If I cannot touch it, it does not exist threshold that needs to be overcome

[bitcoinsrus]

Ever try to explain bitcoin to a new person? The hardest part is most likely getting them to understand the concept of bitcoin being digital or virtual (i.e not physical).

We are wired to having physical things that are a representation of what it can do for us. When someone tells you there is a new money system that can solve all sorts of problems (but you cannot physically hold it) some cannot grasp it.

There have been some attempts by a few physical bitcoin makers, but it does not seem like a fix.
I am not saying we need a physical bitcoin because we do not. Peoples perception of "It needs to be in my hand for it to exist" needs to change.

Of course the tech savvy groups can grasp this ideology, but the majority might find it difficult to accept the digital aspect of bitcoin (cannot touch it, therefore it does not exist etc).

Thoughts appreciated

[gentlemand]

Are you sure about this?

You can't hold a stock, or most of the contents of your bank account, or your pension or your bonds. People are accustomed to the idea of numbers on screens or paper adding up to real world benefits unless they're batty or ancient.

[smoothie]

Yeah most of the gold bugs can't wrap their head around it yet they use YouTube which is not tangible. lol oh the irony  

[Raystonn]

Ever try to explain bitcoin to a new person? The hardest part is most likely getting them to understand the concept of bitcoin being digital or virtual (i.e not physical).

We are wired to having physical things that are a representation of what it can do for us. When someone tells you there is a new money system that can solve all sorts of problems (but you cannot physically hold it) some cannot grasp it.

There have been some attempts by a few physical bitcoin makers, but it does not seem like a fix.
I am not saying we need a physical bitcoin because we do not. Peoples perception of "It needs to be in my hand for it to exist" needs to change.

Of course the tech savvy groups can grasp this ideology, but the majority might find it difficult to accept the digital aspect of bitcoin (cannot touch it, therefore it does not exist etc).

Thoughts appreciated

"Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof."

- V for Vendetta

I invite the world to peek beneath the mask and learn more about Bitcoin.

[Elwar]

You cannot hold google in your hand either. Does its utility give it value?

[Fippy]

Fun fact: Out of the amount of US dollars 'on record', as in sum total balances of accounts etc, there is only enough physical money to represent 3% of it.


People are already accustomed to not being able to touch it...they just don't realize it.

[bitbaby]

Ever try to explain bitcoin to a new person? The hardest part is most likely getting them to understand the concept of bitcoin being digital or virtual (i.e not physical).

We are wired to having physical things that are a representation of what it can do for us. When someone tells you there is a new money system that can solve all sorts of problems (but you cannot physically hold it) some cannot grasp it.

There have been some attempts by a few physical bitcoin makers, but it does not seem like a fix.
I am not saying we need a physical bitcoin because we do not. Peoples perception of "It needs to be in my hand for it to exist" needs to change.

Of course the tech savvy groups can grasp this ideology, but the majority might find it difficult to accept the digital aspect of bitcoin (cannot touch it, therefore it does not exist etc).

Thoughts appreciated

some people will be skeptical period. no matter what you do, they can't be explained because they refuse to understand it, if they want something physical make them a paper wallet and explain to them how they can actually buy stuff with it.

[Ron~Popeil]

Before the internet age I would agree but people are used to intangible stuff now. Ease of use is a bigger issue.

[hilariousandco]

You cannot touch god but he exists... Haha just kidding.

Are you sure about this?

You can't hold a stock, or most of the contents of your bank account, or your pension or your bonds. People are accustomed to the idea of numbers on screens or paper adding up to real world benefits unless they're batty or ancient.

Exactly. If anyone has a problem understanding that Bitcoin exists tell them the money in their account doesn't either. And neither do those MP3s on your hardrive. They exist and they have worth.

[Ron~Popeil]

You cannot touch god but he exists... Haha just kidding.

Are you sure about this?

You can't hold a stock, or most of the contents of your bank account, or your pension or your bonds. People are accustomed to the idea of numbers on screens or paper adding up to real world benefits unless they're batty or ancient.

Exactly. If anyone has a problem understanding that Bitcoin exists tell them the money in their account doesn't either. And neither do those MP3s on your hardrive. They exist and they have worth.

Well said. Sometimes I think we look too hard for potential problems with BTC.

[franky1]

the gold hoarders who come up with this excuse do so for one main reason.

they are GOLD HOARDERS.

they know the only way they will make profits is to get people to buy THEIR gold at a high price. and they will do anything and say anything to tell people to not buy bitcoins, but to buy gold instead,

secretly they know that bitcoin is a genuine asset, but they will never admit to such (research Rawdog on youtube) he knows what bitcoin is and trades it but he will always make videos telling people how great gold is and how people should not invest in bitcoin. purely because it loses him business.

these gold hoarders will come up with cunning ways to shout how bitcoin is not a commodity. (tangible/intrinsic) which is correct. bitcoin is not a commodity. it is however an asset.

assets do not have to be tangible or intrinsic. EG forex, digital media, intellectual property, stocks, shares, etc. all of these examples are assets not commodities.

so when you approach someone and their reply is 'its not tangible/intrinsic' as yourself are they saying it to debunk bitcoin because they are commodity hoarders or thy want to believe in bitcoin but all they knew before hand was descriptions of a commodity.

if its because they are hoarders, good luck convincing them to stop trying to convince others. as its their livelihood that is lost by them admitting bitcoin is a asset and a valid store of value.

if its because they simply do not understand, then simply explain the difference between an asset and a commodity.

[cr1776]

Ask them have you even seen or held $1 million (or billion)? 

Most people haven't. Does it not exist?

[findftp]

You can't touch the memories of the birth of your child or your wedding either.
You can't touch the electrons which sends your instant messages all around the world either (whatsapp, email)

So it doesn't matter if you can't touch it yes or no, it still can have value.

And if they persist to irritate about intrinsic value then ask them to stick their dick into a wall socket and see if they still agree electrons have no intrinsic value.

[Beliathon]

Fun fact: Out of the amount of US dollars 'on record', as in sum total balances of accounts etc, there is only enough physical money to represent 3% of it.


People are already accustomed to not being able to touch it...they just don't realize it.

Probably because most people in the US are broke.

[Aswan]

Ever try to explain bitcoin to a new person? The hardest part is most likely getting them to understand the concept of bitcoin being digital or virtual (i.e not physical).

We are wired to having physical things that are a representation of what it can do for us. When someone tells you there is a new money system that can solve all sorts of problems (but you cannot physically hold it) some cannot grasp it.

There have been some attempts by a few physical bitcoin makers, but it does not seem like a fix.
I am not saying we need a physical bitcoin because we do not. Peoples perception of "It needs to be in my hand for it to exist" needs to change.

Of course the tech savvy groups can grasp this ideology, but the majority might find it difficult to accept the digital aspect of bitcoin (cannot touch it, therefore it does not exist etc).

Thoughts appreciated

Maybe it helps to educate those people about the fact that USB and EUR etc. are virtual currencies as well.

[Tsquared]

I've heard many anti-bitcoin arguments, but this I would consider one of the more silly ones.

You can't touch gravity, does it exist?
You can't touch radiation, does it exist?

Value is another story, and can be argued forever, but whether you can touch something or not has little to do with its value. You can touch shit right, does that give it value?

TT

[weisoq]

This will resolve itself wth time as governments themselves move away from physical cash to state emoney (although not sure yet whether we're doing the state a favour or vice versa - probably both). I don't see much point in thinking backwards, and there will always be people who demand tangibles whatever the trend. The best way to demonstrate value is to use it, spend it and show them the the tangible result.

[CoinRocka]

The common man needs to realize what the wealthy man has known all along... Knowledge/Information is Power.

[Este Nuno]

Fun fact: Out of the amount of US dollars 'on record', as in sum total balances of accounts etc, there is only enough physical money to represent 3% of it.


People are already accustomed to not being able to touch it...they just don't realize it.

Probably because most people in the US are broke.

Wow this is really interesting. I am not surprised at all really, but it's kind of amazing how the modern American economy seems to be set up to make people poor.

Maybe part of the problem with some people not believing in bitcoin is because they don't understand that having bitcoin is like having a ticket. Your private key is your ticket to whatever amount of btc you happen to have. And it's not possible for the system to forget that you own the btc because the blockchain is distributed over a massive amount of separate computers all over the world. So in that respect bitcoin very much exists. It exists on every hard drive that has a copy of the blockchain.

[findftp]

Wow this is really interesting. I am not surprised at all really, but it's kind of amazing how the modern American economy seems to be set up to make people poor.

Maybe part of the problem with some people not believing in bitcoin is because they don't understand that having bitcoin is like having a ticket. Your private key is your ticket to whatever amount of btc you happen to have. And it's not possible for the system to forget that you own the btc because the blockchain is distributed over a massive amount of separate computers all over the world. So in that respect bitcoin very much exists. It exists on every hard drive that has a copy of the blockchain.

Since day one I declared all my BTC a ticket to freedom.
Every day bitcoin lasts, I buy more tickets to freedom.