From
http://www.bitcoingorilla.com/the-types-of-bitcoin-usersThere is a healthy network of bitcoin users out there. Some with big voices. Others who prefer to hide in the shadows. A recent Bitcoin Talk post hypothesized around a million users. While bitcoin is a pseudonymous tool and we cannot identify users, there are some key characteristics I see that bring peers into crypto-currency. Lets take a look at some of these, and see if you agree.
NeophileA term used by the great Robert Anton Wilson. (who was recently featured in Quotes from the Underground) Neophiles have a stronger propensity for Novelty and find themselves attracted to new ideas & experiences.
Characteristics of a Neophile:
The ability to adapt rapidly to extreme change.
A distaste or downright loathing of tradition, repetition, and routine.
A tendency to become bored quickly with old things.
A desire, bordering on obsession in some cases, to experience novelty.
A corresponding and related desire to create novelty by creating or achieving something and/or by stirring social or other forms of unrest.
The crypto-currency community is bubbling with neophiles. Heck, humanity as a whole are novelty seekers. The idea of a 'new' technology always excites the innards. Novelty is the same driving force behind traveling, consumerism, polyamoury, exploration, and creativity. Right now cryptocurrency is so new. There is excitement as one can pontificate on the future and manifest their dreams as the unknown plays out.
IdeologueThe believers. Ideologues see the tool for its superior capabilities relative to a current realm. Privacy, transparency, efficiency, philosophy, political pressure, or geographic limitations are a few of the unlimited reasons an ideologue cites in support of bitcoin. They tend to use knowledge to back their belief with critical thinking to support their arguments. An ideologue in support of bitcoin tends to have uncompromising support. They tend to be more evangelical and well read into the happenings of cryptocurrency, especially in the subset of the sub-ideal that brought them to party.
Notice how political peers tend to stress the decentralization aspect? Or business/finance peers stress the friction-less nature? What about cyberpunk peers championing privacy and security?
Most bitcoin peers are ideologues. They perceive value in the tool. The theoretical invention of cryptocurrency opens up the head to so many new ideas.
Thank you Satoshi, for we are believers.
InvestorsAn investor is a person who allocates capital with the expectation of a financial return. Investors are more apt to follow the 'price' of bitcoin in relation to other financial tools. They are more likely to pull out of the investment if a more profitable one makes itself available. Compared to an ideologue, investors are typically less concerned with the tool functionality and are less emotionally invested in the vehicle.
All peers holding coins are 'investors'.
The typical bitcoin user is a neophile, idealogue, and investor. They might relate with one trait stronger which can be brought to light with a simple question:
What brought you to bitcoin?Test this out on your fellow peers. See if these archetypes are present in their response. I'd love to hear what you readers think. Please leave a comment in response to the question above.
