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I get that we waste a ton of electricity on Proof of Work for cryptocoins.... lots are working towards moving away from that. But we still rip holes in the eart

by johng 9y ago

I get that we waste a ton of electricity on Proof of Work for cryptocoins.... lots are working towards moving away from that. But we still rip holes in the earth and risk lives to search for gold as well.... which also has a very real environmental cost.

eesmith 9y ago
Is your end goal that we should stop all activities with a negative environmental cost? Or is your goal to argue that people should pay less attention to the negative environment impact of cryptocoins because other industries also pollute? If it's the latter, then I don't think it's a strong argument because it suggests we should only focus on the industries with the absolute worst pollution. It's kind of like saying that I shouldn't complain as much about my neighbor's dog pooping on my yard since after all pig wastes cause much more air pollution and environmental damage.
- johng 9y ago
  It's mainly just to point out to those who constantly bring it up as if Crypto is somehow worthless because it uses so much electricity.... that gold, and fiat have very real costs as well.
  - eesmith 9y ago
    As I recall, credit/debit card transfers require much less electricity than cryptocurrency, so if environmental impact were your real concern then you would be arguing against cryptocurrency. Or you would be arguing that the social benefit of cryptocurrency is worth the environmental damage, rather than simply pointing out that other industries also cause environmental damage. FWIW, I believe the lead mining industry contributes much more to environmental pollution than the (non-artisanal) gold mining done in South Africa at mines like this. Oil and coal as well. As it stands, it feels like you are using the plight of 950+ miners, and the lack of sufficient backup systems by the mine operators, as a rather stretched blame avoidance technique. Repeating what I wrote earlier: "It's kind of like saying that I shouldn't complain as much about my neighbor's dog pooping on my yard since after all pig wastes cause much more air pollution and environmental damage. " Or do you think that cryptocoins can substitute for gold, with an overall reduction in environmental damage? If so, how?

by johng 9y ago

eesmith 9y ago

Is your end goal that we should stop all activities with a negative environmental cost? Or is your goal to argue that people should pay less attention to the negative environment impact of cryptocoins because other industries also pollute? If it's the latter, then I don't think it's a strong argument because it suggests we should only focus on the industries with the absolute worst pollution. It's kind of like saying that I shouldn't complain as much about my neighbor's dog pooping on my yard since after all pig wastes cause much more air pollution and environmental damage.

johng 9y ago
It's mainly just to point out to those who constantly bring it up as if Crypto is somehow worthless because it uses so much electricity.... that gold, and fiat have very real costs as well.
- eesmith 9y ago
  As I recall, credit/debit card transfers require much less electricity than cryptocurrency, so if environmental impact were your real concern then you would be arguing against cryptocurrency. Or you would be arguing that the social benefit of cryptocurrency is worth the environmental damage, rather than simply pointing out that other industries also cause environmental damage. FWIW, I believe the lead mining industry contributes much more to environmental pollution than the (non-artisanal) gold mining done in South Africa at mines like this. Oil and coal as well. As it stands, it feels like you are using the plight of 950+ miners, and the lack of sufficient backup systems by the mine operators, as a rather stretched blame avoidance technique. Repeating what I wrote earlier: "It's kind of like saying that I shouldn't complain as much about my neighbor's dog pooping on my yard since after all pig wastes cause much more air pollution and environmental damage. " Or do you think that cryptocoins can substitute for gold, with an overall reduction in environmental damage? If so, how?