Bitcoin is too complex for the average person

[Joshuar]

Anyone ever got the feeling that Bitcoin is too complex for the average person? The average person wants things as simple as possible, so when the word, Blockchain, Decentralization, etc, come into play, I feel that makes it too complicated for the average person to understand or even care.

[Mikestang]

The average person is an idiot unfortunately, most can't even use a computer at all.  Talk fiat finance with technical terms and the average person will understand just as much as BTC, maybe even less because once you get into fiat finance you realize how BS and made up it all is.  The "average person" will learn and adapt, and as BTC becomes more and more accepted folks will develop ways to make it easier and easier to use.  The behind-the-scenes stuff will continue to be complicated by its very nature.

[Joshuar]

The average person is an idiot unfortunately, most can't even use a computer at all.  Talk fiat finance with technical terms and the average person will understand just as much as BTC, maybe even less because once you get into fiat finance you realize how BS and made up it all is.  The "average person" will learn and adapt, and as BTC becomes more and more accepted folks will develop ways to make it easier and easier to use.  The behind-the-scenes stuff will continue to be complicated by its very nature.

But the thing is, Fiat or government created and regulated currencies are already the dominant, established forms of money. Bitcoin itself is alternative, so when you're speaking to a regular person about Bitcoin, you have to explain what is it/does, came from, etc, etc. With fiat, you need not explain any of that at all, since it's already the dominant system.

[galdur]

most can't even use a computer at all

Well, I guess most of those idiots can use a cell phone which of course is an internet computer nowadays.

[mercistheman]

As a long time IT manager I finally realized that if you want folks to adopt to new advances you need to completely skip the technical aspects... more time should be spent giving them "what's in it for me" and making it fun.
When we did need to have training sessions relating to tech concepts we tried to make it a good experience... for example casino night... correct answer gained chips... or a virtual baseball game between two teams (base hit for simple answers... home run for harder etc).

As the op says as a community we have to come to grips with the need to dummy it down ... simple short promotions that can positively address their every day issues.

[galdur]

I don´t know; since idiots tend to underestimate the intelligence of others then the reverse is probably true

being that those "others" overestimate the stupidity of idiots. 

[Meuh6879]

complexe ?

1) print this : https://www.bitaddress.org
2) buy btc

Less complexe than a 3D Secure from a VISA Card ... 

[bitwarrior]

As a long time IT manager I finally realized that if you want folks to adopt to new advances you need to completely skip the technical aspects... more time should be spent giving them "what's in it for me" and making it fun.
When we did need to have training sessions relating to tech concepts we tried to make it a good experience... for example casino night... correct answer gained chips... or a virtual baseball game between two teams (base hit for simple answers... home run for harder etc).

As the op says as a community we have to come to grips with the need to dummy it down ... simple short promotions that can positively address their every day issues.

I do agree on what your saying. Skip the technical aspects and go for more mass adoption. As more and more are adopting this new currency into the market, people will easily understand then the need for BTC and its advantages compared to fiat.

[MakingMoneyHoney]

complexe ?

1) print this : https://www.bitaddress.org
2) buy btc

Less complexe than a 3D Secure from a VISA Card ... 

What's going to happen if a new person comes to Bitcoin, and comes across a website, say something like, https://www.bitaddress.com (only .com vs .org) and the program on it's website has the ability to know all the private keys used?

If people are still saying things like this currently (posted today):

Though there could be a program out there (released or just currently being made) to generate non-random keys for paper wallets, no one has seen it yet, as far as I'm aware. Many people suggest this site, https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bitcoinpaperwallet/generate-wallet.html, and the source has been released, and I would think if it was set up that way, someone would have noticed it by now. But please, correct me if I'm wrong.

Nothing prevents people from releasing source code for a key generation technique different from the one they are actually using.  

Never.

     EVER.

          Use a key generated by someone who is not you, to store your money.

How do you make it safe for those who don't know how to make your own private key?

[Ingatqhvq]

Anyone ever got the feeling that Bitcoin is too complex for the average person? The average person wants things as simple as possible, so when the word, Blockchain, Decentralization, etc, come into play, I feel that makes it too complicated for the average person to understand or even care.

yes，the wallet is not freafriendly enough for average people.
And for average people the security is the biggest proplem.

[MakingMoneyHoney]

Anyone ever got the feeling that Bitcoin is too complex for the average person? The average person wants things as simple as possible, so when the word, Blockchain, Decentralization, etc, come into play, I feel that makes it too complicated for the average person to understand or even care.

yes，the wallet is not freafriendly enough for average people.
And for average people the security is the biggest proplem.

Also, average people who are going to have their wallet on their computer are going to have it on their windows system, and not have security in place, and will probably easily download malware that can steal any funds left on it.

[CtrlAltBernanke420]

Bitcoin can be one of many catalysts to a population die off….

The strong survive… Its a needed thing.. because you are right I hate the average person i think they're stupid and the only thing they might offer me is a chunk of their money through their life…

I thought the current bitcoin protocol block chain cannot get changed, and if it does get forked, we are dealing with bitcoin 2.0 not the original sound bitcoin… Well the original bitcoin has its limits… 2-7 transactions/second… Todays consumer driven world would overwhelm they if even partial adoption occurred…. sooo…

Let keep bitcoin the same and change the face of the planet… don't be a hater because it means you might die… Atleast your children won't be slaves to bankers… but perhaps the 1500 bitcoiners who have most of the coin.. Fortunately those 1500 people might just be nicer than the bankers and don't have foul intentions…

Granted they still want their yatchs and need someone to polish the railings...

[CtrlAltBernanke420]

Until people know and understand encryption and private keys/public keys(even i don't understand it but i know what they are and why they are important, how they work is not my game..)  but until then, they can count on getting Fucked over till death do us apart. Some will learn, most will die and shrivel up when the real gets real… This economy is a farce and it won't last.. People are getting killed in NY over bitcoins…. GET IT GOT IT!!! it isn't a nice world and you might just die or get killed. lol ISIS and terrorist can kiss an educated criminals ass..

[the joint]

Bitcoin is still a beta project.  That should indicate something.

[gadman2]

The average person shouldn't use bitcoin, yet.

[CtrlAltBernanke420]

Bitcoin is still a beta project.  That should indicate something.

And people are getting killed over it… That should indicate something also.

[DeathAndTaxes]

TCP/IP is too complex for the average person but their browser uses it just fine to let them post photos of their cat on facebook.

[stevenh512]

What's going to happen if a new person comes to Bitcoin, and comes across a website, say something like, https://www.bitaddress.com (only .com vs .org) and the program on it's website has the ability to know all the private keys used?

Same thing that happens to the countless people who get fooled every day by phishing sites made to look like PayPal or their bank.. unfortunately without the dispute process that banks and PayPal have to try to get your money back.. but personally, I'm of the opinion that protecting people from their own stupidity by making it clear that whenever they make a mistake someone will come in and clean up after them only encourages them to remain stupid. Harsh, I know, but as long as there are no consequences for making such a foolish mistake (anyone who can read should be able to spot a phishing site a mile away) people have no incentive to learn not to make that mistake.

I thought the current bitcoin protocol block chain cannot get changed, and if it does get forked, we are dealing with bitcoin 2.0 not the original sound bitcoin… Well the original bitcoin has its limits… 2-7 transactions/second… Todays consumer driven world would overwhelm they if even partial adoption occurred…. sooo…

In that case, we've already lost the original Bitcoin and we're on (at least) 2.0 by your narrow definition, since Bitcoin has already been hard-forked.

Let keep bitcoin the same and change the face of the planet… don't be a hater because it means you might die… Atleast your children won't be slaves to bankers… but perhaps the 1500 bitcoiners who have most of the coin..

Yes, let's make Bitcoin the new fiat banking system, transferring all of the world's wealth into the hands of a few elite (less than 1%) of the population giving them unimaginable power over the average person.. because, you know, that's not the system we're trying to move away from or anything.

Fortunately those 1500 people might just be nicer than the bankers and don't have foul intentions…

Call me when you wake up from that dream. In reality, the most power-hungry people with the most foul intentions will become the most wealthy and powerful if you create a system that allows them to do that.

TCP/IP is too complex for the average person but their browser uses it just fine to let them post photos of their cat on facebook.

^ this.
Just because something is too complicated for the average person to understand, that doesn't mean we can't abstract away the complicated parts and make something that "just works" for the average person. I can count on one hand how many people I know who even have the faintest idea how their cell phone works but I don't know anyone who can't use one.

[MakingMoneyHoney]

What's going to happen if a new person comes to Bitcoin, and comes across a website, say something like, https://www.bitaddress.com (only .com vs .org) and the program on it's website has the ability to know all the private keys used?

Same thing that happens to the countless people who get fooled every day by phishing sites made to look like PayPal or their bank.. unfortunately without the dispute process that banks and PayPal have to try to get your money back.. but personally, I'm of the opinion that protecting people from their own stupidity by making it clear that whenever they make a mistake someone will come in and clean up after them only encourages them to remain stupid. Harsh, I know, but as long as there are no consequences for making such a foolish mistake (anyone who can read should be able to spot a phishing site a mile away) people have no incentive to learn not to make that mistake.

I think what's going to end up happening, is we'll get lots of businesses who create wallets that will hold your Bitcoins (Private keys & Public keys) for you (so you don't even need to give someone an address, maybe just QR codes everywhere), and let you spend it and insure it against loss in the exact same way credit cards work and hold your money. If they screw up they'll need insurance on the Bitcoins, so we'll see more Bitcoin insurance companies, and the companies will need to make sure they have taken as many precautions as they can so their insurance premiums will be lower the more protected they are.

[randy8777]

it would take an average person less than an hour to know the basic things.
they are too lazy or just not that much interested.