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The blockchain is a virtualized state - yes it executes on computers but the whole point is distributed consensus - you don't have to trust the computers, you t
by meowkit 5y ago
The blockchain is a virtualized state - yes it executes on computers but the whole point is distributed consensus - you don't have to trust the computers, you trust the open source code being executed by the network.
- lottin 5y ago> you don't have to trust the computers, you trust the open source code being executed by the network You're contradicting yourself.
- cblconfederate 5y agoIt's not a contradiction. You can trust the law / trust the code, but not trust the judges / trust the machines that run the code. You trust the law beacuse you can read it / You trust the code because you can read and mathematically prove that it works You cant trust the judges -- you have to have faith in them You cant trust the machines either -- but blockchain gives you specific mathematical guarantees that it is very hard for them to break the system.
- lottin 5y agoI don't think you're using the word 'trust' correctly. Trust is a belief that a particular outcome will occur despite having no guarantees that it will occur. What does it mean to trust the law? I have no idea.
- thebean11 5y agoI think you are quibbling over the word "trust". How about you believe, based on your understanding of the system and the monetary cost of attacking it, that the virtualized computer will execute the way you expect it to execute? The same way you'd "trust" that a safe deposit box will not be breached. It's certainly not impossible, but it's unlikely based on your understanding of how it works.
- lottin 5y agoYes, I have no objection to this usage of 'trust'. My objection is in 'trust the law'.
- cblconfederate 5y agohttps://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trust https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trust