Pump-and-dump schemes, fraud, ransomware, multi-level marketing, spam, incentivizing selfishness, greed, and general unethical behaviour, buying elections, quasi Nazis creating their own coins, et cetera. In my opinion, over the years the evidence has piled up tall enough to show that crypto"currencies" are an overal detriment to society.

It therefore surprised me to discover that behind the ♡ donation button on top of most Lemmy instances except for Beehaw, there is an option to donate “crypto”. This sets a bad example. Thoughts?

  • arsCynic@beehaw.orgOP
    610·
    2 days ago

    This whataboutism is probably the most used fallacy within the crypto"currency" sphere. If A and B cause cancer, and A was first, it doesn’t follow that B is less malignant.

    Quoted from my Crypto Cult Science essay linked in the original post:

    “Strong currencies are not the solution to poor governance. Good governance and democracy makes a country and its currency strong. Not vice versa.” —halukakin, HackerNews, 2021

    • JackGreenEarth@lemm.eeEnglish
      121·
      2 days ago

      You’re free to not use them, if you want. But me and many others are going to appreciate that these alternatives that don’t rely on centralised cervices exist, that won’t track credit scores, personal information, or use tech companies with privacy and freedom concerns.

    • John@lemmy.mlEnglish
      41·
      2 days ago

      Talking about logical fallacies while summarily hand-waving away all of crypto is pretty interesting.

      I guess some random HN user is smarter than the research arms of these companies who are all building on and utilizing crypto: https://ethereumadoption.com/

      😂

      Edit: stablecoins have already reached parity with traditional payment networks

      And yea, like the other user said, just don’t use it! Nobody will be mad that you don’t use it, or care. I don’t have venmo, so I don’t use it. I don’t get mad when somebody offers it. 🤷‍♀️

      • arsCynic@beehaw.orgOP
        28·
        2 days ago

        “I guess some random HN user is smarter than the research arms of these companies who are all building on and utilizing crypto”

        List of fallacies in the aforementioned statement:

        “I don’t have venmo, so I don’t use it. I don’t get mad when somebody offers it.”

        Venmo is not a multi-level marketing pyramid scheme, all crypto"currencies" are[1].

        1. “The only example of cryptocurrency not being a misnomer is TU Delft’s blockchain euro [15]. But if it is practical remains to be seen since Africa has superior payment alternatives that don’t require blockchain at all—which I address further down.” —Crypto Cult Science ↩︎