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How about we stop using blockchain like it's a thing on it's own and not a concept of which there are many implementations? Blockchains are an idea, just like

How about we stop using blockchain like it's a thing on it's own and not a concept of which there are many implementations? Blockchains are an idea, just like atoms are an idea, we don't refer to them as "atom" when talking about the concept. The #1 way to know someone doesn't know what they're talking about is when they use "blockchain" like this. If you say "the blockchain" in the context of a specific cryptocurrency, that makes sense, just like if you say "the atom" in the context of your scientific paper referring to a specific atom. But you can't just say "blockchain" referring to the concept.

m3ta 10y ago
You can say "I understand biology" without saying "I understand the biology of humans". You can say "I understand blockchain" without saying "I understand the bitcoin blockchain".
- problems 10y ago
  Because biology is a topic of its own. Think of it as "I understand the biology of human" vs "I understand the biology of humans". One makes sense, the other seems meaningless, not grammatically correct (and so blatantly it sounds terrible to a native speaker) or at least makes you ask which human.
zekevermillion 10y ago
I view the use of the term "blockchain" as a good litmus test as to the speaker's motivation. The word should really only be used to refer specifically to the database structure that is a blockchain. When someone uses the term blockchain to refer to the bitcoin network, bitcoin tokens, or the bitcoin industry or "movement", I suspect that the speaker does so b/c he is uncomfortable saying "bitcoin". He wants to talk about bitcoin, without appearing to endorse the ideals that gave rise to bitcoin. Perhaps he thinks satoshi's approach is misguided, or he eschews satoshi's ideals in favor of making a living from the existing business/state edifice. Plenty of smart people are in this camp, and to them I would charitably allow that they use abuse the term blockchain out of an honest desire to seem less threatening to the uninitiated.

m3ta 10y ago

You can say "I understand biology" without saying "I understand the biology of humans". You can say "I understand blockchain" without saying "I understand the bitcoin blockchain".

problems 10y ago
Because biology is a topic of its own. Think of it as "I understand the biology of human" vs "I understand the biology of humans". One makes sense, the other seems meaningless, not grammatically correct (and so blatantly it sounds terrible to a native speaker) or at least makes you ask which human.

zekevermillion 10y ago

I view the use of the term "blockchain" as a good litmus test as to the speaker's motivation. The word should really only be used to refer specifically to the database structure that is a blockchain. When someone uses the term blockchain to refer to the bitcoin network, bitcoin tokens, or the bitcoin industry or "movement", I suspect that the speaker does so b/c he is uncomfortable saying "bitcoin". He wants to talk about bitcoin, without appearing to endorse the ideals that gave rise to bitcoin. Perhaps he thinks satoshi's approach is misguided, or he eschews satoshi's ideals in favor of making a living from the existing business/state edifice. Plenty of smart people are in this camp, and to them I would charitably allow that they use abuse the term blockchain out of an honest desire to seem less threatening to the uninitiated.