[Ref] Hey theymos I've got a brilliant idea (honest!) & other symbols of use

[Timelord2067]

Hey theymos - I've got a brilliant idea... (honest!)

I've made this a poll so others can vote and make their opinion known to @theymos.  Comments welcome.

Background:

We have a symbol for BitCoin by typing [BTC] which gives us:

BTC

Why not have a corresponding symbol for Ether [ETH] and some of the other symbols that are used in the currency exchange/lending and other places around the forum?

[ETH]


Am just putting these here as well for people to use:

£ $ ₹ € ¥ ¢ ≠ ÷ ™

Other Symbols people have trouble with:

½ ¼ ¾ ⅓ ⅔ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞

Yet more symbols:

№ Ω ₤ ♀ ♂ ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦

Thanks for reading.

Post # 5,600

[Timelord2067]

Reserved #1

[Timelord2067]

Reserved #2

[Timelord2067]

Reserved #3

[Nellayar]

Why not have a corresponding symbol for Ether [ETH] and some of the other symbols that are used in the currency exchange/lending and other places around the forum?

You have a brilliant suggestion. Having different symbols in various cryptocurrency is way too good because we can use it in altcoin discussion and so on.

But I think the reason behind bitcoin is only a cryptocurrency that has symbol here, is that it is the brand of the forum. It may also an acknowledgement for Satoshi since bitcointalk.org is made to discuss all about bitcoin and he was founded this forum. See how, theymos gave a brief history of bitcoin founders, here °

I voted for no, since I want an special treatment in bitcoin here even other cryptocurrency accepted and have been discussed in this forum. For me, having that symbol for bitcoin only represents an honor for Satoshi. He founded this forum without the help of Vitalik. So, it must be appreciated even in just a symbol.


However, this is just my opinion. And I can't do anything if Mr. Theymos will accept your offer.

[bullrun2024bro]

I would prefer a "thumbs down"-Button instead, to put it here. Isn't this place called Bitcointalk.org?  

Okay that was it little bit harsh maybe, please forgive me. But let me explain why I don't think adding more "Altcoin-symbols" is a good idea, even it is only for Ether for now:

If we start adding a new symbol for Ether, other people will quickly come up with new suggestions for their Alt-(Shitcoins). At the beginning their suggestions might be somewhat reasonable, because their coin might have a huge userbase or is widely spread, but after a while idiot people and scammers will ask to add symbols for obvious scams like BSV or shilled shitcoins like XRP. Do we really want this? I doubt it.

I voted for the "No - Just BitCoin" option in the poll.


Other non-coin related buttons and symbols could be useful though. Nevertheless these would need to be selected very carefully. We don't want the whole forum to look like this:



Link to the Altcoin section. Don't click it. You will find a lot of bullshit.

[Timelord2067]

...

Thanks for your input, however your reasoning is flawed - show me a topic that has the BitCoin symbol embedded in the title.  (There are none) You are confusing the ability to put symbols via Android (and Apple??) from mobile devices.  I'm talking about utilising BBCode to show other alt coins, specifically just Ether (for the moment at least)

[GazetaBitcoin]

I voted also for "No", as ETH doesn't have any symbol accepted by a consensus of its users.

For developing a BTC symbol multiple debates were needed inside the forum (and outside of it as well), discussions carried out by Bitcoin community.

If there was such a debate inside the ETH community topic ([ANN] Ethereum: Welcome to the Beginning), which has 1239 pages already, then either I'm not aware of or they didn't reach a consensus.

Thus, I don't see why the Bitcoin community would get involved in ETH community bussines. They should come with such idea, not bitcoiners.

If we (bitcoiners) get involved in creating a symbol for ETH, then why not do it also for other coins

[bullrun2024bro]

...

Thanks for your input, however your reasoning is flawed - show me a topic that has the BitCoin symbol embedded in the title.  (There are none) You are confusing the ability to put symbols via Android (and Apple??) from mobile devices.  I'm talking about utilising BBCode to show other alt coins, specifically just Ether (for the moment at least)

It looks like you got me wrong on my first post. I am talking about two different things. I am aware that there are no Bitcoin symbols embedded in the title. Nevertheless I think adding symbols for other Altcoins isn't a good idea for the reasons I mentioned above (above the line in my first post).


Concerning the non coin related symbols, my screenshot of the bounty section was just an example. If you would make the every-day user aware of the possibility, that they are able to use many different buttons or symbols in their posts, I am sure many more people would use these. Posts would get unbelievably messy and hard to read. I don't believe anyone wants to read posts all day, that look like the todays posts in the bounty section.

[Timelord2067]

Concerning the non coin related symbols, my screenshot of the bounty section was just an example. If you would make the every-day user aware of the possibility, that they are able to use many different buttons or symbols in their posts, I am sure many more people would use these. Posts would get unbelievably messy and hard to read. I don't believe anyone wants to read posts all day, that look like the todays posts in the bounty section.

My point was that that is an unrelated issue (and IIRC there's a separate thread for discussion on removing or limiting their use here on BCT)

If we (bitcoiners) get involved in creating a symbol for ETH, then why not do it also for other coins

I've seen an often used Ether symbol in various places, that's the symbol I'm referring to.  I'm not suggesting we introduce symbols for any or all alts, I'm just talking about one piece of BBCode which users can, or don't use as they wish.

[actmyname]

Am just putting these here as well for people to use:

£ $ ₹ € ¥ ¢ ≠ ÷ ™

Other Symbols people have trouble with:

½ ¼ ¾ ⅓ ⅔ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞

Yet more symbols:

№ Ω ₤ ♀ ♂ ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Native symbol support seems like a trite use of time considering 99.5% of forum users won't even bother because they're too busy spamming 3-minute posts.

For the rest of the 0.5% that do spend more time on their posts, I'm sure they have time to look up symbols that they'll seldom use in their replies. Currency symbols are usually localized if you get your keyboard from the respective nation and if not the common equivalent would just be the currency acronym (e.g. GBP, USD, SEK, etc.)

Fractional symbols I'd argue actually make it worse for readability. I can view 1/2, 1/4 much more easily than a scrunched-up version with a diagonal divider (which a lot of mathematicians dislike) and mobile/small-screen users will definitely struggle with the symbol. These are the worst: ⅓ ⅔One thing that we open up with the introduction of more and more symbols is the idea of confusables. Obviously, your additional of an [eth] symbol doesn't reach this but the introduction of further symbols starts to teeter towards the plagiarism dodging.

Example: p ; ρ  | o ; ɒ  (source)

[LoyceV]

Why not have a corresponding symbol for Ether

No, let's not do that. I had to look at coinmarketcap.com to even know what's used for it, turns out it's a pile of triangles. The Bitcoin symbol is widely known and accepted, all altcoins are only created to make the creator rich and will never reach the level of recognition Bitcoin has.
What's next, separate symbols for Forkcoins? That'll be even more confusing for Newbies.

Just writing ETH makes it perfectly clear what you mean. Only Bitcoin should get special treatment on a forum about Bitcoin.

[Timelord2067]

One thing that we open up with the introduction of more and more symbols is the idea of confusables. Obviously, your additional of an [eth] symbol doesn't reach this but the introduction of further symbols starts to teeter towards the plagiarism dodging.

Example: p ; ρ  | o ; ɒ  (source)

I've seen a few discussions about varying symbols being slotted in to trick people, my Mobile alt uses a zero in the main and a letter oh - Oscar in the mobile alt.  So far no one seems silly enough to impersonate either with even more complex variations.

Just writing ETH makes it perfectly clear what you mean. Only Bitcoin should get special treatment on a forum about Bitcoin.

It seems like the question is mostly decided. (At least your AI can reference the thread from now on in examples )

Just as a side question, how do people differentiate between the "other" bitcoins?  (e.g. Cash, SV (shudder) - or even Lightning Network)??

[LoyceV]

Just as a side question, how do people differentiate between the "other" bitcoins?  (e.g. Cash, SV (shudder) - or even Lightning Network)??

Call them what they are: BCH, BSV, Forkcoin, Forgotten, .... I wouldn't use the BTC-symbol for it.

For LN, I just make up something like "Bitcoin Lightning", but if it gets bigger it needs an "official" name. I can think of BTC^LN or just "BTC Lightning".
Mention me please if you open a topic about it.

[dkbit98]

Lot of reserved posts
But looks like majority of people have spoken:
So far 78.1% are against adding Ethereum or any other altcoin symbols.

[Timelord2067]

Lot of reserved posts
But looks like majority of people have spoken:
So far 78.1% are against adding Ethereum or any other altcoin symbols.

Yeh, I probably shouldn't have given people the option to change their vote (I wonder if people don't realise I can't see who voted for what?)  I could always clear the tally and start the voting again? (Nah) 

The reserved are for other symbols, or for suggested symbol names etc.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

Wow, I was surprised at the voting results. 

I don't frequent the altcoin section much anymore, but I think it would be a great idea to have symbols for at least some of the most popular altcoins--and though I'm not a coder I can't imagine it would take a lot of extra effort to implement something like this.

And those other symbols OP suggested aren't bad ones to add, either (except perhaps the ones for gender; that's a Pandora's box that I don't think ought to be opened).  I'm pretty satisfied with how bitcointalk looks and functions, but I do think it could use some little additions like these.

Just writing ETH makes it perfectly clear what you mean. Only Bitcoin should get special treatment on a forum about Bitcoin.

I respect your opinion, but the fact remains that bitcointalk does have an altcoin section, and the traffic it draws probably isn't insignificant.  What's the harm in creating some symbols for ETH and a few of the other top coins?

[pugman]

Can't we just move to the new forum, instead of asking for new elements to be added on this old-forum? Its been so many years that the forum has been under development, so it only makes more sense.

Is there an ETA for when the new forum is to be fully out? I see the github commits on the discord bot, but other than that not much

[LoyceV]

the fact remains that bitcointalk does have an altcoin section, and the traffic it draws probably isn't insignificant.

The quality of the altcoin section is quite insignificant. It's mainly populated by spammers.

What's the harm in creating some symbols for ETH and a few of the other top coins?

The first thing that comes to mind is how to determine which coins are "top coins": market cap is never a good measure, trade volume is faked by many exchanges, forum activity is hyped by spammers, and that's just off the top of my head.

Other than that, I don't see much harm. But it feels wrong to give altcoins significance by adding their symbol on a forum about Bitcoin.

[Timelord2067]

The first thing that comes to mind is how to determine which coins are "top coins": market cap is never a good measure, trade volume is faked by many exchanges, forum activity is hyped by spammers, and that's just off the top of my head.

Perhaps transaction volume?

Other than that, I don't see much harm. But it feels wrong to give altcoins significance by adding their symbol on a forum about Bitcoin.

I've read a couple of times the notion that this is a BitCoin Forum - true, it wouldn't be called bitcointalk dot org if it wasn't, however from what I can tell much earlier than when I first joined in 2013 many alt coins have been launched here on this bitcoin forum.  I have no doubt that there has even been cross-pollination of ideas between bitcoin and the alts that share the car park.

Wow, I was surprised at the voting results.  

At first the votes went the other way - I think a few people changed their minds/votes.  

And those other symbols OP suggested aren't bad ones to add, either (except perhaps the ones for gender; that's a Pandora's box that I don't think ought to be opened). 

I just grabbed a bunch from Open Office to show the potential symbols that could be used.