A simpler explanation, please...

[Steve]

I simply believe its misleading and dangerous when people come around saying 'bitcoins are like gold' it doesn't matter if they then follow up and qualify that statement.

I disagree.  The crux of the matter is whether you believe that a commodity like gold must have some intrinsic value other than its utility as money for it to be useful as money.  I believe that the metallic value of gold is utterly and completely irrelevant to its value as money (aside from the metallic properties that are directly related to its suitability as money...i.e. it doesn't corrode away).  I also believe that gold's utility as money *is* an intrinsic value, just as I believe bitcoin's utility as a money is its intrinsic value.  For these reasons and others, I think gold is perhaps the closest thing to bitcoin that currently exists and is thus useful for comparison purposes.  It certainly isn't like fiat currencies, or bank deposits, or agricultural commodities, or stocks or bonds.

Many Austrian economists would agree with your point of view, but not all.

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[flamesong]

Ugh, this thread gives me so much headache.

So many people have explained where the value comes from. Stop saying nobody has.

-_-

OK, nobody has in a manner which makes any sense to me! See the topic subject.

But you can stop trying to explain now, I've only come back to stop my subscription to the thread because I'm bored with reading completely contradictory posts from different people with opposing ideas and being told that my questions have been answered.

If I start a thread, asking a question, forgive me for believing that I have the right to determine when it has been answered.

Anyway, everybody, especially Nesetalis, can shut up now. Topic locked.

[MoonShadow]

If I start a thread, asking a question, forgive me for believing that I have the right to determine when it has been answered.

Perhaps you need to narrow the scope of the question and try again.  What about the explainations that you have received do you not understand?  In addition, asking about valuations is subjective.  I.E. the answer is relative to the person being asked, and not an objective truth that can be explained.  The only objective truth concerning the "what gives Bitcoin value" is that something does.