5 ms·

It's an interesting comparison. I mean the easy reply is no: Fusion is not a solution in search of a problem. It has a precise defined desired output, and the

It's an interesting comparison. I mean the easy reply is no: Fusion is not a solution in search of a problem. It has a precise defined desired output, and the engineering is being worked on to achieve that output. (E.g.) NFT don't. Smart contracts don't. Even cryptocurrencies don't. If you precisely define what you want from a cryptocurrency, then you'll either end up with something that's better solved centralized (to a larger or lesser degree, but at least control), or you'll end up with something that nobody actually wants. And if you launch today with something nobody actually wants, then you get rich. So who cares if eventually it solves a problem? And there's no incentive to make that happen. The main difference is that blockchains are being launched before any thought has been put into what problems they solve. Because the money is made on the speculation. Solving the problem is incidental. Sure, you could be super cynical and say that fusion, or indeed every single company in the world, is only there to make money, primarily. But they do that by solving (or trying to solve) actual problems. Again on cryptocurrencies: Why do you think I'll have a hard time walking into a bank with duffle bags full of cash? Really think about that question. Really think about the hundreds of years of thought that has gone into it. Do you think the main problem these generations of people were trying to solve was "intransigent bankers"? Do you think the bank doesn't "like" you as a customer if you walk in with duffle bags full of cash without explanation, and that's why it has rules and takes time, and you have to explain yourself? Now cryptocurrencies just treat that as "that's stupid, let's remove all that". Let's say a thief stole your TV. They catch the thief, and a court orders them to repay you. They have the money. They say no. Obviously you want a court order to be able to take their money. A friend of mine was sexually attacked by a guy. The guy was convicted and ordered to pay a fine. He refused. The court ordered his safe deposit box opened, and they took the money. And that's a good thing. > when you don’t actually follow the technology The technology doesn't matter, if problems are misidentified.

kristofferR 5y ago
Once you realize that "you" doesn't equal everyone else, you'll stop acting like that. Plenty of people want and use what crypto already offers. Moneygram was a horrible experience for me, for example, I'm really glad my language school accepting crypto payments.
- knorker 5y ago
  > Plenty of people want and use what crypto already offers. You're saying a statistically significant number of people want all three branches of government to be completely stripped of any power? No criminal or civil courts? I think that's ridiculous on its face.
  - kristofferR 5y ago
    Please get off your privileged high horse; most people aren't living in proper democracies, unfortunately.
    - dmitriid 5y ago
      The absolute vast majority of people in the world live in countries with functioning governments. Whether or not they are "proper democracies" is really beside the point because no one can define a "proper democracy" (US and Sweden are different as night and day and yet both are democracies, for example). And crypto makes non-functioning governments significantly worse. Good luck proving the NFT on your house proves you're an owner in a dysfunctional government.
      - kortilla 5y ago
        If you’re living in a dysfunctional government then at least crypto protects you from random seizures/freezing of your assets. > The absolute vast majority of people in the world live in countries with functioning governments. The underlying statement you are making bere is that we shouldn’t be building technology that helps people undermine their governments’ ability to control their citizens’ assets. That’s the crux of the argument here. If you live in a government where things generally work for you, this technology is threatening. If you don’t, it’s a possible path to some semblance of autonomy.
        dmitriid 5y ago
        > If you’re living in a dysfunctional government 1. There are very few such governments on earth, all things considered 2. You still need to somehow convert those "assets" into, you know, actual food, and clothing, and... In a truly dysfunctional government rubber-hose cryptanalysis is a thing that exists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber-hose_cryptanalysis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber-hose_cryptanalysis > The underlying statement you are making bere is that we shouldn’t be building technology that helps people undermine their governments’ ability to control their citizens’ assets. No. The underlying statement is: you're building something that doesn't work the way it's advertised. > That’s the crux of the argument here. Well, if you invent arguments, pretend your opponent said those argumetns, and then bravely fight those arguments, then surely, that's the crux. So. Back to my original statement: "Crypto makes non-functioning governments significantly worse. Good luck proving the NFT on your house proves you're an owner in a dysfunctional government." It's an objective fact that doesn't rely on your imagining of what a dysfunctional government is.

kristofferR 5y ago

Once you realize that "you" doesn't equal everyone else, you'll stop acting like that. Plenty of people want and use what crypto already offers. Moneygram was a horrible experience for me, for example, I'm really glad my language school accepting crypto payments.

knorker 5y ago
> Plenty of people want and use what crypto already offers. You're saying a statistically significant number of people want all three branches of government to be completely stripped of any power? No criminal or civil courts? I think that's ridiculous on its face.
- kristofferR 5y ago
  Please get off your privileged high horse; most people aren't living in proper democracies, unfortunately.
  - dmitriid 5y ago
    The absolute vast majority of people in the world live in countries with functioning governments. Whether or not they are "proper democracies" is really beside the point because no one can define a "proper democracy" (US and Sweden are different as night and day and yet both are democracies, for example). And crypto makes non-functioning governments significantly worse. Good luck proving the NFT on your house proves you're an owner in a dysfunctional government.
    - kortilla 5y ago
      If you’re living in a dysfunctional government then at least crypto protects you from random seizures/freezing of your assets. > The absolute vast majority of people in the world live in countries with functioning governments. The underlying statement you are making bere is that we shouldn’t be building technology that helps people undermine their governments’ ability to control their citizens’ assets. That’s the crux of the argument here. If you live in a government where things generally work for you, this technology is threatening. If you don’t, it’s a possible path to some semblance of autonomy.
      - dmitriid 5y ago
        > If you’re living in a dysfunctional government 1. There are very few such governments on earth, all things considered 2. You still need to somehow convert those "assets" into, you know, actual food, and clothing, and... In a truly dysfunctional government rubber-hose cryptanalysis is a thing that exists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber-hose_cryptanalysis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber-hose_cryptanalysis > The underlying statement you are making bere is that we shouldn’t be building technology that helps people undermine their governments’ ability to control their citizens’ assets. No. The underlying statement is: you're building something that doesn't work the way it's advertised. > That’s the crux of the argument here. Well, if you invent arguments, pretend your opponent said those argumetns, and then bravely fight those arguments, then surely, that's the crux. So. Back to my original statement: "Crypto makes non-functioning governments significantly worse. Good luck proving the NFT on your house proves you're an owner in a dysfunctional government." It's an objective fact that doesn't rely on your imagining of what a dysfunctional government is.