmless, but maybe unnecessary - reporters shouldn't need help finding bitcoin related news articles. Maybe add a Twitter link?

[Herodes]

It doesn't matter much who's in the 'press section' on the official site. Anyone who wants media attention can start seeking out the media, and the more interviews and appearances anyone gets, the more interested the media will be.

Personally I think both Roger Ver and Jon Matonis are excellent speakers for Bitcoin. They may not be what we term 'politically correct', but it's refreshing to have people thinking outside the politically correct mainstream way of thinking.

[charleshoskinson]

They may not be what we term 'politically correct', but it's refreshing to have people thinking outside the politically correct mainstream way of thinking.

Everyone in this community has to understand that 'politically correct' is always going to be impossible with a currency like bitcoin. It can't be controlled. It can't be regulated. Accounts can't be frozen. Unlimited funds can be loaded to a napkin and stored anywhere in the world for safe keeping. This isn't something any government will be comfortable with.

We should focus on education and evangelism. If we reach a critical mass, then bitcoin becomes like the internet and governments will just have to learn to accept it. I'm not comfortable with a foundation saying we need to beg regulators to write laws to control us. Governments do not make you legitimate, consensus always has.

[cypherdoc]

I agree it's unjust to hand-pick a small group of "bitcoin representatives" for the press page. The bitcoin-press mailing list is not very democratic or transparent either. I vote for removing it.

thanks for showing up.  there is no more vote according to Saivann.  it's really up to you to enforce your ownership of bitcoin.org by taking down the Press Center.  you have our support for that.

How about replacing the interviewee list with a link to the wiki? A wiki page where we can add all volunteers who meet some notability requirements. There should be a short description of the contact's association with bitcoin and a couple links from previous interviews.

that won't work either b/c Luke is the moderator who has demonstrated even less equanimity there as here for the Press Ctr.

Linking the press page to https://bitcoinfoundation.org/contact seems reasonable too.

"Pictures" and "Quotes" sections could be moved to the wiki. "Press coverage" is rather harmless, but maybe unnecessary - reporters shouldn't need help finding bitcoin related news articles. Maybe add a Twitter link?

those might work.

[DeeSome]

It doesn't matter much who's in the 'press section' on the official site. Anyone who wants media attention can start seeking out the media, and the more interviews and appearances anyone gets, the more interested the media will be.

Personally I think both Roger Ver and Jon Matonis are excellent speakers for Bitcoin. They may not be what we term 'politically correct', but it's refreshing to have people thinking outside the politically correct mainstream way of thinking.

Max Keiser has done much for bitcoin and some people would say he's not politically correct or come to that mentally lol.

[blockgenesis]

I agree it's unjust to hand-pick a small group of "bitcoin representatives" for the press page. The bitcoin-press mailing list is not very democratic or transparent either. I vote for removing it.

How about replacing the interviewee list with a link to the wiki? A wiki page where we can add all volunteers who meet some notability requirements. There should be a short description of the contact's association with bitcoin and a couple links from previous interviews.

Linking the press page to https://bitcoinfoundation.org/contact seems reasonable too.

"Pictures" and "Quotes" sections could be moved to the wiki. "Press coverage" is rather harmless, but maybe unnecessary - reporters shouldn't need help finding bitcoin related news articles. Maybe add a Twitter link?

I'm afraid that the links to volunteers on the wiki will actually be the exact same problem, moved in another place. It will always seems unjust so some as long as there is any "notability requirements". And if there isn't, than you can imagine. The thing is that to some point, we can't add any links on bitcoin.org and remains just. It's just impossible. And if we don't, then we're missing a great opportunity to promote excellent Bitcoin speakers in this community. The same issue also happens with any pages that contains links, such as the choose-your-wallet page and resources page. Just to a lower level.

The list on bitcoin.org does not intend to be short and not Bitcoin representatives, there is a disclaimer to make this clear at the top. I planned to add more interviewees over time. And choosing who is on this list happens transparently on github, not in a closed press mailing list.

[jgarzik]

that won't work either b/c Luke is the moderator who has demonstrated even less equanimity there as here for the Press Ctr.

Multiple people agree that luke-jr is very heavy-handed with the wiki.

And I have no objection to any of Sirius' suggestions.