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> On top of this, the plant is under strict scrutiny by the regulators, and they appear to be operating withing the limits outlined by said regulators. So if th

> On top of this, the plant is under strict scrutiny by the regulators, and they appear to be operating withing the limits outlined by said regulators. So if there is anyone to get mad at here it's not the plant operators, it's the Department of Environmental Conservation. Actually, the correct answer is: both. There's a difference between what's legal and what's moral or ethical. It is clear, at least to me, that emitting large quantities of CO2 into the air, and heated waste water into a lake, for the sole purpose of enriching oneself mining cryptocurrencies, is simply immoral. It is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons. The regulations clearly do not adequately limit this kind of activity. So we should be angry that the laws don't reflect our values. And we should be angry that these folks are taking advantage of that fact to enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of us.

ohhhhhh 5y ago
We as a society deem it a fair use of energy to have dryers, and christamas lights all year long, which use more energy that a decentralized monetary system that brings sovereign banking to the masses. Before letting this story and all the other propaganda make you angry (intended) actually look what bitcoin IS, how it works, and what problems it solves in the world. A comparison that always comes to mind is like someone saying that the internet is a big waste of energy.
- CarelessExpert 5y ago
  > We as a society deem it a fair use of energy to have dryers, and christamas lights all year long, which use more energy that a decentralized monetary system that brings sovereign banking to the masses. It... really doesn't. It brings wild speculation to a few. And ransomware to many. But banking? To the masses? Hah! Sorry, no. That would imply Bitcoin is useful for, you know, actually engaging in day to day monetary transactions. It'd imply large numbers of commercial and government interests to be willing to use Bitcoin as a medium of exchange. It'd imply a stable, reliable, regulated, insured location where people could store their wealth confident that it wouldn't be stolen. It'd require reversible transactions to deal with fraud, fat fingering, and so forth. Basically, it'd require Bitcoin to be something completely different than what it is. > look what bitcoin IS, how it works, and what problems it solves in the world. I have. I've been watching it for ten years now. And it's still just yet another speculative "asset" with no merit as either a currency or a store of value due to, among many many things, its massive volatility. As a form of digital gambling, though? Unparalleled! > A comparison that always comes to mind is like someone saying that the internet is a big waste of energy. And if all the internet was was a giant digital slot machine, they'd be right.
doublejay1999 5y ago
> It is clear, at least to me, that emitting large quantities of CO2 into the air, and heated waste water into a lake, for the sole purpose of enriching oneself i agree, but that would make bitcoin mining merely the most recent addition to a very, very long list of immoral endeavours undertaken for the sole purpose of enriching oneself.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

ohhhhhh 5y ago

We as a society deem it a fair use of energy to have dryers, and christamas lights all year long, which use more energy that a decentralized monetary system that brings sovereign banking to the masses. Before letting this story and all the other propaganda make you angry (intended) actually look what bitcoin IS, how it works, and what problems it solves in the world. A comparison that always comes to mind is like someone saying that the internet is a big waste of energy.

CarelessExpert 5y ago
> We as a society deem it a fair use of energy to have dryers, and christamas lights all year long, which use more energy that a decentralized monetary system that brings sovereign banking to the masses. It... really doesn't. It brings wild speculation to a few. And ransomware to many. But banking? To the masses? Hah! Sorry, no. That would imply Bitcoin is useful for, you know, actually engaging in day to day monetary transactions. It'd imply large numbers of commercial and government interests to be willing to use Bitcoin as a medium of exchange. It'd imply a stable, reliable, regulated, insured location where people could store their wealth confident that it wouldn't be stolen. It'd require reversible transactions to deal with fraud, fat fingering, and so forth. Basically, it'd require Bitcoin to be something completely different than what it is. > look what bitcoin IS, how it works, and what problems it solves in the world. I have. I've been watching it for ten years now. And it's still just yet another speculative "asset" with no merit as either a currency or a store of value due to, among many many things, its massive volatility. As a form of digital gambling, though? Unparalleled! > A comparison that always comes to mind is like someone saying that the internet is a big waste of energy. And if all the internet was was a giant digital slot machine, they'd be right.

doublejay1999 5y ago

> It is clear, at least to me, that emitting large quantities of CO2 into the air, and heated waste water into a lake, for the sole purpose of enriching oneself i agree, but that would make bitcoin mining merely the most recent addition to a very, very long list of immoral endeavours undertaken for the sole purpose of enriching oneself.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]