A way for Bitcoin to fail?

[FiatSystemHater2009]

Dear fellow Bitcoiners,
after years of intense studys and no inherent weakness of bitcoin being found by me, I have come upon one which makes me think.

Perhaps this is „the error/problem“ why bitcoin will never become what we all believe it will or should. Ironically, it has nothing to do with bitcoin itself.

The great majority of people simply have no knowledge of money, monetary history, the financial system (aka fiat system), banking, bonds, principles of economics, principles of self custody, censorship resistance or so many other topics which are necessary in order to fully understand bitcoin.
AND, this is very frustrating to me, have absolutely NO interest at all to educate themselves or learn about it. It’s like talking to a wall. They just don’t care and or understand (due to having no knowledge).

I believe there is a big truth in my above mentioned worries, as after thousands of years, it is still possible for governments around the globe to easily deceive the vast majority of the population (with a little bit of media or educational system propaganda) into using inferior money and thus, enslaving them. No wars, financial crashes or similar events of the past were really able to change earth’s population into taking that long lasting evolutionary step towards understanding the issue and keeping that knowledge.

It feels like in each generation only a few percentage of the population was abble to do that. Sometimes more, sometimes less. According to need.

Perhaps it is slowly changing nowadays since we have technology and an unprecedented spreading of knowledge. On top of that, we have the best money ever created in mankind’s history.

What are your ideas that we, as the community can and should take, to change the world finally and lasting?
Teaching bitcoin? Economics? Write books? How do we educate kids, adults, elderly? All of the above?
How do we make sure the knowledge this time around doesn’t get lost over time like the knowledge and learning process of so many other previous generations has? (If it didn’t, fiat would definitely not exist as we know it today, if at all).

Even the famous Henry Ford knew over 100 years ago that if people would understand the monetary system, we‘d have a revolution by tomorrow. Well, here we are over 100 years later and the average human still has no clue whatsoever. At best, the average knowledge is maybe at lvl 3/10.

I don’t want future generations having to experience a catastrophic event in order to learn (like our generation likely will have to as well).
It’s a setback in human evolution each time it’s happening.

What are your thoughts on this?

[PrivacyG]

Technology and a much faster spread of knowledge are both a blessing and a curse.  If things followed a positive course, we should have become much smarter and less prone to becoming chained down in a B S system like Fiat.  But unfortunately they do not always follow a positive course and people with a lot of influence steer the ship to something that is clearly rather in their own advantage which obviously comes with a lot of cons for us.

We have become so technologically advanced that people got comfortability thrown in their face to cover up all the SHIT that lays behind it.  If any of us could go back to the 90s and explain how 2026 looks like, they would send them to the psych ward thinking they are crazy or they would say they do not want to be part of this future.  Because when you think about how many people have their doorbells, rooms, phones, speakers, TVs, watches, cars, absolutely every thing connected to Centralized Servers that record and store information about voices, camera feeds, movements, time spent in places, banking et cetera and all that information goes to a complete stranger who never cared about your existence and tries to profit off each and every single opportunity they may have to manipulate you, you can not see this in a positive way.

Unfortunately it is true.  This is a big sort of 'vulnerability' of Bitcoin.  It is the stupidity of people that may throw their possibly once in a life time opportunity to break them selves free financially straight in to the trash can while welcoming Central Bank Digital Currencies with warm, open arms.  I had this fear for a long time and considering how most of the people we hear talking about Bitcoin are actually here ONLY for the returns it brings, I do not have much hope that we will collectively want and try to move away from this dirty and sketchy system we are living in.

I have a particular fear that what we saw in the movies presenting a dystopia will be the actual future we will have to live in.  We have gone from impressive new technology advancements to fridges and dish washers that would not work with out an Internet connection or display Advertisements in your home treating your surroundings like bill boards.  How am I supposed to hope that people will choose Bitcoin?

Unless something REALLY bad happens that actually demolishes peoples Trust in the Fiat system, I doubt they will look for alternatives.  And this is considering it will not be a planned demolition of the Trust in the Fiat system only so they can come up with the even worse solution, Centralized Digital Currencies.  But at the same time, I do not know if I should want people to lose their Trust in the system because I do not know if the consequences of that catastrophic event will be worth people choosing Bitcoin.  If there was a way that people chose it with out feeling threatened or fearing their lives in any way, I would definitely want that over any other course of events.  But life is often not like in the movies and my hope is currently low.  Really, really low.

People will NOT understand.  I reached this conclusion and I doubt it will ever be any different.  The number of people like us who think different is low, extremely low in fact.  Even here on Bitcoin Talk if you take a look at the Topics and how many people actually try to provide a legitimate answer to the subjects being discussed, if you pushed the 'Ignore' button on each Member who is here only for the Signature Campaigns you would end up with a Forum almost as quiet as it was back when Satoshi was still active.  We are unfortunately only a handful of people who really care and are motivated to run away from the system.  Others will only care about today, tomorrow and how much Money they can make even if it is in B S Dollars.

The educational system is made in such a way to keep them all dumbed down particularly when it comes to breaking free from the system and understanding how Fiat works.  Of course this would turn in to a revolution, any body who researches how Fiat is understands that we are all in a rat race for pretty much nothing.  But how do you change the educational system that has been shaped up for such a long time by minds that WANT you dumbed down so that you calmly listen to what they say and follow their rules that only apply to us regular people any way?

You are being taught from a small age that Google is cool.  Most schools are now using Google when they want to meet up through a video call.  Google knows what pupils know, feel, think et cetera right away and in scary detail.  You are taught to put your Money in the Bank and work a 9 to 5 job all your life with out ever thinking different from what the collective thinks.  If you are different, you are suspicious.  Dubious.  'Weird'.

This is a system with such deep roots grown that is incredibly difficult to make such a significant change.  I hope it happens.  But this means a LOT of people have to wake up to reality.  The majority in fact.  And although we have an evolving technology, it came with people sleeping better than ever before on all the things happening around them.

[Sticky Bomb]

The educational system is made in such a way to keep them all dumbed down particularly when it comes to breaking free from the system and understanding how Fiat works.  Of course this would turn in to a revolution, any body who researches how Fiat is understands that we are all in a rat race for pretty much nothing.  But how do you change the educational system that has been shaped up for such a long time by minds that WANT you dumbed down so that you calmly listen to what they say and follow their rules that only apply to us regular people any way?

You are being taught from a small age that Google is cool.  Most schools are now using Google when they want to meet up through a video call.  Google knows what pupils know, feel, think et cetera right away and in scary detail.  You are taught to put your Money in the Bank and work a 9 to 5 job all your life with out ever thinking different from what the collective thinks.  If you are different, you are suspicious.  Dubious.  'Weird'.

This is very much the case, the education provided in schools from early stage is definitely censored and doesn't allow you to think outside the box or seek any kind of freedom from an already established system. When I was small in my country, we were taught that we would go through the educational system, graduate and get white collar jobs and live comfortably with the salaries from the government, we fell for the trap and passed through it and finally graduated with little or no retention offers despite academic excellence.
That is when we began to  realize we were deceived by the government and to make it worse our mentality has been shaped to remain confined to the narratives delivered to us through years of academic pursuits.

The bigger problem is that the economic conditions have made survival a trivial concern and people are mostly focused striving to make a living than actually thinking of the limitations of still trusting the same government that has already put you in a bad condition with its defined education pattern and that answers the issue with more concern in bitcoin profitability rather than the freedom it presents.

Most people believe that until you become well to do before you can get yourself concerned with holding bitcoin or self-custody practices. I had a discussion with a friend last year about holding some part of his sig. campaign payment at least and he told me bluntly that "holding is for people like me that have money and not struggling people like himself".

The government really did a good job retaining people's trust situationally, despite being the architect of their problem and these people are rarely ready to break free from it.

[BattleDog]

I don't think Bitcoin fails because the average person can't recite monetary history off the top of their heads. Most people outsource everything that isn't immediately on fire, and money is usually invisible until it isn't.

The real risk is us building a thing that only works for nerds with infinite patience, while everyone else gets herded into some "Bitcoin, but with a login" wrappers and CBDC convenience buttons. If we want to win the middle, we need wallets and self-custody that are as idiot proof as cash, with fewer caveats than a banking app and a recovery story that doesn't require a priest and three hardware devices.

[zasad@]

Unfortunately, Bitcoin's price depends on political decisions. CBDCs haven't been implemented yet, and cryptocurrencies offer excellent opportunities to test this system.
At any time, should Bitcoin become unnecessary for the US and other governments, they could ban mining and trading. The coin won't die, but its price will be completely different.

[m2017]

Perhaps it is slowly changing nowadays since we have technology and an unprecedented spreading of knowledge. 

There's just one problem. These technologies are used for something else - creating entertainment content - while the useful knowledge remains unclaimed by the majority of consumers (which includes the majority of the planet's population).

What are your ideas that we, as the community can and should take, to change the world finally and lasting?
Teaching bitcoin? Economics? Write books? How do we educate kids, adults, elderly? All of the above?

Only those who are eager to learn can be taught. Look, this forum is open to everyone, but are there that many new users here? Compared to, say, entertainment sites like YouTube or TikTok.

How do we make sure the knowledge this time around doesn’t get lost over time like the knowledge and learning process of so many other previous generations has? (If it didn’t, fiat would definitely not exist as we know it today, if at all).

Knowledge has "power" only when it's used. Therefore, the solution must be to ensure that this knowledge is used by people.

As long as the government, "concerned" about our well-being, doesn't interfere with this process. The media will broadcast what suits them. I'm very unsure that the media will one day offer training on how to use bitcoin.

In some countries, bitcointalk is already blocked. By the way.

[DeeppRockk]

Unfortunately, Bitcoin's price depends on political decisions. CBDCs haven't been implemented yet, and cryptocurrencies offer excellent opportunities to test this system.At any time, should Bitcoin become unnecessary for the US and other governments, they could ban mining and trading. The coin won't die, but its price will be completely different.

Honestly, governments don't need to ban Bitcoin to cripple it-they can regulate it into oblivion. KYC, AML laws, and exchange restrictions make it harder for normies to get in. But that's the point: Bitcoin isn't for normies.

It's for people who want out of the system. If governments ban it, they're just accelerating their own irrelevance.

[FortuneFollower]

I don't think Bitcoin fails because the average person can't recite monetary history off the top of their heads. Most people outsource everything that isn't immediately on fire, and money is usually invisible until it isn't.

The real risk is us building a thing that only works for nerds with infinite patience, while everyone else gets herded into some "Bitcoin, but with a login" wrappers and CBDC convenience buttons. If we want to win the middle, we need wallets and self-custody that are as idiot proof as cash, with fewer caveats than a banking app and a recovery story that doesn't require a priest and three hardware devices.

Nobody wants to turn their heads around the custody when they are okay with others doing it for them.. and suffering for it in the process.

This fact changes bit by bit, however, new users are still prone to this logic and mindset, where, they want all the pros with no cons.

[goldkingcoiner]

Unfortunately, Bitcoin's price depends on political decisions. CBDCs haven't been implemented yet, and cryptocurrencies offer excellent opportunities to test this system.
At any time, should Bitcoin become unnecessary for the US and other governments, they could ban mining and trading. The coin won't die, but its price will be completely different.

Inflation is theft.

I would say Bitcoin depends on the market which depends on the political decisions.
But the market only depends on politics because they have not escaped the fiat prison.

When a government is given the power to manipulate a currency, is there anyone in the world who would believe them to do so in good faith? Lining their own pockets is what motivates these politicians.


.

[FiatSystemHater2009]

The real risk is us building a thing that only works for nerds with infinite patience, while everyone else gets herded into some "Bitcoin, but with a login" wrappers and CBDC convenience buttons. If we want to win the middle, we need wallets and self-custody that are as idiot proof as cash, with fewer caveats than a banking app and a recovery story that doesn't require a priest and three hardware devices.

I agree. Even if Bitcoin is working as it is, it needs to be made even more „easy to use and convenient“ to catch more people. The amount of knowledge and time needed to use bitcoin currently, while easy for the few who think and teach themselves, is to much for the vast majority of the planet. Hopelessly to much. They will rather choose easy to use „no thinking and self responsibility“ cbdc solutions. I‘m afraid that only a painful collapse of the fiat world has the necessary power to motivate enough people to put in the extra work.

However i have no doubt that the elites know this as well. It’s not a complicated thought or idea. I think they will introduce the new systems to replace the old failing ones constantly ahead of the big „crash events“ which could wake up to many people. Thus, keeping them stuck in the infinite slave loop.

Perhaps after all the best chance we have is to get as many people as we can, in our surroundings, to become btc maxi‘s with the fundamental understanding while also making the usage more convenient. Only ppl with a fundamental understanding are, however, useful to the cause in the long run. Not price tourists who actually don’t get it. Once someone is a btc maxi, you will never go back, likely your kids will become bitcoiners and so on. The convenience usage factor however i think is absolutely critical.

Modern hardware wallets and easy to implement full nodes have come a long way. Setting up a respberry pi umbrel full node is easily done within an hour, without previous knowledge. I think this could be further improved by people not having to build their raspberries (and order all the individual parts) but offering a buy amd start solution. Fully build hardware, flashed sd, installed software with a DETAILED instruction guide for newbies.

The bitbox nova is also a GREAT step towards convenience. A hardware wallets connected and plugged into your phone, eliminating the necessity to use a computer, installing more software, cables etc. . An app on the phone is much easier, especially for future generations.

We need something of the same caliber implementing lighting. It can’t be harder to use than apple pay let’s say, in order to reach mass adaption.

[348Judah]

Bitcoin will always remain, because no matter the challenge, it has already sustained them over the years and now left for us all to take charge on what we want to fix and learn to know about how we can use it for our own benefits, every other political and economic activities can only leave a little or short time impact on the market, unlike the market demand and supply withing it network.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

@op, education is really important and today, bitcoin education have become a must for the coming generation, I don't blame the past generation for failing to understand the monetary system, how can they or will they understand when there is no one to teach them?, going to school wasn't enough because the same government are in charge of schools and they can only allow you to be taught just as much as the want, they can never allow you to be taught what will likely cause you to rise up in a future and begin a revolution against them (the government).

With the coming of bitcoin, many of us know better how money should be or should have been, first is the max supply which ensures that value is maintained and there is every chance available for growth, unlike fiat where the government can print money at will with no definite knowledge of how many papers are being exchanged from hand to hand out there, this cause fiat money to lose value over time like we have seen over the years.
We must start education our children through writing of books because I do not trust the four walls of a school that the government is still in charge of, the truth about fiat and bitcoin may never be told to our children if we leave this to schools to teach them.

[davis196]

The human civilization is getting more complex. Technology is getting more complex day after day, while most humans have pretty limited cognitive abilities(I don't want to say, that they are stupid). You can't make stupid people smart. The education system didn't make them smart, nobody can make them smarter. The propaganda is targeting the most low-IQ people, this is why most propaganda campaigns in the past were so successful. And please don't say that Bitcoin is "the best money ever made". BTC has it's flaws. Treating Bitcoin as "the best invention in human history" is also pretty misleading and very wrong.

[kotajikikox]

How do we make sure the knowledge this time around doesn’t get lost over time like the knowledge and learning process of so many other previous generations has? (If it didn’t, fiat would definitely not exist as we know it today, if at all).

We have technology, they didn’t. Now we have what we call digital footprint that things you thought didn’t matter will actually remain on the internet forever and people would have seen whatever it is you posted. Now with thousands of evidences, articles, and many more I doubt people will forget about crypto.

[Byebyebtc]

The knowledge alone will not change anything, even if everyone knows how money works and what Bitcoin is all about, alot wouldn't still change, we are living in an less concerned world, most people don't even think about building any more all they want is money, even with a good knowledge of Bitcoin, most people will still desire to only extract money, and the future of Bitcoin is one thing they will care less about.

For the betterment of Bitcoin and the society alot of people has to change, yes knowledge is still needed but change is what will makes things become better.

[Eclipse01]

The knowledge alone will not change anything, even if everyone knows how money works and what Bitcoin is all about, alot wouldn't still change, we are living in an less concerned world, most people don't even think about building any more all they want is money, even with a good knowledge of Bitcoin, most people will still desire to only extract money, and the future of Bitcoin is one thing they will care less about.

For the betterment of Bitcoin and the society alot of people has to change, yes knowledge is still needed but change is what will makes things become better.

This is because the world is dominated by fiat, unless that is broken, I don't think it would be easy just as you said, with or without knowledge

[DeeppRockk]

This is because the world is dominated by fiat, unless that is broken, I don't think it would be easy just as you said, with or without knowledge

Why  even worry about fiat? Bitcoin isnt here to replace it- its here to coexist. People act like the fiat system has to collapse for Bitcoin to win, but thats nonsense.

Bitcoin just needs to be useful enough for people to choose it when they want to. And it already is. Stop overthinking it and focus on how you can use it to protect your wealth.

Thats what matters.

[SeriouslyGiveaway]

What are your ideas that we, as the community can and should take, to change the world finally and lasting?
Teaching bitcoin? Economics? Write books? How do we educate kids, adults, elderly? All of the above?
How do we make sure the knowledge this time around doesn’t get lost over time like the knowledge and learning process of so many other previous generations has?

There is no same answer for education on different people as you need different education resources for kids, teenagers and adults. With different ages and intelligence capability, they will be able to absorb different educational resources from simple to average and advance.

You can have your idea on how to do that but it's certainly helpful for your works if you can spend time to explore what's done by other people.
Bitcoin explained and illustrated for beginners.
Bitcoin information and resources.
Learnmeabitcoin.com
Mastering Bitcoin.

You can search for educational resources for kids too.

[Findingnemo]

I don't expect an average user to change and acquire enough knowledge about banking, centralized system, money printers and all but they should atleast realise about the inflation part but most of the people I interact in my real life got no idea about that, they assume the prices of the products that they are using is increasing while the real truth is value of their money is decreasing that makes the cost of that product to become higher.

They can mislead most people yet the one who understand will pass on the knowledge and it will gradually grwo over the period and there will always be a certain people who will know the significance of having bitcoin.

[Smartprofit]

I agree that technology is both a curse and a blessing. 🙋Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin as a financial instrument to preserve freedom and independence. Meanwhile, the ruling elite is using new technologies to create a digital concentration camp.

At the same time, a digital concentration camp based on the power of algorithms is so alien and hostile to human nature that I'm not sure it will ever be built. Humans, in my opinion, are too chaotic to submit to the power of algorithms. Although it deeply saddens me when I see how people already perceive themselves as victims and are already giving up. Bitcoin, by the way, is also an effective tool in this fight. And then there are anonymous coins. There is cash. There is also the opportunity to constantly play against the system's rules (because the system is not omnipotent).

After all, representatives of the ruling elite also own Bitcoin.  The elite also understands that if Bitcoin disappears, people will switch to even more anonymous and secure protocols for transferring value in the virtual space. If people don't resist, their standard of living will steadily decline (regardless of the existence or disappearance of Bitcoin and its price). And one more thing... The power elite is actively fighting against ordinary people, against their natural rights. And the elite is winning. But their victories are not easy, very hard... Many of their plans fail. In short, the elite are not omnipotent.