47% of Americans want to make purchasing goods and services w/ Bitcoins illegal

[CoinHoarder]

TL;DR: http://youtu.be/351kVc7pOSY

Statistics:


*

* I believe whomever made the last chart made an error. I assume blue is supposed to be those that want to allow Bitcoin and red is those that do not want to allow Bitcoin based on the groups mentioned on the x axis.

Article (http://reason.com/poll/2014/04/07/millennials-the-tech-savvy-independents):
"Millennials, the Tech-savvy, Independents, and Libertarians Say Bitcoin Should Be Allowed; Bitcoin Tells Us Who Cares About Choice

The latest Reason-Rupe poll is one of the first polls to ask Americans about Bitcoin, the new online digital currency. Only 8 percent of Americans said they knew “a lot” about it, 11 percent said “some,” 24 percent said “a little,” and a majority (56 percent) said “nothing at all.”

The poll then described Bitcoin to respondents as “a new online digital currency that is not connected to any particular country’s currency system and is not controlled by any government.” Then, even despite the high number who knows nothing about Bitcoin, a plurality (47 percent) said government should not allow people to use Bitcoins to purchase goods and services, while 38 percent said it should be allowed and another 14 percent don’t know.

The poll found that the people who know the least about Bitcoin want to ban in the most. However, among those who know a fair amount about Bitcoin, they favored allowing it by a margin of 62 to 34 percent. Among those who know nothing at all, they want to ban it 54 to 27 percent.

Support for Bitcoin increases with education and income, and declines with age. Americans making more than $110,000 a year support allowing Bitcoin by a margin of 55 to 39 percent. Conversely, households making less than  $75,000 a year tend to oppose with only 36 percent in favor and 49 percent who think Bitcoin should be prohibited. Roughly half of those who have not attended college are weary of Bitcoin, but a plurality of college graduates think it should be allowed. As described below, millennials are considerably more supportive of Bitcoin. Men (43 percent) are slightly more likely than women (34 percent) to favor allowing Bitcoin. Racial groups are equally likely to lean toward prohibiting Bitcoin.

Bitcoin’s Ideological Experiment

Bitcoin offers a unique opportunity—a type of experiment—to examine how people react to things with which they are unfamiliar.  Some individuals have a natural predisposition to ban things they don’t understand while others naturally lean toward individual autonomy unless someone convinces them that someone else will be harmed. The question of Bitcoin provides a useful tool to delineate between those who opt for control or choice.

So what types of individuals are most likely to favor choice or control? Millennials, tech-savvy gamers, political independents, and libertarians.

Among young people 18-24, 59 percent say Bitcoin should be allowed, this drops to 46 percent among 35-44 year olds and then further to 22 percent among seniors 65 and older. This is part of a larger trend we’re observing with this generation: socially liberal with undecided economic views, but cares deeply about personalization and individual autonomy.

Arguably, individuals who play video games frequently are also necessarily more tech-savvy. Reason-Rupe finds that tech savvy gamers also support allowing Bitcoin 55 to 35 percent. In contrast, Americans who never play video games, say government should prohibit Bitcoin 51 percent to 30 percent. Like millennials, gamers also exhibit a tendency toward personal choice on issues beyond Bitcoin.

Unlike partisans, roughly half of political independents and independents who lean Republican favor allowing Bitcoin, while 35 percent want it banned. In contrast, a majority (57 percent) of Democrats want it prohibited, as do 52 percent of Republicans. While sample sizes are too small to draw firm conclusions, it’s intuitive that 66 percent of self identified libertarians want to allow Bitcoin while only 17 percent think it should be prohibited. Self-identified conservatives were the most likely to want to ban it by a margin of 53 to 33 percent.

Examining underlying beliefs about the role and power of government, Reason-Rupe finds that a majority (53 percent) of Americans who think government should promote traditional values are unfavorable toward Bitcoin, compared to 32 percent who favor it. But not only social conservatives want government to control Bitcoin, so do Americans who prefer a strong government and who say there is more government should be doing (both 50 percent opposed).

In fact, asking questions about the appropriate scope and power of government allows us to group Americans according to beliefs on economic and social issues respectively creating four groups: those who lean libertarian, conservative, liberal, and communitarian (socially conservative but fiscally liberal). Each group comprises about a fifth of the population respectively, with the remainder in the ideological center.

Among the political groups, only the group defined as libertarian reaches a majority (52 percent) in support of Bitcoin; liberals follow closely with 48 percent, then 37 percent of conservatives, and 24 percent of communitarians. These results confirm intuition: the more libertarian a person, the more predisposed they are to allow personal choice."

Discuss? I think this shows how important it is to spread the word and teach people about Bitcoin. The more people know about Bitcoin, the less likely they are to be hostile towards it.

[1715245015]

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[CryptoPanda]

omg, another example of how ignorant people are


infact, even on this people most people don't care about pushing the adoption further
i've been stuck with this campaign with minimal traction for weeks
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=530148.0

[TTM]

People usually fear what they don't understand. Majority of average consumers have no clue how Bitcoin differ from traditional 'digital money'. The most common argument i used to hear is "Money is already digitalized, why we need Bitcoin ?"

[MykelSilver]

That's in my opinion the reason the majority of the people keep slaves of the system. For those people: Please don't complain. Satoshi has give some instrument to escape this system.....

[CoinHoarder]

omg, another example of how ignorant people are


infact, even on this people most people don't care about pushing the adoption further
i've been stuck with this campaign with minimal traction for weeks
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=530148.0

That is a great idea, I hope you find some more sponsors soon!

[beatljuice]

omg, another example of how ignorant people are


infact, even on this people most people don't care about pushing the adoption further
i've been stuck with this campaign with minimal traction for weeks
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=530148.0

It doesn't bug me that people are ignorant, that will change. (Thanks for your promotion.)

What bugs me is that they express an opinion when they are ignorant. This just shows a lack of wisdom.

[QuestionAuthority]

It's sad that they just let anyone vote.

[ib927]

53% of Americans want to make purchasing goods and services w/ Bitcoins legal

[DeathAndTaxes]

It is bad but not that surprising.  There are a couple of bright spots though.

1) The % advocating a ban drops as knowledge increases.  If fact the only category which is >50% is a self described "none" for how much the persons knows about Bitcoins.  The sad thing is the number of people advocating a ban on something they (self described remember) indicate they know absolutely nothing about.

2) The % advoacating a ban is lower for those with more income and higher education.  Generally these are the types of people who vote more often and are who politicians rely on.

3) Support for banning Bitcoin is the lowest among the "undecided".  This is the group who decides every single national election in the modern United States.  So expect a lot of politicians to play a lot of lip service to their bases and then do absolutely nothing about it.  The ole "pivot to the center" move. 

4) The one bad demographics is something that time will resolve.  Support for a ban is highest among older Americans and right now that is bad because as a voting block they tend to have a high turnout however over a longer period of times (say 10 to 20 years) many of those voters will not be around anymore and since the younger demographics don't support a ban it should begin to even out.

[QuestionAuthority]

53% of Americans want to make purchasing goods and services w/ Bitcoins legal

Should be 100 but they let anyone that can sign their name with an X vote. Ask the same group of people if they think zombies are real and review the outcome. It's scary.

[Wilikon]

53% of Americans want to make purchasing goods and services w/ Bitcoins legal

Should be 100 but they let anyone that can sign their name with an X vote. Ask the same group of people if they think zombies are real and review the outcome. It's scary.

I would guess the same type of result would have happened many years back regarding the introduction of "plastic", the credit cards.

[hellscabane]

omg, another example of how ignorant people are


infact, even on this people most people don't care about pushing the adoption further
i've been stuck with this campaign with minimal traction for weeks
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=530148.0

It doesn't bug me that people are ignorant, that will change. (Thanks for your promotion.)

What bugs me is that they express an opinion when they are ignorant. This just shows a lack of wisdom.

It is very unfortunate to see how many people form an opinion when they know nothing at all about something. However, humans are hard-wired to think in terms of dichotomies (at least for the most part). So when most people see a "yes/no" type of question, a vast majority of the time, they will choose one or the other even if a "Don't Know" answer exists. And even in this type of thing, people tend to lean away from disruptions of the "status quo" so there is already an inherent slant towards disallowing change.

Admittedly though, the fact that a fair amount of people chose "Don't Know" means something too. It would seem that there is a lot more of the pie that's ready for taking.

[babybit]

Did I miss the bit where they tell you how many people they asked and their backgrounds?

Seems like a useless, misleading linkbait survey to me.

[casinocoin]

It is the exact same reason why some people did not want adoption two years ago... THEY HAVE MORE TIME TO MINE AND COLLECT
The other group have no idea what the fuck is going on so they say ban it.

[gadman2]

3 out 4 people make up 75 percent of the population.

[S4VV4S]

So this goes to show that 47% of Americans are:

1) Not well educated
2) Not aware of technological improvements
3) Not willing to break free or afraid to
4) Sheep
5) Stupid

If you are reading this then I am guessing you belong to the good 53% of Americans - land of the FREE!

 

[Dalmar]

Ignorance among the sheeple is shocking.

[uncaer9]

Well, 46% of Americans believe in Creationism according to this. It makes me guess that the amount of idiots is somewhere between 46% and 47% 

[DeathAndTaxes]

Did I miss the bit where they tell you how many people they asked and their backgrounds?

Seems like a useless, misleading linkbait survey to me.

More info here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/216081750/Reason-Rupe-April-2014-National-Telephone-Poll

APRIL 2014 TOPLINE RESULTS
RELEASED: APRIL 3, 2014
The Reason-Rupe April 2014 Poll interviewed 1,003 adults on both mobile (503) and landline (500) phones, including 274 respondents without landlines from March 26-30, 2014 from the continental United States and the District of Columbia using live telephone interviews. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.6%. For questions asked only of Form A respondents (n=526), the margin of error is +/- 5.0%. For Form B respondents (n=477), the margin of error is +/- 5.2%. Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) conducted the survey. Interviews were done in English by Princeton Data Source. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. When feasible, answer choices within questions were rotated or randomized. For more methodological information, please visit http://reason.com/reason-rupe-poll-methodology.

[alc]

The poll found that the people who know the least about Bitcoin want to ban it the most.

You don't say.

I think the only thing this poll demonstrates is the strength of social pressure that we all feel against saying "I don't know". The vast majority of people taking part in this poll, I would assume well in excess of 90%, do not understand Bitcoin in any meaningful sense. They don't understand how it works, how it's different from regular currencies, and for that matter they don't understand money. But nobody likes to admit that they don't know something, or that they don't have an opinion, especially when they're being put on the spot, so presumably they just pick whichever they feel like.

It's hard to care about results that are so meaningless.

[allthingsluxury]

Wow a lot of people are truly misinformed.

[DeathAndTaxes]

I think the only thing this poll demonstrates is the strength of social pressure that we all feel against saying "I don't know".

The sad part is that many users self described themselves as not knowing anything about Bitcoin, so they already admitted "I don't know" on the question of their knowledge of Bitcoin yet advocated an action anyways.   Either for or against in that situation is equally bad.  For those who indicated they know "a little" and advocated a ban well they are probably woefully under informed but they at least believe they have enough information to make a decision.  I have at least some respect for their opinion (as wrong as it may be).

[Bitcoin Magazine]

how many people don't give a shit about Bitcoins, and just want weed legal *raises hand*

[S4VV4S]

how many people don't give a shit about Bitcoins, and just want weed legal *raises hand*

FTFY 

[Bit_Happy]

Ignorance among the sheeple is shocking.

Is Bitcoin Island being built yet?

[BitchicksHusband]

Well, 46% of Americans believe in Creationism according to this. It makes me guess that the amount of idiots is somewhere between 46% and 47% 

Wouldn't that make it 54%?

[Come-from-Beyond]

White
Nonwhite

Ha, this is funny. Why not black/nonblack?

[CoinHoarder]

Those of you hating on the authenticity of the poll... this is the only legitimate statistical data I've seen on this subject. Unless you guys know of a more thorough poll that I'm not aware of, then this is the best statistical data on the subject that exists. Take it or leave it, but I don't think the results are too far fetched and likely closely resemble the consensus of opinion in America today on this subject.

I think this is an important finding because right now 47% of the American population is against Bitcoins being used as money. Furthermore, it shows us how we can correct the problem by educating people about Bitcoin and how it works, which will likely lead to a higher acceptance rate. This poll also highlights the fact that so many people don't know about Bitcoin yet and everyone that is on these forums and already involved/invested in Bitcoin are early adopters. It is important to get the American people behind us in this issue, as it will put pressure on politicians to play nicely with Bitcoin the more support it has from American citizens.

[bitsmichel]

america is bankrupt, BTC willl rise 

[DobZombie]

47% of Americans are fat, stupid fools.

Coincidence?  

[enuma]

47% of Americans are fat, stupid fools.

Coincidence?  

well we only need the so called "1%" of the world peoples "the elite" to rule us so why care about the randon joe... we all that have used bitcoin as payment now how powerfull it is... like the internet people will have to adapt or die

[bryant.coleman]

As expected. Non-whites, females and Democrats want to ban Bitcoin. Losers.

[Beliathon]

47% of Americans are fat, stupid fools.

Coincidence?  

<3 !! Love it!

So many clueless people...

A familiar story here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM

[jonald_fyookball]

Survey question is already biased. "Should government allow".   There is already NLP suggesting we need govt permission to scratch our nose.  If question was should government ban people from using bitcoin, or arrest people who use bitcoin, or throw people in jail who use bitcoin....results would be different I can almost guarantee you that.  

[amspir]

Survey question is already biased. "Should government allow".   There is already NLP suggesting we need govt permission to scratch our nose.  If question was should government ban people from using bitcoin, or arrest people who use bitcoin, or throw people in jail who use bitcoin....results would be different I can almost guarantee you that.  

It's a push poll.   If it were "should bitcoin be made illegal", the answer would be different.   However, at this point, I don't think the poll means much.   Most of the respondents to the poll probably don't know what bitcoin is in the first place.   When you ask if something should be "allowed" that people know nothing about, then the natural answer is "yes", since most people fear the unknown.

[sudobad]

As expected. Non-whites, females and Democrats want to ban Bitcoin. Losers.

You're just jealous you can't get mamacita or sista booty.

[bryant.coleman]

You're just jealous you can't get mamacita or sista booty.

I don't want any sista booty. Not interested. You can keep that with you.

[Elwar]

So many people that do not understand inherent rights.

Slaves bein slaves.

[Bit_Happy]

Why is reason.com (a "friend of freedom") asking if Bitcoin should be banned?

[quakefiend420]

The sad thing is the number of people advocating a ban on something they (self described remember) indicate they know absolutely nothing about.

This*1000

How can anyone advocate banning(or allowing for that matter) something they know nothing about?  If you don't know anything about it, why not learn about it first, and then form an opinion?  How do you have an opinion if you don't know anything about it?  Do they really not see the problem here?

The stupidity boggles the mind.

[SmithsonJim]

Communitarian ? Man I haven't heard that word since college. It is hard to believe there are that many people with such ideology. Also i expect number of people were too small compared to analysed population to make any real conclusions out of it.

[Bitcoin Magazine]

maybe because over 3/4's of Bitcoin purchases are for illegal items?

[bryant.coleman]

maybe because over 3/4's of Bitcoin purchases are for illegal items?

In the initial stages it was around 1/4th. Not it will be far lower, like 1/20 or so. At no point of time, more than 25% of the bitcoin volume was mopped up by the illegal trade.

http://cointelegraph.com/post/50_to_60_of_bitcoin_transactions_made_on_gambling_sites

[zolace]

Well let me tell you I use to be door to door sales man, I use to be able to switch the ideas of younger adults then switching the minds of the senior adults cause, is like they said u can teach an old dog new tricks.

[bitcerto]

It's just a matter of education. No, I don't mean college or universities. Most people just don't know what Bitcoin is! We need more education based materials that are easy to understand by random people.

[Bitcoin Magazine]

maybe because over 3/4's of Bitcoin purchases are for illegal items?

In the initial stages it was around 1/4th. Not it will be far lower, like 1/20 or so. At no point of time, more than 25% of the bitcoin volume was mopped up by the illegal trade.

http://cointelegraph.com/post/50_to_60_of_bitcoin_transactions_made_on_gambling_sites

so gambling = great  , and marijuana = bad?

[BittBurger]

53% of Americans want to make purchasing goods and services w/ Bitcoins legal

This.

What do you think that number would have been 1 year ago?

Major improvements.   To the moon!

-B-

[atp1916]

Well, 46% of Americans believe in Creationism according to this. It makes me guess that the amount of idiots is somewhere between 46% and 47%  

I am a reformed "Calvinist" Christian.  I have no specific denomination. I hold the NKJV Bible to be the inerrant Word of God and fully know "Creationism" to be true...and I am an ardent supporter of Bitcoin.  

Bitcoin fits fully within the Biblical principles of justice and equality - "equal weights".  Bitcoin is open, transparent, and begets equal weights throughout any system it is implemented in. The current monetary system is exactly the opposite, shrouded in darkness and crookedness - unequal weights.

Proverbs 20:23 NKJV
Differing weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

The reason why so many of my kind are against Bitcoin is because all it ever was used for in old days was contraband and other evil things.  This is not so anymore, fortunately.  Sadly, it is our/my fault for allowing my kind to continue being against Bitcoin.  Every day i attempt to change this false understanding among any Christian i meet.  

[bryant.coleman]

so gambling = great  , and marijuana = bad?

I don't have anything against gambling or marijuana. But in the eyes of the government, possession of marijuana is a felony.

[Bitcoin Magazine]

so gambling = great  , and marijuana = bad?

I don't have anything against gambling or marijuana. But in the eyes of the government, possession of marijuana is a felony.

what about Satoshi Dice?  that site only works if you use Tor.  otherwise it says your in a banned country 

[jonald_fyookball]

so gambling = great  , and marijuana = bad?

I don't have anything against gambling or marijuana. But in the eyes of the government, possession of marijuana is a felony.

what about Satoshi Dice?  that site only works if you use Tor.  otherwise it says your in a banned country 

If you're smart enough to use tor, why do you usually say the dumbest shit ever on bitcoin forum?

[C10H15N]

So the younger or richer you are the more you like bitcoin.   

[Bitcoin Magazine]

so gambling = great  , and marijuana = bad?

I don't have anything against gambling or marijuana. But in the eyes of the government, possession of marijuana is a felony.

what about Satoshi Dice?  that site only works if you use Tor.  otherwise it says your in a banned country 

If you're smart enough to use tor, why do you usually say the dumbest shit ever on bitcoin forum?

so BTCitcoin should be banned cause it's used primarily for illegal transactions

and then you said that most transactions were gambling transactions, but legal ones

and gambling is illegal unless it is a non-Satoshi Dice site   

[bryant.coleman]

So the younger or richer you are the more you like bitcoin.   

Just say that the more intelligent you get, the more you like BTC. It seems that the mentally and educationally challenged population is scared the shit out of Bitcoin. 

[skooter]

As a selfish american, I would vote that it be illegal.

Why?

Because allowing something like bitcoin to have power gives poor countries more power. Right now the dominance of the world's major currencies gives the US and other 1st world countries huge power over trade.

I'm also currently involved in a business that benefits from government manipulation of exchange rates (the fact that china suppresses the Yuan's value vs the dollar saves me thousands of dollars a year).

From a purely financial standpoint, I benefit from the current corrupt system.

[Sage]

Bitcoin at $450 or so and this is the current state of awareness???

That means tremendous opportunity folks.

Imagine if you had a way to hold stock in email at a time most Americans felt it should be banned because it meant the demise of the Postal Service.

[ebliever]

Well, 46% of Americans believe in Creationism according to this. It makes me guess that the amount of idiots is somewhere between 46% and 47%  

I am a reformed "Calvinist" Christian.  I have no specific denomination. I hold the NKJV Bible to be the inerrant Word of God and fully know "Creationism" to be true...and I am an ardent supporter of Bitcoin.  

Bitcoin fits fully within the Biblical principles of justice and equality - "equal weights".  Bitcoin is open, transparent, and begets equal weights throughout any system it is implemented in. The current monetary system is exactly the opposite, shrouded in darkness and crookedness - unequal weights.

Proverbs 20:23 NKJV
Differing weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

The reason why so many of my kind are against Bitcoin is because all it ever was used for in old days was contraband and other evil things.  This is not so anymore, fortunately.  Sadly, it is our/my fault for allowing my kind to continue being against Bitcoin.  Every day i attempt to change this false understanding among any Christian i meet.  

Same here. Well, except that I prefer NASB. 

[Bit_Happy]

As a selfish american, I would vote that it be illegal.

Why?

Because allowing something like bitcoin to have power gives poor countries more power. Right now the dominance of the world's major currencies gives the US and other 1st world countries huge power over trade.

I'm also currently involved in a business that benefits from government manipulation of exchange rates (the fact that china suppresses the Yuan's value vs the dollar saves me thousands of dollars a year).

From a purely financial standpoint, I benefit from the current corrupt system.

Would you stop "benefiting from the current corrupt system" based only on the fact you could/should make money more honestly?

[skooter]

As a selfish american, I would vote that it be illegal.

Why?

Because allowing something like bitcoin to have power gives poor countries more power. Right now the dominance of the world's major currencies gives the US and other 1st world countries huge power over trade.

I'm also currently involved in a business that benefits from government manipulation of exchange rates (the fact that china suppresses the Yuan's value vs the dollar saves me thousands of dollars a year).

From a purely financial standpoint, I benefit from the current corrupt system.

Would you stop "benefiting from the current corrupt system" based only on the fact you could/should make money more honestly?

I make my money legally.

[btcxyzzz]

OMG

OMFG


KILL . THEM . ALL !

ordinary cattle.
nothing else to say.

[RodeoX]

Since something like 90% of Americans have never heard of bitcoin this statistic can not be true.

[2tights]

Polls like this offer no value. They only further FUD within the vast majority of the US population who are stupid, incompetent, puppets who want to be reality TV celebrities. The other 25 percent (too optimistic?) just get irritated at the interpretation of this junk.

Besides, the purpose of polls is to spread propaganda not to capture accurate demographics.

[leopard2]

As a selfish american, I would vote that it be illegal.

Why?

Because allowing something like bitcoin to have power gives poor countries more power. Right now the dominance of the world's major currencies gives the US and other 1st world countries huge power over trade.

I'm also currently involved in a business that benefits from government manipulation of exchange rates (the fact that china suppresses the Yuan's value vs the dollar saves me thousands of dollars a year).

From a purely financial standpoint, I benefit from the current corrupt system.

Why are you filthy rich or a politician?

Because fiat money is not good for you if you're not. In fact you are working most of your lifetime for the benefit of those groups. This is only partially offset by the USD worldwide ripoff.

[skooter]

As a selfish american, I would vote that it be illegal.

Why?

Because allowing something like bitcoin to have power gives poor countries more power. Right now the dominance of the world's major currencies gives the US and other 1st world countries huge power over trade.

I'm also currently involved in a business that benefits from government manipulation of exchange rates (the fact that china suppresses the Yuan's value vs the dollar saves me thousands of dollars a year).

From a purely financial standpoint, I benefit from the current corrupt system.

Why are you filthy rich or a politician?

Because fiat money is not good for you if you're not. In fact you are working most of your lifetime for the benefit of those groups. This is only partially offset by the USD worldwide ripoff.

You realize politicians are mostly bought and paid for by corporations right? Yes, things like high tax rates piss me off, but that's more then made up for by the money I can make off the backs of people being paid less then a living wage, which is made possible by the government.

I don't feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick with current system, so I'm fine with it.

[McHammer]

39% of libertarians say no
wtf statistic ?

[btcton]

Well, 46% of Americans believe in Creationism according to this. It makes me guess that the amount of idiots is somewhere between 46% and 47%  

I am a reformed "Calvinist" Christian.  I have no specific denomination. I hold the NKJV Bible to be the inerrant Word of God and fully know "Creationism" to be true...and I am an ardent supporter of Bitcoin.  

Bitcoin fits fully within the Biblical principles of justice and equality - "equal weights".  Bitcoin is open, transparent, and begets equal weights throughout any system it is implemented in. The current monetary system is exactly the opposite, shrouded in darkness and crookedness - unequal weights.

Proverbs 20:23 NKJV
Differing weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

The reason why so many of my kind are against Bitcoin is because all it ever was used for in old days was contraband and other evil things.  This is not so anymore, fortunately.  Sadly, it is our/my fault for allowing my kind to continue being against Bitcoin.  Every day i attempt to change this false understanding among any Christian i meet.  

Gotta love generalizations, eh? I know how you feel. 

[Phinnaeus Gage]

People usually fear what they don't understand. Majority of average consumers have no clue how Bitcoin differ from traditional 'digital money'. The most common argument i used to hear is "Money is already digitalized, why we need Bitcoin ?"

Information is already in books, so why do we did the internet?

Those same people who voted against Bitcoin use smartphones that wouldn't be available if the likes of Bitcoin developers didn't secure the system.

Hell, even the buggy whip industry feared the automobile until somebody came along and suggested/shown that the same whips could be used during sex in their private homes, till some other dude finally came along and shown that the act in question could be distributed via a secure network, whereupon serious money could be made, but damn those transfer fees, for only if there were some sort of money transferring thingy...

[STT]

Since something like 90% of Americans have never heard of bitcoin this statistic can not be true.

Well people fear what they do not recognise so on that basis it could be argued as true.   But yea I tend to agree, this is far closer to the truth: 47% of USA has no idea what bitcoin is


If you arent convinced this is complete balony then watch how 47% would also ban use of water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erdgVVTw

[CoinHoarder]

Since something like 90% of Americans have never heard of bitcoin this statistic can not be true.

Well people fear what they do not recognise so on that basis it could be argued as true.   But yea I tend to agree, this is far closer to the truth: 47% of USA has no idea what bitcoin is


If you arent convinced this is complete balony then watch how 47% would also ban use of water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erdgVVTw

Thanks for the video link, that is pretty interesting. Even though it may be true that people fear what they don't know, I don't see how it makes this any less of a big deal. The fact of the matter is 47% of Americans would be for banning the use of Bitcoin for money. Why or how they came to that belief is a non issue, as the result is still the same... 47% of Americans for banning the use of Bitcoin for money. Sure, the reason is important as to how we can change this number and get more people on our side, but how they came to this conclusion is not the important thing here as far as how this can affect Bitcoin.

I get what you guys are saying and I agree with you mostly, but it doesn't make this any less of a big deal. We need to make a great effort to explain Bitcoin and how it works and why its important to American citizens if we ever want a majority to support our cause. Politicians and the government could do anything to Bitcoin at this moment- even flat out ban it, and according to this poll hardly anyone would care. Do you guys not see a huge issue with this? I certainly do, we need the people on our side to keep the government in check. The more people that are on our side the more they need to be held accountable for their decisions on how to regulate and tax Bitcoin.

[bryant.coleman]

Since something like 90% of Americans have never heard of bitcoin this statistic can not be true.

And I am sure that they are the ones who want the government to ban Bitcoin.

[cryptoanarchist]

What a fake poll.

80% of the country doesn't even know what bitcoins are.

Since something like 90% of Americans have never heard of bitcoin this statistic can not be true.

And I am sure that they are the ones who want the government to ban Bitcoin.

People can't want to ban something that they've never heard of. How are you able to type with all the drool on your keyboard? Don't bother answering, I already ignored you.

[bryant.coleman]

How are you able to type with all the drool on your keyboard? Don't bother answering, I already ignored you.

I will type whatever I want. If you don't like GTFO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=351kVc7pOSY

[Sithara007]

People can't want to ban something that they've never heard of. How are you able to type with all the drool on your keyboard? Don't bother answering, I already ignored you.

Calm down. You didn't understand what he told and it is not his problem. Just admit that you are not very bright.

What he really meant might be people who have never heard about bitcoin before this poll were the ones who wanted to ban it.

It is clear that the pollster is biased. He would have asked something like "Bitcoin is a form of digital currency used for the purchase of drugs. Do you favor banning it?"

Off course the idiots who have never heard about Bitcoin earlier will immediately agree to ban it. On the other hand, people who are actually familiar with Bitcoin will never agree to a ban.

[600watt]

i remember that through almost the entire year of 2013 bitcoiners were afraid that governments could ban bitcoin.  but this is not the case anymore. i don´t see the west banning bitcoin anywhere. banning is not an issue anymore. does lawsky look like he wants to ban it ?

[platorin]

If we asked people about the idea of e-mail back in the 80's, I believe 90% of them would say that this fits no one needs, yet still they cannot imagine the life without online communication at presence. The same would apply to Bitcoin protocol. 10 years from now, I am pretty sure I will be able to pay for everything I want.

[g4c]

Since something like 90% of Americans have never heard of bitcoin this statistic can not be true.

Many published statistics are fabricated or have their results "massaged". It's a relatively cheap way to steer the perceptions of the masses.

When asked for their opinion, sheep without opinions will ask "what do most people think", out of fear of looking stupid and being oestracised from the main herd.

[Bitcoin Magazine]

if it's banned what will happen to online drug marketplaces??

[g4c]

if it's banned what will happen to online drug marketplaces??

Well drug marketplaces are already working with half the market banned anyway (the drugs are banned).

So they would just end up running with both sides of the market banned.

[RodeoX]

Maybe the actual question was something like:

Do you favor banning the use of electric terrorist money for buying child porn and bath salts?
Yes, because I care.
No, I am a soulless Un-American

[bountygiver]

if it's banned what will happen to online drug marketplaces??

Well drug marketplaces are already working with half the market banned anyway (the drugs are banned).

So they would just end up running with both sides of the market banned.

and they'll not care and sell their drugs anyway.

Even when 10% of your market is banned, your whole business is already considered illegal in the first place.

[bountygiver]

As a selfish american, I would vote that it be illegal.

Why?

Because allowing something like bitcoin to have power gives poor countries more power. Right now the dominance of the world's major currencies gives the US and other 1st world countries huge power over trade.

I'm also currently involved in a business that benefits from government manipulation of exchange rates (the fact that china suppresses the Yuan's value vs the dollar saves me thousands of dollars a year).

From a purely financial standpoint, I benefit from the current corrupt system.

Would you stop "benefiting from the current corrupt system" based only on the fact you could/should make money more honestly?

I make my money legally.

honest =/= legal under a corrupt system.
Because the system can always change the laws to fit their needs so they can make immoral act legal if that benefits them

[EvilPanda]

I don't know what it is, but yeah, ban it, it must be some anti government crap made by anarchists to destabilize our country!

Most 60+ people don't use the internet and reject technology, but this works only until they need to find a good doctor or register somewhere without leaving home. My parents for instance, don't have a computer, and always say that they don't need it, and people who use it must be playing games or watching porn, but they always call me to buy them things online, check product reviews and verify news they saw on TV. You're right people are ignorant!

[Catswold]

Totally pointless poll beyond showing what most of us knew already, the bulk of American--and the citizens of every other nation in the world--don't know anything about BTCs, and those who are slightly knowledgeable get their (incorrect) information from the media, who themselves are ignorant about BTCs for the most part.  All they hear is the sensationalized stuff, like Mt. Gox and Silk Road so they associate BTC with illegal activity.

It also shows, given the level of ignorance about BTC in the general population, a majority of people lean towards less government control.

[CarlesPuyol]

the goverment trying to reduce the btc because they want the $ will stay the main currency in the world, and the btc is the future...

[RenegadeMind]

I'm trying to figure out a few things...

Is this trying to tell me that about half of Americans are brain dead?
Is this trying to tell me that men are smarter than women?
Is this trying to tell me that smart people are smarter than stupid people?
Is this trying to tell me that people with more money are smarter than poor people?
Is this trying to tell me that you don't have to be old to be wise? (Mandatory Judas Priest! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y6Qev04QyQ )
Is this trying to tell me that what colour you are doesn't indicate how smart/stupid you are?
Is this trying to tell me that democrats are severely brain damaged?
Is this trying to tell me that IQ decreases as you age?


Just one question for the challenged out there... Just what the f**k business is it of yours what I do with the products of my own labour?


The poll only shows that a sh!ttonne of people are busy-bodies that can't mind their own f**king business and leave people alone.

[jonald_fyookball]

I'm trying to figure out a few things...

Is this trying to tell me that about half of Americans are brain dead?

Sounds about right.

[jbrnt]

The survey is based on people's impressions of bitcoin, not their knowledge of bitcoin. These results are expected, and IMO reflect how most people truly feel about bitcoin.

We should use this survey in a positive way. It shows that we, users of bitcoin, should focus our efforts to promote bitcoin to middle-aged lower income individuals, cos they are our toughest hurdle to wider adoption.