Sorry, was this a reply to the wrong comment? Can you expand?

kordless · on Nov 27, 2014

Sure. Thank you for asking. No, it was directly addressing speculative conversation.

I'm aware this might be a contentious statement, but frankly I'm tired of the same old conversations about the value of Bitcoin compared to traditional fiat. I much more appreciate conversations about the value of the technology behind the blockchain, and the challenges we can surmount wielding it.

Conversations that incite conflict, including (perhaps) your original comment, make me bored and sad when I think about how people approach and understand crypto currencies. As the 'technical luminaries' for the the less technical in the world, I think we owe it to ourselves to not incite FUD here in this forum and then carry it out with us into the world.

It's the holidays as well, so it's a time when families gather and tell stories. If we are having a good time bashing on Bitcoin value or relating it to some two bit drug market that the FBI knocked down, we aren't educating on it's value. You are just catering to the fear that is always present with new technologies.

Anyway, you are allowed your own thoughts regarding the matter. I apologize if I came off overly aggressive about it. It's important to me!

Mandatum · on Nov 27, 2014

My comment was out of genuine curiosity. I agree they're not of much technical value and for HN it's closer to "trash" material, however I don't see why we must limit our comments to purely technical concepts.

I find the events surrounding Bitcoin, specifically the criminal aspects fascinating. I mean come on, who doesn't love a good heist? Especially one that's been committed anonymously and thus far turned up completely untraceable. No, the content of the discussion generally isn't very intellectual, however it does incite and bring about thought-provoking and technically interesting arguments.

I never really put forth my thoughts on anything relating to Bitcoin when I posted that comment. I was merely asking if there'd been work done around tracing Bitcoin theft.. I don't think I'm inciting FUD whilst asking a question. I understand that the talk of crime and theft in Bitcoin could become tiresome for you and other technically and academically interested parties, however my fascination with such topics isn't limited to Bitcoin. I just don't think you should accuse me of speculation or inciting FUD when all I posed was a question.

Also to be fair, I had labelled my comment offtopic.