SolidCoin founder admits to deceptive intent in 'Bitcoin Crash' article.

[shads]

I didn't have a high opinion of the solidcoin founder CoinHunter aka RealSolid after I read his propaganda piece here:
http://solidcoin.info/solidcoin-ready-for-bitcoin-collapse.php

But what I just read on IRC made my jaw drop.  It does need some context so I've pasted the whole conversation here:
http://pastebin.com/ywxakYP3

but to give a taste here are some snippets.  As I read it he's basically admitting that he knows there's no factual basis for some of the libelous claims in his article and in fact he hasn't explicitly made those claims but he clearly understands that most people will skim it and end up with a certain impression.  I certainly did.  I read this article once and did a double take. I asked myself 'did that seriously just claim that Gavin Andreson is in league with the FBI?'  On carefully rereading it I noted that it didn't explicitly say that but IMHO it was carefully crafted to leave that impression... The IRC conversation confirms this:

<noagendamarket> bron libertarian news said it not solidcoin
<bron> lol?  solidcoin has plenty of positives; look at the uptake of the difficulty adjustment algorithm alone; it's already been copied by 2 chains
<bron> noagendamarket: no, solidcoin said it:  http://solidcoin.info/solidcoin-ready-for-bitcoin-collapse.php
<noagendamarket> no they quoted from a news article
<RealSolid> i only said "implications"
<noagendamarket> http://www.libertariannews.org/2011/08/30/bitcoin-fbi-admits-to-engaging-in-infiltration-disruption-and-dismantling-of-competing-currencies/
<RealSolid> its not my fault people cant read
<bron> noagendamarket: the news article deals with fake physical US currency.  counterfeits.
<RealSolid> i took advantage of the fact humans prefer to get the TONE of the article instead of reading
<bron> noagendamarket: *coin is not counterfeit US currency.

<bron> again, facts point to indictments against those who proilferate fake US currency.  *coin is not.
<RealSolid> who cares what the facts are

<RealSolid> i dont like bitcoin, so that article came out implicating bitcoin in the fbi
<RealSolid> so it fit with the tone i was going for

<bron> <bron> the article doesnt make the factual connection
<RealSolid> i dont have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in an article to post something factual another site reported
<RealSolid> what dont you get about that
<RealSolid> i can say "another site says there is aliens on earth"
<RealSolid> and its true and factual
<RealSolid> thats exactly what i did there

<RealSolid> if you cant read english drbrontosaurus and are more affected by "tone"
<drbrontosaurus> and all it really says is you have ur bases covered for that scenario
<RealSolid> then you have played into my trap

<RealSolid> a lot of people just cant read well
<drbrontosaurus> and was throughly unimpressed
<drbrontosaurus> libertarians give a bad name to fuck-off-itarians like my self
<RealSolid> there are no lies on that page, but the tone of it certainly leaves the reader with an impression
<RealSolid> and that is what i wanted to achieve

</credibility>

[smoothie]

Wow. What a douche.

Well by his own admission he tried to weasel people to support solidcoin based on the "facts" presented in his article.

Now that light has been shown onto all of this and the fact that bad news seems to be an hourly thing for solidcoin, I would concur that solidcoin is going to die and die soon.

I don't trust its founder nor do I like his attitude towards users and critics.

He has taken the path of destruction, and it has arrived.

[ElectricMucus]

Well...

Bitparking SolidCoin Exchange

The latest release of SolidCoin, v1.04, has a licence change that requires permission from the SolidCoin developers to use any changes they've made. The text can be seen in my analysis of the changes on github. The SolidCoin developers response to queries about this is "If you don't like it, don't use the source code, simple really".

For my projects I'm often custom building variants of SolidCoin and Bitcoin. I don't want to have to ask permission to use code and prefer to use open source licensed projects. For that reason I've decided to close this SolidCoin Exchange. Withdrawals will be enabled for a period of time to enable you to get your funds of the site. Other exchanges you can use (but I don't recommend or vouch for) are:

[enlightened]

I'm currently experiencing a massive sign up wave but I'm not sure whether I should be happy or sad about that
Gaining users through competition would've been better I guess.

If you want to buy Solidcoins for Bitcoins cheaply now is the right time. Any bid will be bought up I guess.

I will not stop trading anytime soon. Not because I want to take advantage of less competition but because somehow I can understand the step. The Solidcoin developer(s) want their added features to be Solidcoin-only features to stop the continuous forking. The Solidcoin cryptocurrency will remain something special this way. If we want to establish an alternative to currently used currencies we must not fork every week.

I'm not involved with Solidcoin development but I really like the improvements and I see that there are active developers constantly at least trying to improve the client.

[itsagas]

Here are some more gems from Solidcoin crew publicly discussing to attack bitcoin.  (from #solidcoin irc)


"[22:32] <Blitzboom> RealSolid: haha, you know about a bitcoin vulnerabilitys
[22:32] <Blitzboom> ?
[22:32] <@RealSolid> Blitzboom: i know about a few
[22:32] <Sativacyborg> but people might want to drain if they see that happens with there coins
[22:32] <@RealSolid> should i write a tool others can use to take down their network?
[22:32] <@RealSolid> should we artforz btc?
[22:32] <Blitzboom> RealSolid: would be interesting
[22:32] <Sativacyborg> xD
[22:32] <x11> RealSolid yea you should
[22:32] <@RealSolid> they are amateurs
[22:33] <Snapman> not that amateur if they were able to rage it up
[22:33] <Sativacyborg> artz said it would take about 80 btc in fees or something like that:O
[22:33] <@RealSolid> gavin supporting a known hacker
[22:33] <Blitzboom> if you can do it and release a fix in solidcoin after it happens, solidcoin would probably gain credibility
[22:33] <Blitzboom> or before it happens
[22:33] <Blitzboom> my schadenfreude wants to see it happen
[22:34] <Phoebus> RealSolid, a malicious hacker, hacking is not bad on its own.
[22:34] <Solid_OhForf2> if anyone is willing to attack something, this should not be discussed in public.. thats kinda stupid
[22:34] <@RealSolid> Phoebus: indeed
"

[smoothie]

Here are some more gems from Solidcoin crew publicly discussing to attack bitcoin.  (from #solidcoin irc)


"[22:32] <Blitzboom> RealSolid: haha, you know about a bitcoin vulnerabilitys
[22:32] <Blitzboom> ?
[22:32] <@RealSolid> Blitzboom: i know about a few
[22:32] <Sativacyborg> but people might want to drain if they see that happens with there coins
[22:32] <@RealSolid> should i write a tool others can use to take down their network?
[22:32] <@RealSolid> should we artforz btc?
[22:32] <Blitzboom> RealSolid: would be interesting
[22:32] <Sativacyborg> xD
[22:32] <x11> RealSolid yea you should
[22:32] <@RealSolid> they are amateurs
[22:33] <Snapman> not that amateur if they were able to rage it up
[22:33] <Sativacyborg> artz said it would take about 80 btc in fees or something like that:O
[22:33] <@RealSolid> gavin supporting a known hacker
[22:33] <Blitzboom> if you can do it and release a fix in solidcoin after it happens, solidcoin would probably gain credibility
[22:33] <Blitzboom> or before it happens
[22:33] <Blitzboom> my schadenfreude wants to see it happen
[22:34] <Phoebus> RealSolid, a malicious hacker, hacking is not bad on its own.
[22:34] <Solid_OhForf2> if anyone is willing to attack something, this should not be discussed in public.. thats kinda stupid
[22:34] <@RealSolid> Phoebus: indeed
"

The douche is salty and is thinking about attacking bitcoin? LOL. go ahead!

[skilo]

It's a shame that solidcoin looks to be a scam, It looked so promising and had a catchy name too 

[Bobnova]

True.
Fast transactions really were nice.

[MajorMiner]

SolidCoin caused uncontrollable projectile diarrhea in Rhesus monkeys. That was all the evidence I needed.
 

[simonk83]

He certainly does seem to be a massive dick.   There are plenty around lately.

[wolftaur]

He certainly does seem to be a massive dick.   There are plenty around lately.

Don't say that. His ego engine will translate that to "He certainly does seem to have a massive dick" and he'll be all pleased with himself.

[Noviz]

RealSolid really needs to go on a Public Relations course at his local college... I'm sure he had many good ideas to improve cryptocurrency however the way he talks to his clients and associates is appaling. He could have made a real difference, however instead he tried to make his fork popular by spreading rumours... if he thought his fork was so good then miners, developers and traders alike would have migrated to it... actions speak much louder than slanderous words imo.

I really am not surprised with the hatred he has brought upon himself within the Bitcoin/Cryptocurrency community. If he didn't sit in his ivory tower and talk to everyone like a piece of crap then perhaps SolidCoin would be alive and well. I'm glad he failed purely because of his awful attitude... I can't stand big-heads and definitely can't stand people who talk down to others.

And if he reads this: For your next project I really recommend you either get a better attitude or hire someone to do your PR.

[shads]

<RealSolid> stabs: the problem is the bitcoin people cant out develop me, im faster, know more, so SC will see the most improvements

priceless...

[wolftaur]

<RealSolid> stabs: the problem is the bitcoin people cant out develop me, im faster, know more, so SC will see the most improvements

priceless...

Hey, give him some credit. SolidCoin only took a couple weeks to get a 5GB database.

Oh, wait. Give ArtForz credit for that. All CoinHunter did was fuck up.