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To be frank, whataboutism like this reply is really detrimental to the quality of many discussions around any topic, but particularly when it is about crypto.

To be frank, whataboutism like this reply is really detrimental to the quality of many discussions around any topic, but particularly when it is about crypto. Any and all criticism is deflected with “but look at x, they do y which is just the same. Well so what? Bad behavior within another system doesn’t absolve the system under scrutiny from criticism.

mw888 5y ago
Not at all. Pretending that a new technology is somehow exposed to new problems not present in old technology is disingenuous and frames the overall problem narrowly. Take an example from the author: “anyone can airdrop nfts to someone and it will show up in their wallet for them to see before they know what it is.” And? This is no different from getting emailed a similar picture, it’s not hard to track where it came from if investigators are so inclined, unless privacy measures also available in web2 are used. The place this ends is not about crypto currency, if you really want to stop all “harm” on the internet you end up in a society where encryption is demonized. I wonder what abuse and harassment will be irrestistable to corporations and governments who completely deny you privacy or digital autonomy. And we are worried about problems that already exist with or without crypto? Give me a break.
- louwrentius 5y ago
  > Pretending that a new technology is somehow exposed to new problems not present in old technology Which she doesn't so we can stop there. Your kind of discourse is exactly part of the problem here on HN.
- rvz 5y ago
  > This is no different from getting emailed a similar picture, it’s not hard to track where it came from if investigators are so inclined, unless privacy measures also available in web2 are used. This. Simply. The road to hell is once again paved with good intentions. From email, to the blockchain.
tinalumfoil 5y ago
The status quo the context new technologies get compared against. We don’t live in a vacuum.
- louwrentius 5y ago
  The key problem is that the criticism is never addressed.

mw888 5y ago

Not at all. Pretending that a new technology is somehow exposed to new problems not present in old technology is disingenuous and frames the overall problem narrowly. Take an example from the author: “anyone can airdrop nfts to someone and it will show up in their wallet for them to see before they know what it is.” And? This is no different from getting emailed a similar picture, it’s not hard to track where it came from if investigators are so inclined, unless privacy measures also available in web2 are used. The place this ends is not about crypto currency, if you really want to stop all “harm” on the internet you end up in a society where encryption is demonized. I wonder what abuse and harassment will be irrestistable to corporations and governments who completely deny you privacy or digital autonomy. And we are worried about problems that already exist with or without crypto? Give me a break.

louwrentius 5y ago
> Pretending that a new technology is somehow exposed to new problems not present in old technology Which she doesn't so we can stop there. Your kind of discourse is exactly part of the problem here on HN.
rvz 5y ago
> This is no different from getting emailed a similar picture, it’s not hard to track where it came from if investigators are so inclined, unless privacy measures also available in web2 are used. This. Simply. The road to hell is once again paved with good intentions. From email, to the blockchain.

tinalumfoil 5y ago

The status quo the context new technologies get compared against. We don’t live in a vacuum.

louwrentius 5y ago
The key problem is that the criticism is never addressed.