The effect the mixer ban has had on the forum.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

I think you're defining "forum" too narrowly ("websites that look like the forums of the 90s and 00s, like Bitcointalk "). Twitter, Instagram, even TikTok are also "forums", only with a slightly different interface. These are platforms allowing people to discuss, react to other posts, and categorize posts thematically (if that's done via folksonomies - e.g. hashtags - or ontologies - subforums defined in some kind of a "top-down" manner - isn't that important.) There are even some successful forums which are very close to the 90s instances, particularly Reddit and their clones.

On the contrary, dear d5000, your definition of a forum is too broad. Are you comparing TikTok where people show their faces and do little dances with this anonymous forum? Or Instagram which is a social network where people show idyllic lives? On Instagram or TikTok there are hardly any discussions.

You have failed to include in the definition of forum the social network BeReal, where people not only show their faces but when they receive a warning they record what they are doing at that moment (except if they are shitting, I guess). I can't imagine Satoshi, if he created bitcoin now, creating an account on BeReal (or Instagram or TikTok) to talk about it.

The main difference between forums and social networks is anonymity, and that the forum is written-only.

[JollyGood]

This forum is in no way more special than say any other forum with the exception of two things:

- the historical associations to Bitcoin and crypto in general
- being unique in the amount of money it generates

For example, in any of the names it adopted before the current it was where Satoshi posted therefore it has been called a library and a reference for the work of Satoshi.

If theymos were to ban signature campaigns, the forum would lose almost all members and it would drift in to obscurity (except for the library and reference analogy).

As for cosmetics, the forum was due an upgrade many years ago and it is clearly lagging behind.

Are you guys seriously getting your heads around a decentralised forum? Forums are things of the past and those that survive are because they were launched and were successful in the past. I think the only thing that hasn't completely killed them is that a lot of people forum during quiet times at work.

Also the reason BTT survived?
I think BTT is just special and maybe some things like signature campaign has been a key to keeping here going.
The reason forums got outdated could be because of lack of the modern day UI/UX amongst other things.

[Findingnemo]

The main difference between forums and social networks is anonymity, and that the forum is written-only.

By definition, a forum is a platform used to bring in discussions, sharing ideas, or anything of a certain category, whether offline or online which means privacy/anonymity is just a feature that we took and implemented according to our needs.

Bitcointalk is special and for no reason I love the old school theme than the fancy UI of other forums and also forums that replicated bitcointalk tweaked some feature than has been requested by the community more often but still people here love to hangout and participate in the discussions than anywhere, probably because the active members with actual knowledge is more than anywhere else and we can't deny the participation of signature campaigns too.

[virasog]

The main difference between forums and social networks is anonymity, and that the forum is written-only.

By definition, a forum is a platform used to bring in discussions, sharing ideas, or anything of a certain category, whether offline or online which means privacy/anonymity is just a feature that we took and implemented according to our needs.

Bitcointalk is special and for no reason I love the old school theme than the fancy UI of other forums and also forums that replicated bitcointalk tweaked some feature than has been requested by the community more often but still people here love to hangout and participate in the discussions than anywhere, probably because the active members with actual knowledge is more than anywhere else and we can't deny the participation of signature campaigns too.

I found this forum user interface to be perfect for the reading, even though it is out-dated but still it is effective. If you're someone who love to read that this is a good forum without any much distractions. Even the signature designs do not irritate you as there are no flashy pics etc. Also, no ads on the forum make it a good ready spot 

Coming to the OP question, its been almost 5 months that the discussion of that topic are banned, but that's the rules and we have to obey on what's allowed to be discussed and what is banned. Still there is a lot other topics to discuss and while it can be frustrating to have restrictions on certain topics, it's good to focus on what can be discussed. 

[philipma1957]

This forum is in no way more special than say any other forum with the exception of two things:

- the historical associations to Bitcoin and crypto in general
- being unique in the amount of money it generates

For example, in any of the names it adopted before the current it was where Satoshi posted therefore it has been called a library and a reference for the work of Satoshi.

If theymos were to ban signature campaigns, the forum would lose almost all members and it would drift in to obscurity (except for the library and reference analogy).

As for cosmetics, the forum was due an upgrade many years ago and it is clearly lagging behind.[/[color]

Are you guys seriously getting your heads around a decentralised forum? Forums are things of the past and those that survive are because they were launched and were successful in the past. I think the only thing that hasn't completely killed them is that a lot of people forum during quiet times at work.

Also the reason BTT survived?
I think BTT is just special and maybe some things like signature campaign has been a key to keeping here going.
The reason forums got outdated could be because of lack of the modern day UI/UX amongst other things.

Spot on bold type black

but I think the worse we can do is fuck with cosmetics. red bold type

I believe these cosmetics are why the signature campaigns work so well.

[Synchronice]

If theymos were to ban signature campaigns, the forum would lose almost all members and it would drift in to obscurity (except for the library and reference analogy).

That is absolutely right. Not only ban of signature campaigns negatively affect this forum but on the other hand, if signature campaigns lower pay rate as low as 40-50 USD per week, then this forum will experience significant lose of high quality posters and will be left with bunch of spammers. By the way, I wonder why other forums didn't copy this strategy of Bitcointalk, i.e. to allow signature campaigns. I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

I believe these cosmetics are why the signature campaigns work so well.

I think I agree with you but on the other hand, these cosmetics are why this forum struggles to attract youth. At least theymos has to make this forum responsive, it's not that hard.

[philipma1957]

If theymos were to ban signature campaigns, the forum would lose almost all members and it would drift in to obscurity (except for the library and reference analogy).

That is absolutely right. Not only ban of signature campaigns negatively affect this forum but on the other hand, if signature campaigns lower pay rate as low as 40-50 USD per week, then this forum will experience significant lose of high quality posters and will be left with bunch of spammers. By the way, I wonder why other forums didn't copy this strategy of Bitcointalk, i.e. to allow signature campaigns. I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

I believe these cosmetics are why the signature campaigns work so well.

I think I agree with you but on the other hand, these cosmetics are why this forum struggles to attract youth. At least theymos has to make this forum responsive, it's not that hard.

Youtube has better cosmetics but it does not allow thousands of people to earn $50-150 a week without much effort.

I am not quite sure of how to make signature campaigns work better than they do here at this time.


Yes I am aware of the spam , but I would post a lot less here and more on other forums if signatures ended here. Most of my posting here was not done with a signature. I would think 25000 maybe 30,000 posts were done with no campaign.  But the mine ended and I can use the income from posting so I post.

[adultcrypto]

Are you guys seriously getting your heads around a decentralised forum? Forums are things of the past and those that survive are because they were launched and were successful in the past. I think the only thing that hasn't completely killed them is that a lot of people forum during quiet times at work.

I don't see the feasibility of a decentralized forum as I cannot really picture how moderation of such will be possible and without moderation, it becomes easy for it to derail from the core reason it was created. One seemingly decentralized forum I know is 4chan but the reputation of such forum is not worthy of any serious business marketing purposes and navigating through the forum is extremely difficult and tiring.  

[Sandra_hakeem]

I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

I don't understand what you mean here; I suppose he made it clear to everyone why he decided to quit? Leo wasn't wearing any paid signature for a long time after chipmixers left the forum so what are you talking about?

It's inarguably true that the number of good posters would decrease and the general activity would keep ebbing. Sadly,it looks like that's where we're going from here ...lol

Most of my posting here was not done with a signature. I would think 25000 maybe 30,000 posts were done with no campaign.

Philipma would never go back to when he posted for free. ^{ignorance is bliss} 

[d5000]

On the contrary, dear d5000, your definition of a forum is too broad. Are you comparing TikTok where people show their faces and do little dances with this anonymous forum? Or Instagram which is a social network where people show idyllic lives? On Instagram or TikTok there are hardly any discussions.

Fair enough I was more or less focusing on the technical side, and both forums and social networks and video-sharing platforms are simply "aggregators of public HTML messages". There are some differences of course, and as you point out, there may be different kinds of usage. But at least X (Twitter), Reddit and Facebook, for me, are forums.

The main difference between forums and social networks is anonymity, and that the forum is written-only.

Anonymity is a feature of many forums but not all. I don't remember concrete examples now, but I have seen forums (more in the 00s and 10s) that had implemented a "real name" policy, even if otherwise they looked like your standard phpBB instance.

And even the "written-only" requirement can be challenged. The user who has the highest post count on Bitcointalk is ChartBuddy, a bot who only posts images

Anyway, I don't want to insist on that. The point here was to discuss the possibility to create a decentralized version of Bitcointalk if theymos wasn't able to continue to run the forum. And I think in this case, a forum with anonymous accounts would make most sense, because of the privacy-friendly nature of the Bitcoin community. I don't think that this would be a requirement stopping people to join because it's a "thing of the past". But I could see many features from Steemit, but also from X or Facebook enrich this hypothetical post-Bitcointalk forum to make it even more comfortble to use. Steemit was also anonymous and mostly focused on the "written word".

I also think such a hypothetical post-bitcointalk decentralized forum would have to find a way to preserve at least some parts of Bitcointalk, particularly the era before 2014, for the reasons mentioned by @JollyGood (historical significance).

[KingsDen]

Most of my posting here was not done with a signature. I would think 25000 maybe 30,000 posts were done with no campaign.

Philipma would never go back to when he posted for free. ^{ignorance is bliss}  

I didn't actually know why he posted for so long without signature. He changed his mind when one user made a post and from then he started participating in signature campaign to support one project so and from then he seem to like it the more.

I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that!

I don't want to believe this... Before o_e_l_e_o left, a campaign was still paying upto $150, that would still be manageable for him. Besides, he could just leave without mentioning health issues. I am having a mixed feeling because of this post. Well, it will be nice if Leo is actually sound and healthy somewhere as you opined.

[nutildah]

I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

This is a stupid thing to say and you should be embarrassed about it.

I didn't actually know why he posted for so long without signature.

LOL. Its because he has a genuine passion for bitcoin. I know that idea is absurd to you, but people like him actually exist. For the first 4+ years of my Bitcointalk career I wasn't in a campaign either.

He changed his mind when one user made a post and from then he started participating in signature campaign to support one project so and from then he seem to like it the more.

If memory serves, he first participated in some kind of charity signature campaign; if not charity then it was for something that didn't pay. After that, he was probably approached by a manager with a really good deal, and I don't blame him for taking them up on the offer.

[examplens]

By the way, I wonder why other forums didn't copy this strategy of Bitcointalk, i.e. to allow signature campaigns.

If you are talking about crypto forums, Bitcointalk is predominant. Alternatives appeared, also with paid signatures, but there was always a lack of a large number of users for it to take off.
For all other non-crypto forums, the disadvantage is the payment method because all other methods besides crypto reduce anonymity.

I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

It is shameful that you insinuate that Leo was not honest with his reasons for leaving the forum and that the real reason is that instead of $150 a week, he could only earn $120. At the same time, even though you don't trust him, you end up showing that you respect him. Who is the hypocrite here?

[philipma1957]

I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

This is a stupid thing to say and you should be embarrassed about it.

I didn't actually know why he posted for so long without signature.

LOL. Its because he has a genuine passion for bitcoin. I know that idea is absurd to you, but people like him actually exist. For the first 4+ years of my Bitcointalk career I wasn't in a campaign either.

He changed his mind when one user made a post and from then he started participating in signature campaign to support one project so and from then he seem to like it the more.

If memory serves, he first participated in some kind of charity signature campaign; if not charity then it was for something that didn't pay. After that, he was probably approached by a manager with a really good deal, and I don't blame him for taking them up on the offer.

I loved mining I loved the gear I loved how people in most of the world could use it. Heck I love that when I see ck solo pool that I know I begged him for a year to create it and he did.

Over time the mine started to struggle I got a really good offer and knowing that I was going to lose the mine down the road I took that offer.

Now I get coin from two forums it will never be what the mine used to do.
But I can simply say I did a lot for BTC when I was able to.
Now at 67 and recovering from surgery for the second time in two years posting is a lot easier than mining.

Selling gear off on ebay and not working as hard with the mine shut down.

[Synchronice]

I don't understand what you mean here; I suppose he made it clear to everyone why he decided to quit? Leo wasn't wearing any paid signature for a long time after chipmixers left the forum so what are you talking about?

Yes, he said that he had an illness but I think that was an excuse to leave this forum. He was a very privacy-oriented guy, that's why I think it was not actually true.

I don't want to believe this... Before o_e_l_e_o left, a campaign was still paying upto $150, that would still be manageable for him. Besides, he could just leave without mentioning health issues. I am having a mixed feeling because of this post. Well, it will be nice if Leo is actually sound and healthy somewhere as you opined.

o_e_l_e_o was probably one of the most knowledgeable member of this forum. He was in chipmixer campaign for a very long time that was paying a serious money, then slowly payrate significantly decreased and soon mixers got banned and then he left. I think, he understood that pay rate would never be the same and he was such a smart and talented guy, he would do 1000x better outside of this forum.

This is a stupid thing to say and you should be embarrassed about it.

It is shameful that you insinuate that Leo was not honest with his reasons for leaving the forum and that the real reason is that instead of $150 a week, he could only earn $120. At the same time, even though you don't trust him, you end up showing that you respect him. Who is the hypocrite here?

Oh c'mon, not really. What he has done is amazing and I truly miss him, I just don't believe that he was dying or is dead, in my mind he is alive, getting 150K USD annual salary and doing a happy life. He was the person who was truly valuing privacy and I believe he wouldn't reveal such a sensitive information if it was actually true.
The fact is, we will never 100% what is true and I want to make myself believe that he is alive and doing well. I didn't really want to upset anyone but I can't do anything with this thought and I wanted to be absolutely honest.

[bitmover]

The main difference between forums and social networks is anonymity, and that the forum is written-only.

This is often true, however there are social media profiles which are anonymous,  and there are users here who use their real names... rhis is not a rule.

I think the difference is that social media is more pictures focused and forums are discussion focused

[uchegod-21]

...He was the person who was truly valuing privacy and I believe he wouldn't reveal such a sensitive information if it was actually true.
... I didn't really want to upset anyone but I can't do anything with this thought and I wanted to be absolutely honest.

I like you being blunt and being yourself here with your opinion. Some people might have conceived what you are saying about o_e_l_e_o but decided to keep it to themselves in order not to raise some drama. But you let it out.

...He was the person who was truly valuing privacy and I believe he wouldn't reveal such a sensitive information if it was actually true.

I also thought about this, but reason this from another angle. How about if o_e_l_e_o was too sure he's gonna die, which is exactly what his farewell message said. What will be the essence of remaining private to death. Think it that he hinted us for 2 reasons;

• He loved us
• He's dying, why remain so private?

[nutildah]

Oh c'mon, not really.

Yes really.

What he has done is amazing and I truly miss him, I just don't believe that he was dying or is dead, in my mind he is alive, getting 150K USD annual salary and doing a happy life. He was the person who was truly valuing privacy and I believe he wouldn't reveal such a sensitive information if it was actually true.
The fact is, we will never 100% what is true and I want to make myself believe that he is alive and doing well. I didn't really want to upset anyone but I can't do anything with this thought and I wanted to be absolutely honest.

If you were right, the easier, more logical thing to do would have been to just disappear from the forum completely, without writing any sort of explanation for his disappearance.

The fact that he went to great lengths to explain his situation in his final thread - and the fact that he is/was regarded as one of the most honest, trustworthy members of the forum - leads me to believe he wasn't lying.

Compare his situation to DarkStar_'s, and note the difference in how they exited the forum.

Of course you're free to believe what you want, just as I'm free to point out that it is an absurd thing to believe.

[Poker Player]

I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

What a load of bullshit.

o_e_l_e_o was probably one of the most knowledgeable member of this forum. He was in chipmixer campaign for a very long time that was paying a serious money, then slowly payrate significantly decreased and soon mixers got banned and then he left. I think, he understood that pay rate would never be the same and he was such a smart and talented guy, he would do 1000x better outside of this forum.

Do you have a crystal ball or something?

You certainly differ from o_e_l_e_o in that he would never have made a similar reasoning. You think that because you just think it, it's a hunch. In his case he was probably the most rational guy I've ever seen on the forum and would never have expressed such an idea without good reasoning behind it.

The most reasonable thing in all likelihood in this case is to think he told the truth.

The only good thing I see in what you express is that you have such a good idea about him that you refuse to think he is going to die, if he hasn't already, but that is the fate that awaits us all, better to get the idea.

[mindrust]

That is absolutely right. Not only ban of signature campaigns negatively affect this forum but on the other hand, if signature campaigns lower pay rate as low as 40-50 USD per week, then this forum will experience significant lose of high quality posters and will be left with bunch of spammers. By the way, I wonder why other forums didn't copy this strategy of Bitcointalk, i.e. to allow signature campaigns. I don't wanna be "that" guy but I think that o_e_l_e_o was here because of high pay rate and he left because of low pay rate and we lost a very amazing member because of that! o_e_l_e_o was a real asset (I know he said that he had an illness but I don't believe it, sorry but I love him, he will always be in my memory).

Let's be honest we can't know 100% if o_e_l_e_o really left the forum because of his health issues or for some other reason. We can only make educated guesses based on his post history and since he looks like a genuine a person, I'd say the chances for him telling the truth are higher than 90%. Is it 100%? Unless you know him in real life and saw his hospital records, you can't tell that and I think nobody here knows him in real life.

But saying that he left the forum because he didn't get paid enough is a serious accusation.

Leave the forum and do what? There isn't any other forum on the internet where you can make that much money just by posting.

So I think what you say is very unlikely.

I think if he had good health, he would be around and making posts even if there were no sig camps available. That's the impression I got from him.