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I won't pretend I'm a computer genius or anything, but I feel like I understand tech at least more than the average Joe - at least, I'm the designated IT guy fo

I won't pretend I'm a computer genius or anything, but I feel like I understand tech at least more than the average Joe - at least, I'm the designated IT guy for computer problems faced by anyone I know. The fact that, despite having it explained multiple times by multiple sources multiple ways, I still can't seem to wrap my head around how crypto functions... Makes me suspicious. It feels like the whole idea is to obfuscate it's functionality to the point it becomes this incomprehensible enigma - by design. If it's not easy to comprehend, and instead a strange mystery number that moves between even stranger mystery-er numbers, someone is bound to think those numbers must be worth something - otherwise it wouldn't exist, right? Basically what I'm saying is cryptocurrency sends me into an existential spiral of thoughts about how all value is just perceived and agreed upon and 90% of what we call "the economy" is just fake. Look up fractional reserve banking and join the existential crisis with me!

landemva 5y ago
'existential spiral of thoughts about how all value is just perceived and agreed upon' Yes, you are awakening. Cultures seem to like jewelry and art.
a_rustacean 5y ago
"I don't understand it, therefore there is something suspicious about it" is a very dangerous way of reasoning. We burned innocent people because of this not long ago. Anyways, I find the Bitcoin paper very approachable. You may need to read it a bunch of times until everything clicks into place. But it's all there, in just 8 pages.
- Valakas_ 5y ago
  Humans haven't changed. We just like to pretend we have and are superior now. Pick any random person and put them back in the middle ages, they'd be burning witches and screaming of joy at gladiator matches.
- HelixEndeavor 5y ago
  Are you comparing my distrust of crypto to the Salem witch trials? Right... Anyways, the golden rules of investing is to not invest your money into something you don't understand.
x3n0ph3n3 5y ago
> I still can't seem to wrap my head around how crypto functions... Makes me suspicious. It feels like the whole idea is to obfuscate it's functionality to the point it becomes this incomprehensible enigma - by design. It's certainly not just obfuscation and smoke+mirrors. It's only as complicated as it has to be and the mathematics behind it are solid. Unfortunately, it is complicated enough that most people won't be able to easily understand it.
academia_hack 5y ago
It's really just a very slow, very inefficient and very public, database with an audit log of hashes keeping track of every change made. Everything else is just fluff/hype around that idea.
imtringued 5y ago
Honestly, one of the funniest things about our money system is that it keeps changing. Our understanding of money isn't really "finished". We ended up with a promise (also known as debt) based system by "accident" (through slow evolution) and that people have to catch up to this. https://youtu.be/ZFRVfXeIaek https://youtu.be/ZFRVfXeIaek

landemva 5y ago

'existential spiral of thoughts about how all value is just perceived and agreed upon' Yes, you are awakening. Cultures seem to like jewelry and art.

a_rustacean 5y ago

"I don't understand it, therefore there is something suspicious about it" is a very dangerous way of reasoning. We burned innocent people because of this not long ago. Anyways, I find the Bitcoin paper very approachable. You may need to read it a bunch of times until everything clicks into place. But it's all there, in just 8 pages.

Valakas_ 5y ago
Humans haven't changed. We just like to pretend we have and are superior now. Pick any random person and put them back in the middle ages, they'd be burning witches and screaming of joy at gladiator matches.
HelixEndeavor 5y ago
Are you comparing my distrust of crypto to the Salem witch trials? Right... Anyways, the golden rules of investing is to not invest your money into something you don't understand.

x3n0ph3n3 5y ago

> I still can't seem to wrap my head around how crypto functions... Makes me suspicious. It feels like the whole idea is to obfuscate it's functionality to the point it becomes this incomprehensible enigma - by design. It's certainly not just obfuscation and smoke+mirrors. It's only as complicated as it has to be and the mathematics behind it are solid. Unfortunately, it is complicated enough that most people won't be able to easily understand it.

academia_hack 5y ago

It's really just a very slow, very inefficient and very public, database with an audit log of hashes keeping track of every change made. Everything else is just fluff/hype around that idea.

imtringued 5y ago

Honestly, one of the funniest things about our money system is that it keeps changing. Our understanding of money isn't really "finished". We ended up with a promise (also known as debt) based system by "accident" (through slow evolution) and that people have to catch up to this. https://youtu.be/ZFRVfXeIaek https://youtu.be/ZFRVfXeIaek