Bruce Wagner and Wired..

[Herodes]

Wired is quoting Bruce Wagner, and even having a large picture of him:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/mf_bitcoin/all


http://twitter.com/#!/brucewagner
brucewagner Bruce Wagner
About to go LIVE in 15 with Ben Wallace of Wired Magazine on The Bitcoin Show on OnlyOneTV | global television network bit.ly/oRT4nb


This is very wrong. Clearly, if he or anyone else was a good ambassadeur for bitcoin in general, I'd be the first to give standing ovation, but
by now it's been proven without a shadow of doubt what kind of shady character this Bruce Wagner person is.

If you don't know, just search this forum for his name, and start reading.

WE DO NOT WANT CRIMINALS PROMOTING BITCOIN OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH INDIVIDUALS!!!

Simple as that.

Please send an e-mail to Benjamin Wallace of Wired (benwallace@me.com) to state your opinion in this matter.

We need to put pressure on both Bruce Wagner and every publication that mentions his name in regards to bitcoin.

I usually don't bad mouth people, but I've had enough of this clown.

[1714782908]

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[davout]

There's no such thing as "WE"

[genjix]

http://buttcoin.org/has-bruce-wagner-pulled-off-the-financial-biggest-scam-on-the-bitcoin-community

[Herodes]

There's no such thing as "WE"

Would you please elaborate on this ? Is there someone in the bitcoin community that actually
would like to have someone representing bitcoin, or have someone being associated with bitcoin
frequently in the media, who is a known fraudster on a large scale?

I understand you in the context that I can not speak for everyone in the community, neither can you,
but I'd think everyone that has an interest in bitcoin is interested in seeing it prosper, not only in
value against the USD, but also in terms of trade ?


Bruce Wagner is definately not the person to advocate bitcoin.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

http://buttcoin.org/has-bruce-wagner-pulled-off-the-financial-biggest-scam-on-the-bitcoin-community

While driving to Ohio (or was it while driving back), I was thinkin' about Bitcoin which lead me to thinkin' 'bout BW. I was picturin', in my mind, those two guys from NPR in BW's office where he happened to have the computer on showin' 25K BTC in a MyBitcoin.com account. This is not disputed. http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=137795648&m=137803856 at 14:45, Jacob(?) sees on the screen the before mentioned amount settin' in MBC. But does he really see that? What if all he really saw was a page to look like MBC with a fake 25K BTC sittin' there. Almost anybody here could set up a page like that to impress whoever, like a girl, for example, or an investor, or someone from the media. See what I'm gettin' at here?

Here is what I came up with. BW never had 25K BTC in MBC. BW and MBC are one and the same. It was gettin' time to close MBC down and reap the rewards, but when and how. The two NPR guys, by happenstance, provided that opportunity. And while the NPR guys were enjoyin' lunch at Meze Grill, POOF! MBC gets hacked(?). What happens in later days is that BW gets all of his 25K BTC back, and everyone else (maybe not everyone) gets 51% (or was it 49%? I didn't bother to research this, but we all know this transpired--It's either 51/49 or 49/51 which is close enough).

Correct me if I'm wrong on the following, though it doesn't make too much of a difference. I don't believe BW ever mentioned having 25K BTC prior to that radio clip, did he? Of course, he would have no reason to, like I would have no reason statin' that I currently have $13,677.31 in my Chase checking account. But if I wanted to impress some young naive girl, all I would have to do is leave on the computer a screen shot of $130,677.31 in my Chase account. She ain't goin' to look at the URL to see the truth. The actual screen shot is so powerful, eyes won't move up to the top of the page. Of course I enter the picture immediately and, with one click of the mouse, I'm off the page, with the screen now showin' the Chase Bank home page. Of course, I now won't tell her that that money isn't mine. The subject would be something on the lines that I'm plannin' a vacation, want to come? Where to? Pattaya!

So let's recap what I believe happened that morning.

Bruce and Ed had a nice breakfast. Ed cooked. The phone rings. It's the two guys from NPR. Sure, come over.

Bruce: We need to get dress, love.
Ed: Why.
Bruce: Two guys are coming over from NPR.
Ed: Are they...
Bruce: No. Better! They want to take about Bitcoin.
Ed: What should we do before they get here?
Bruce: Remember our MBC dilemma?
Ed: Yes.
Bruce: All we need is a fictitious screen shot.
Ed: I'm on it, love.

That said, now punch wholes (wrong word choice?) in my theory.

Bruno

[niko]

Obviously the journalist did not do even the most basic job before writing this. We should write to the editor. What's next, an article in Business Week about trading, where they interview a jailed expert from Enron without mentioning the scam and the fact that he is in jail?

[Herodes]

The author actually wrote "Then Wagner became the target of a countercampaign that publicized a successful lawsuit against him for mortgage fraud, costing him much of his reputation within the community" in the article, but what catched my eye was the big photo of BW with the text "Bitcoin's chief proselytizer, Bruce Wagner, at one of the few New York City restaurants that accept the currency.
Photo: Michael Schmelling"


Phinnaeus Gage: Good thinking.

Altering a web-site is damn easy:

http://www.fslog.com/2007/01/21/javascript-trick-to-edit-the-page-displayed/

Just fetch the javascript part from that page there, put it in the adress bar, then press enter, now you can edit the web page to the content of your heart.

Just on a general note: If someone have been involved in an economic scam, even if this was 10 years ago, I'd NEVER trust them to handle anything related to money at all. People can change, and does so at times, but I won't take my chances.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

They got this part right:

pros·e·lyt·ize/ˈpräsələˌtīz/
Verb:   
1. Convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.

Remember his steadfast opinion about Pattaya? The irony is that if he would have gave on this concern from the get-go, he could possible still be one of Bitcoin's main spokesperson. But Pattaya turned out to be his Waterloo. Oops!

[dancupid]

Wired is quoting Bruce Wagner, and even having a large picture of him:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/mf_bitcoin/all


http://twitter.com/#!/brucewagner
brucewagner Bruce Wagner
About to go LIVE in 15 with Ben Wallace of Wired Magazine on The Bitcoin Show on OnlyOneTV | global television network bit.ly/oRT4nb


This is very wrong. Clearly, if he or anyone else was a good ambassadeur for bitcoin in general, I'd be the first to give standing ovation, but
by now it's been proven without a shadow of doubt what kind of shady character this Bruce Wagner person is.

If you don't know, just search this forum for his name, and start reading.

WE DO NOT WANT CRIMINALS PROMOTING BITCOIN OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH INDIVIDUALS!!!

Simple as that.

Please send an e-mail to Benjamin Wallace of Wired (benwallace@me.com) to state your opinion in this matter.

We need to put pressure on both Bruce Wagner and every publication that mentions his name in regards to bitcoin.

I usually don't bad mouth people, but I've had enough of this clown.

He's just that bloke off the youtube with the 200 views per episode - I'm not that bothered personally. I'll leave judging people to someone more qualified. I've better things to do with my life.

[Herodes]

He's just that bloke off the youtube with the 200 views per episode - I'm not that bothered personally. I'll leave judging people to someone more qualified. I've better things to do with my life.

There's enough evidence out there if you cared looking for it. Would a conviction by a court convince you he's a criminal ? I'm sure someone could link to the court documents as well, I've seen them being linked to earlier.

Also, the author (Benjamin Wallace) of the article insists that Bruce Wagner is Bitcoin's chief proselytizer, this would maybe have been the case a while ago, but not any longer, to my knowledge, he (BW)'s been smart enough to keep a low profile since all hell broke lose with the housing scams, mybitcoin, pattaya and everything.

All that's needed for evil to prevail is that no good men speak up.

[dancupid]

He's just that bloke off the youtube with the 200 views per episode - I'm not that bothered personally. I'll leave judging people to someone more qualified. I've better things to do with my life.

There's enough evidence out there if you cared looking for it. Would a conviction by a court convince you he's a criminal ? I'm sure someone could link to the court documents as well, I've seen them being linked to earlier.

Also, the author (Benjamin Wallace) of the article insists that Bruce Wagner is Bitcoin's chief proselytizer, this would maybe have been the case a while ago, but not any longer, to my knowledge, he (BW)'s been smart enough to keep a low profile since all hell broke lose with the housing scams, mybitcoin, pattaya and everything.

All that's needed for evil to prevail is that no good men speak up.

As I said - I've better things to do with my life. Call the cops if you have concerns - I'm assuming there is a legal mechanism in your country. Use it. dial 911 (or whatever it is - use it to speak out if you are serious and a 'good' man)

[Herodes]

As I said - I've better things to do with my life. Call the cops if you have concerns - I'm assuming there is a legal mechanism in your country. Use it. dial 911 (or whatever it is - use it to speak out if you are serious and a 'good' man)

Well, obviously you are a troll to some degree, but if you suddently had an attack of common sense, you could have a look at this:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/63630294/Bruce-Wagner-Bold-Funding-Fraud-Judgement

And if you search, you could find a link to the same papers on a governmental web site.

I guess you'd be okay with having some convicted person as a front for your company, because 'you won't waste your precious time with such uninteresting things', not taking into consideration the damage this would do to your business or reputation.

And yes, I've called the cops on several occasions, I've also contacted news papers and federal offices in the cases where I felt this was necessary. In this case however, the case is closed as we're dealing with a criminal person that should not represent the bitcoin community in any way in the media.

I don't really have anything to add, as continuing this discussion would only lead to me repeating myself over and over again. If anyone thinks that BW is a good representative of the bitcoin community and that the media should continue to portray him as such, then please elaborate so I can learn what twisted logic is behind such an opinion.

[julz]

http://buttcoin.org/has-bruce-wagner-pulled-off-the-financial-biggest-scam-on-the-bitcoin-community

...
snip
...
TLDR;  some hot(?) buttcoin fan-fiction.



The more you sling theoretical mud like this - the less likely the real mud will stick.
The real mud is the Bold Funding sliminess.

Save the cheese-o-drama scripts of paranoid MyBitcoin scenarios featuring your favourite villain for your pitch to the movie moguls.

[ssaCEO]

The chief proselytizers of Bitcoin, now, are not speculators. They're those of us who have put our blood and sweat into startups that rely on Bitcoin day in and day out to sell stuff and transact business.

That's people like us, BTCOnTilt, Andrew bitcoiner, Rick from BTCSportsBook, memorydealers, belgian flavors, bitmunchies, and especially the people who've done more to create new ways to employ the currency, for less pay than anyone else...guys like Brad from paymyaddress.com who've really gone the extra mile to create products we'd want to buy, sell and ship...and guys like GoWest with thebitcointrader.com, the BBBB, betwithbitcoin, etc. who honestly see the virtues and have a limitless supply of fresh, great ideas.

I'm fucking sick of seeing scumbags represent our community and act as easy targets for the press. Bruce is a turd who should probably be in prison. Go to Bitcoinsforchristmas.com and look at the sponsors list; these are the people who are the future of Bitcoin. Bruce is the past. Ignore Wired, they're the ones who're still holding the evidence on Manning. They're crooked as a crowbar.

Let's talk about the positives of what we have here, before you go depressing the hell out of everyone like us who've put hundreds of hours into building the foundations on which this small economy currently stands.

[BitcoinPorn]

Also, the author (Benjamin Wallace) of the article insists that Bruce Wagner is Bitcoin's chief proselytizer, this would maybe have been the case a while ago, but not any longer, to my knowledge, he (BW)'s been smart enough to keep a low profile since all hell broke lose with the housing scams, mybitcoin, pattaya and everything.

He is smart enough to stay off these forums.  Unfortunately a lot of Bitcoin users think that everything begins and ends with these forums when Bitcoin.org doesn't even link directly this place.    He runs a Google group that is quite active with Bitcoin related things.   Obviously, telling by the Wired article, he stays active.




ssaCEO, I wouldn't suggest ignoring Wired or any other media for that matter.  You seem to feel strongly, I think maybe you should approach the person who wrote that article.   If this piece got the writer hits, I have no doubts they wouldn't mind doing a follow up, especially if it can spur some controversy.   

[Herodes]

Excellent post. I'd give karma if there was a karma button! All good people need to set the media straight.

Why we should care, even though some staff here insists there's no 'we'. Of course there is. If there were no concerted efforts, nothing would ever happen be it development or anything else.

Send an e-mail to the author of the article, Benjamin Wallace of Wired (benwallace@me.com)  and let him know your opinon.

When the press is wrong, we need to educate it. Thank you for your post, I do think there's more people like you in this community, and not just trolls.

The chief proselytizers of Bitcoin, now, are not speculators. They're those of us who have put our blood and sweat into startups that rely on Bitcoin day in and day out to sell stuff and transact business.

That's people like us, BTCOnTilt, Andrew bitcoiner, Rick from BTCSportsBook, memorydealers, belgian flavors, bitmunchies, and especially the people who've done more to create new ways to employ the currency, for less pay than anyone else...guys like Brad from paymyaddress.com who've really gone the extra mile to create products we'd want to buy, sell and ship...and guys like GoWest with thebitcointrader.com, the BBBB, betwithbitcoin, etc. who honestly see the virtues and have a limitless supply of fresh, great ideas.

I'm fucking sick of seeing scumbags represent our community and act as easy targets for the press. Bruce is a turd who should probably be in prison. Go to Bitcoinsforchristmas.com and look at the sponsors list; these are the people who are the future of Bitcoin. Bruce is the past. Ignore Wired, they're the ones who're still holding the evidence on Manning. They're crooked as a crowbar.

Let's talk about the positives of what we have here, before you go depressing the hell out of everyone like us who've put hundreds of hours into building the foundations on which this small economy currently stands.

[Exonumia]

Here is the "bitcoin show" episode with the wired writer, Ben Wallace. He seems to be pretty cautious with his words talking to Bruce. I will admit I was a bit suprized to see Bruce's picture in the article when I opened my Wired that landed in my mail last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIsu9nv6pA

Congratulation Mr. Wallace, you have now been squished by the bitcoin show's ratio squishier!

[theymos]

Ben Wallace was clearly familiar with Bruce's scandal when he interviewed me, so I'm not sure why he's still giving Bruce any attention.

benwallace: Do think the Bruce thing will have any significant fallout? Do you expect him to step back from his frontman role? Or that the community will pay less attention to him? Or neither?

[Exonumia]

Ben Wallace was clearly familiar with Bruce's scandal when he interviewed me, so I'm not sure why he's still giving Bruce any attention.

To be fair, when I first discovered Bitcoin Bruce was all over this forum... it would be hard to do an article without him in it.

He does mention

MyBitcoin’s supposed owner resurfaced, claiming his site had been hacked. Then Wagner became the target of a countercampaign that publicized a successful lawsuit against him for mortgage fraud, costing him much of his reputation within the community. “People have the mistaken impression that virtual currency means you can trust a random person over the Internet,” says Jeff Garzik, a member of bitcoin’s core developer group.

in the article.

Bruce has always seemed very shifty to me... but to be fair just because someone says something in a post here (or any other forum) doesn't make it true.

I actually listened to this whole show (rare since I can't usually deal with Bruces style of interviewing(if you can call it that) or the squished video) and personally I would prefer that Ben Wallace host a show about bitcoin.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Ben Wallace was clearly familiar with Bruce's scandal when he interviewed me, so I'm not sure why he's still giving Bruce any attention.

benwallace: Do think the Bruce thing will have any significant fallout? Do you expect him to step back from his frontman role? Or that the community will pay less attention to him? Or neither?

Perhaps, I may be able to provide an answer. I believe it was the best current opportunity to promote the Benjamin Wallace brand--himself, as a writer. He surely has a family to feed, therefore any exposure perpetuating the Benjamin Wallace brand is thereby warranted. It doesn't necessarily hurt the Wired brand, either, otherwise Wired would have had a voice in Benjamin's decision (or was it Wired's?) to appear on the show.

Full Disclosure: I, too, watched the entire show.