Why I donated bitcoins to Wikipedia via the community pledge

[WiW]

Wikimedia, as is well known, does not accept bitcoin donations. The reasons vary, but lately some informal discussions with Wikimedia fundraisers have raised some pragmatic issues, being unsure how much it is practically worth to start accepting bitcoins (A/B testing, payment processing, choice paralysis, etc.).

So Meni Rosenfeld had a great idea. Let's start pledging money in a community effort, until Wikimedia sees how much money is waiting for them and decides it is worth it. And if they won't take it now, the pledged funds will continue sitting there until they do accept bitcoin donations. I donated to the pledge because I want to prove to Wikimedia that the bitcoin community loves their work - because bitcoin is in line with their ideals of a free and open internet. This is most important because Wikimedia accepting bitcoin donations will give bitcoin some very serious legitimacy. I need not remind everyone that Wikipedia is site #6 in the whole internetz. People take Wikipedia seriously, people trust Wikipedia. This is important.


How does the pledge work?

The point of the pledge is that trusted and reputable treasurers (call them "escrows" if you wish) are collecting funds which are solely for Wikimedia to accept once they officially announce accepting bitcoins as donations. These trusted treasurers promise they hold onto the funds and won't use/send them until the goal is reached. If not because of this pledge, then in the next, or whenever Wikimedia accepts bitcoin donations (even if it's in 5 years). Each and every donator can pick a treasurer they trust the most. If you are a trusted and reputable member of the community, please offer yourself as a treasurer!

I donated bitcoins to the community pledge because I'm confident my bitcoins will not move until the goal is reached. If the pledge works, I successfully donated bitcoins to Wikimedia. If the pledge doesn't work I will eventually successfully donate bitcoins to Wikimedia - even if it's five years down the road (unless you don't believe bitcoin will be as successful as I do).


Please join us! Let's get Wikimedia to shut up and take our bitcoins!!!
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=270255.0

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[/dev/null]

Don't mind but you are one of those fools who give donations to show off their money and grow their e-penis.

[WiW]

Don't mind but you are one of those fools who give donations to show off their money and grow their e-penis.

No.

I'm one of those fools who donates money to large organizations hoping they give legitimacy to the currency I believe in and hope that the effect of my small donation makes enough of an impact on the exchange rates making the rest of my currency worth more. I'm also the kind of fool that tries to get others to join me and help me with my foolish goals.

[Joerii]

Don't mind but you are one of those fools who give donations to show off their money and grow their e-penis.

Stupid trolling.

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Hey, I think it's a great idea !

[gmaxwell]

I don't think this is a great idea.

[/dev/null]

Don't mind but you are one of those fools who give donations to show off their money and grow their e-penis.

Stupid trolling.

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Hey, I think it's a great idea !

I'm not trolling, if you seriously want to give donation, how about doing donation first and then tell us that you donated xyz to xyz. Instead of grabbing peoples attention for no fucking reason and do some kind of scammy crowdfunding when wikipedia doesn't wants Bitcoins.

[NWO]

I don't think this is a great idea.

Sorry, but I agree with this.

[Meni Rosenfeld]

I don't think this is a great idea.

Sorry, but I agree with this.

Me 3. They do not want bitcoins, they can take a hike.

Bitcoin will succeed on its own merits, not because some pundits endorse it.
 

Most people can't evaluate Bitcoin on its own merits, they need the endorsement.

It's like in the joke about two boats and a helicopter. We believe in Bitcoin's merits and are motivated enough to do this - this is Bitcoin succeeding on its own merits.

[Voogru]

If they don't want to accept free money, that's their problem.

It kind of reminds me of this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BiHzcGSZEM

[CompNsci]

Yes, I wrote them the other day that there stated reasons for not accepting BTC are a sham. And they can have a donation from me when they accept BTC.

[TheFootMan]

If I wanted to fund wikipedia, I would fund them directly - and not through any third party.

[daviducsb]

I like the idea. It's pragmatic and gives them incentive.

[pikapay]

It could be this easy:

Donate to @WikiMedia


Or right to @jimmy_wales:

https://twitter.com/GeneralSeven/status/367198072524521472


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