This is an opinion editorial by Tim Niemeyer, co-host of the Lincolnland Bitcoin Meetup.
Bitcoin maximalists have had a whirlwind of a year. From being intimidating through the recent price discount Despite being seemingly prescient chimes of the dumpster fire that is “crypto”, much of what has been written in the mainstream remains net negative. Worryingly, their centralized and authoritarian counterparts (referred to here as fiat maximalists) somehow maintain an air of superiority in the mainstream. Interestingly, both Bitcoin maxis and fiat maxis have some similarities in their structure. But What each of them trying to achieve their goal is where they differ dramatically.
As a child of early game systems, I liked the “Street Fighter” and “Mortal Kombat” series. I would even consider myself a formidable “Tekken” opponent. From those experiences, I often frame real world comparisons using the “pick your fighter” paradigm. Whether I’m choosing which side of a debate has the best arguments, which ideology offers the optimal result, or which strategy is best suited to a game, I end up creating a mental list of attributes from which I can best choose my course of action. action. .
So what would it look like to evaluate Bitcoin maxes vs. fiat maxes? Does one side have a stronger argument? Does one ideology offer optimal results compared to the other? Or is it simply that one strategy is better suited to winning in “the game” of money dominance? Let’s compare…
structurally similar
Shinobi recently defined Bitcoin maxis as those who focus on Bitcoin, share critiques of other technologies, and consistently preach the virtues of Bitcoin. Stephan Livera defines Bitcoin maximalism as “the view that we will live by a bitcoin standard…” and that “maximalists want to clearly distinguish Bitcoin from ‘crypto’.” on the spectrum of decentralized (vs. centralized), individualist (vs. collectivist), and laissez-faire (vs. authoritarian), often in contentious and controversial ways.
Conversely, when we apply these terms to fiat maxis, we can begin to see some common themes. They focus on fiat currencies, criticize Bitcoin and pseudo-competitive technologies, and constantly preach the virtues of the almighty dollar or similar coercive currencies. The fiat maxi upholds the view that we will all stick with the standard fiat. They also try to lump Bitcoin and “crypto” together. The toxic aspects of fiat maximalism tend to lie further along the centralized (versus decentralized), collectivist (versus individualist), and authoritarian (versus laissez-faire) spectrum. These are the ones who want you to eat the bugs, live in a herd, and like States of the World Economic Forum“possess nothing” and “be happy”.
When compared to these categorizations, it’s easy to see how we’re all so similar; we all want what we want the way we want it. We’re not that different, you and me. We are two sides of the same coin! Time to start singing “Kumbaya”? Not? Well, even though Bitcoin and Fiat Maxis are structurally similar when it comes to their monetary systems, What are dedicated to achieving it is where they contrast sharply.
marked contrasts
“GFY” is a common anthem of Bitcoin’s toxic maxi. If that makes you uncomfortable, pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and challenge yourself to understand why that’s not so bad.
Comments like these are open-ended in nature, which is a feature, not a bug. Tomer Strolight wrote “What some people consider a ‘mistake’ in bitcoin that they call ‘toxicity’ is, in fact, the virtue of integrity.” Most of the GFY-like comments are preceded by those that falsely or erroneously attack Bitcoin; Toxic Bitcoin maxis draw a line in the sand. Trolley other offers the concept of “principled toxicity,” which he sees as an “intolerance of what bitcoiners consider to be fatal compromises for Bitcoin.” This includes giving up decentralization, sound engineering, or security, all in exchange for adoption in some form.
If something I value is under attack, I want to know that the people around me are willing to help defend it. Furthermore, personal growth occurs when there is a firm foundation on which to build. If I’m surrounded by people who are willing to tell me the truth, I’m more likely to make the right decisions. Oddly enough, GFY is sincere; Bitcoin maxis let the recipient know that they are full and will not tolerate anything other than the truth, which is similar to the truth provided by the Bitcoin consensus algorithm.
Personally, my BS detector has improved dramatically since I started studying the virtues of Bitcoin. Although this is a No of 1 observation, I have come across many similar anecdotes from Bitcoiners. That said, it pays to stand your ground while calmly pointing out someone’s inconsistencies in a constructive way. We must all strive to achieve michael saylorAbility to maintain a positive, collaborative, illustrative and welcoming framework.
Contrast all that with the covert nature of the toxic maximalist fiat. These are the people who dedicate themselves to what George Orwell referred to as “doublespeak”, language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or inverts the meaning of words. Common to the toxic fiat maxi, this language shows no integrity. It is often used in a divisive way to gain more control; it is insidious in nature.
Either The Dark by Nancy Pelosi “We have to pass the bill so they can find out what’s in it,” comment to Elizabeth Warren’s divisive “shady, faceless group of super coders,” these are all just word salad trying to force the public to adopt a pre-approved mindset; it is obfuscating optics. Nothing they say offers solid truths; it’s hot air meant to inflate your sense of perceived power. Words are weapons wielded to influence public perception. At least Agustín Carsten was direct when he said that, with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), “central banks will have absolute control over rules and regulations.”
So seriously, congratulations on that.
choose your fighter
It’s time to choose your fighter. Who do you want to partner with? Someone who takes a principled approach and provides a clear conception of reality (regardless of political correctness) or a wordsmith intent on deceiving? Someone who wants to let you be you (regardless of what “you” means) or someone who tries to influence others who don’t share their conception of what should be?
In a strange way, the preferred monetary medium is irrelevant (at least in the vacuum of this framework). What is relevant are the results of human behavior apparently created by each system. I often wonder how big an effect the chosen monetary system has on the individuals within that system. It is as if Bitcoin is a force function for facts, while fiat is a force function for falsehoods.
This struggle continues to unfold on the main stage of society. I think it is imperative to not only choose the side of truth and reason, but also to share these facts with your loved ones. A bottom-up, grassroots approach is the ethical way to get consensus. Where the fiat maxi will coerce you with their doublespeak to continually create your ruling class legacy in their image, the Bitcoin maxi will continue to authentically stand for truth and reason.
Bitcoin maxis are the antithesis of fiat maxis; Bitcoin maxis exude integrity, sincerity, and veracity, while fiat maxis exhibit corruption, artificiality, and ambiguity. Bitcoin is to signal what fiat is to noise. In a head-to-head match, I go for Bitcoin maxis hands down, every time. Good ideas do not require strength. Adoption is increasing. Our time will come. The good news is bitcoin is for everyone. Except you, Craig.
This is a guest post by Tim Niemeyer. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
