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Whataboutism isn’t an argument, it’s just a silent admission of guilt, trying to make people look the other way. Criticism of our existing financial systems is

Whataboutism isn’t an argument, it’s just a silent admission of guilt, trying to make people look the other way. Criticism of our existing financial systems is valid but it’s a different topic, it does make society happen and has tremendous value. Crypto has negative value. It undermines society, and it actively facilitates crime.

sphinxster 4y ago
Whataboutism is whataboutism. Attempting to invoke the thankfully largely-discarded concept of "whataboutism" is actually just a kind of backhanded ad hominem used to avoid making a real argument and instead try to make people "look the other way". Criticism of the existing financial system in the context of discussing a proposed replacement for it is about as related a discussion as possible. Simply stating that all crypto is bad/criminal adds nothing of value to the discussion. The truth is that there are (as there generally is with new technologies), useful and practical purposes to which they are applied. Indeed, the majority instances so far of "crypto" having caused harm has actually been the result of an ordinary centralised trust-based fraud donning the label "crypto" to draw in victims to loot. The #1 mantra of crypto has always been "not your keys, not your coins". Had it been followed, instead of perverted into its opposite and mislabelled "crypto", the most heinous of these scams would not have been enabled. The thing most actively facilitating crime and fraud in "crypto" lately is the profoundly misguided belief that giving your money to someone you've never met you saw on TV is safer than keeping it in your own wallet. Crypto is not to blame for that belief, it was invented to provide an alternative.
- AustinDev 4y ago
  >Whataboutism is whataboutism. >Attempting to invoke the thankfully largely-discarded concept of "whataboutism" is actually just a kind of backhanded ad hominem used to avoid making a real argument and instead try to make people "look the other way". Moments of clarity like this are one of the main reasons I keep coming back to this place. :D
  - smrtinsert 4y ago
    What about the fact that I have no idea what credentials he has with regard to analyzing the banking system vs crypto? Please don't disregard my perfectly valid question as an ad hominem attack
- hypertele-Xii 4y ago
  Whataboutism is the derailment of discussion by roping in irrelevant subjects. Saying "that's off-topic" is not a personal attack.
  - ZGDUwpqEWpUZ 4y ago
    Accusing someone of deliberately derailing a conversation when they're doing no such thing is obviously going to be taken as an insult. You can question the relevance of a comparison without questioning the integrity of the person bringing it up: say it's off-topic and explain why. More often than not, accusations of "whataboutery" are used to avoid having to explain why something isn't relevant and thus avoid addressing whatever point is being made. I'd go as far as to say it's why the word even exists.
danuker 4y ago
> is valid but it’s a different topic No, the financial system is the reason Bitcoin was created: state and banks are cooperating to debase the national currency. Crypto undermines tyranny, not society.
- Ztynovovk 4y ago
  Tech-libs need to get in touch with reality. In all my tears of living I’ve never had a conversation where someone used the word tyranny and banking in the same sentence. Average joe just wants their assets insured and kept in a safe place.
  - int_19h 4y ago
    In US, I wouldn't be surprised if a good third of the country subscribed to one or more conspiracy theories surrounding the Fed.
  - danuker 4y ago
    > the word tyranny and banking in the same sentence "Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws." - Mayer Amschel Rothschild
AustinDev 4y ago
Ever read the Coinbase of the first ever bitcoin block on the core chain?[1] "EThe Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks" The financial system is explicitly on topic when discussing Crypto Currency. [1]: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/blocks/btc/0 https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/blocks/btc/0

sphinxster 4y ago

Whataboutism is whataboutism. Attempting to invoke the thankfully largely-discarded concept of "whataboutism" is actually just a kind of backhanded ad hominem used to avoid making a real argument and instead try to make people "look the other way". Criticism of the existing financial system in the context of discussing a proposed replacement for it is about as related a discussion as possible. Simply stating that all crypto is bad/criminal adds nothing of value to the discussion. The truth is that there are (as there generally is with new technologies), useful and practical purposes to which they are applied. Indeed, the majority instances so far of "crypto" having caused harm has actually been the result of an ordinary centralised trust-based fraud donning the label "crypto" to draw in victims to loot. The #1 mantra of crypto has always been "not your keys, not your coins". Had it been followed, instead of perverted into its opposite and mislabelled "crypto", the most heinous of these scams would not have been enabled. The thing most actively facilitating crime and fraud in "crypto" lately is the profoundly misguided belief that giving your money to someone you've never met you saw on TV is safer than keeping it in your own wallet. Crypto is not to blame for that belief, it was invented to provide an alternative.

AustinDev 4y ago
>Whataboutism is whataboutism. >Attempting to invoke the thankfully largely-discarded concept of "whataboutism" is actually just a kind of backhanded ad hominem used to avoid making a real argument and instead try to make people "look the other way". Moments of clarity like this are one of the main reasons I keep coming back to this place. :D
- smrtinsert 4y ago
  What about the fact that I have no idea what credentials he has with regard to analyzing the banking system vs crypto? Please don't disregard my perfectly valid question as an ad hominem attack
hypertele-Xii 4y ago
Whataboutism is the derailment of discussion by roping in irrelevant subjects. Saying "that's off-topic" is not a personal attack.
- ZGDUwpqEWpUZ 4y ago
  Accusing someone of deliberately derailing a conversation when they're doing no such thing is obviously going to be taken as an insult. You can question the relevance of a comparison without questioning the integrity of the person bringing it up: say it's off-topic and explain why. More often than not, accusations of "whataboutery" are used to avoid having to explain why something isn't relevant and thus avoid addressing whatever point is being made. I'd go as far as to say it's why the word even exists.

danuker 4y ago

> is valid but it’s a different topic No, the financial system is the reason Bitcoin was created: state and banks are cooperating to debase the national currency. Crypto undermines tyranny, not society.

Ztynovovk 4y ago
Tech-libs need to get in touch with reality. In all my tears of living I’ve never had a conversation where someone used the word tyranny and banking in the same sentence. Average joe just wants their assets insured and kept in a safe place.
- int_19h 4y ago
  In US, I wouldn't be surprised if a good third of the country subscribed to one or more conspiracy theories surrounding the Fed.
- danuker 4y ago
  > the word tyranny and banking in the same sentence "Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws." - Mayer Amschel Rothschild

AustinDev 4y ago

Ever read the Coinbase of the first ever bitcoin block on the core chain?[1] "EThe Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks" The financial system is explicitly on topic when discussing Crypto Currency. [1]: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/blocks/btc/0 https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/blocks/btc/0