GoingMerry's recent activity
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry Link ParentReplying to this comment but wanted to thank @paolia @weldawadyathink and @jess for responding in good faith as well. Personally I think the people who are in the space are the ones who “need” it...Replying to this comment but wanted to thank @paolia @weldawadyathink and @jess for responding in good faith as well.
Personally I think the people who are in the space are the ones who “need” it for one reason or another. They can’t use the traditional financial system (ex: criminal, unbanked, poor) or they bought in early and have their identity wrapped into it or they are true believers for whom blockchain is the change they want to see in the world (I’m in that last camp btw).
Outside of those who need it, of what use is blockchain? None at all. You can say this about ANY technology (ie I don’t yet need AI), blockchain is just early enough that the use cases aren’t there yet for a mass audience.
That being said, I do believe those use cases are coming, eventually. I look at our institutions and it feels like they have failed us. COVID and climate changes are “solved problems” scientifically and economically- and yet the way society’s incentives are set up we can’t actually take optimal long-term paths for these global issues.
I’m building a project that is simply NOT VC-fundable. It’s a public good (non-profit). I could have decided to walk away, but instead I harnessed the energy in the blockchain community to make it work. Now we are in public beta. Many other creators in blockchain are like me - non-VC backable. I find energy in being around people with similar struggles.
I’ll stop here, but I’ll just say I understand the criticism of blockchain but I still don’t understand the negative emotion in most online comment threads. Maybe that’s more about online comment threads than blockchain, though.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry Link ParentYup, and blockchain was never a solution in search of a problem - people used it immediately to start sending money p2p without interference. And many people said the internet was a solution in...Yup, and blockchain was never a solution in search of a problem - people used it immediately to start sending money p2p without interference.
And many people said the internet was a solution in search of a problem despite all the people using networked computers. I lived through it. For a long time it was just a thing nerds used to send pictures and documents (and porn) to each other. Not worthy of notice of “normal people” - perhaps worthy of scorn.
The way people talk about blockchain feels the same as they way they talked about internet, to me. I’m just one person tho.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry Link ParentI’m with you buddy. TBH I am not sure why ANYONE would defend our existing system of verifying things. Banks are objectively terrible. Identity systems (government-issued, credit ratings, cookie...I’m with you buddy. TBH I am not sure why ANYONE would defend our existing system of verifying things. Banks are objectively terrible. Identity systems (government-issued, credit ratings, cookie tracking) are objectively terrible.
The idea that blockchain is a lateral move in terms of capability is a red herring. The benefit isn’t additional capability (even though blockchain definitely allows more capability), the benefit is to have open, public systems instead of closed, private systems.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry Link ParentRight? Tildes was founded on some of the same espoused values on web3 (self-sovereignty, transparency), so you’d think you’d find more users here. There seems to be irrational hatred for it. I’m...I have to admit this thread was a little tougher than I expected lol.
Right? Tildes was founded on some of the same espoused values on web3 (self-sovereignty, transparency), so you’d think you’d find more users here.
There seems to be irrational hatred for it. I’m not sure why. Even with AI doing things like taking people’s jobs and IP, discussions never seem to get as emotional as quickly as when you talk about blockchain.
Why do you think that is?
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry Link ParentHaha maybe I am in the minority as a dabbler and Tildian. Strange - many of the ideals of web3 are similar to the ones behind the creation of Tildes, so I thought I’d find more blockchain users...Haha maybe I am in the minority as a dabbler and Tildian. Strange - many of the ideals of web3 are similar to the ones behind the creation of Tildes, so I thought I’d find more blockchain users here.
Re: closed system, the people who use it have been locked out of the traditional system in some way. Criminals, yes, but also those who didn’t fit in for other reasons. For instance many Latin American users who don’t have bank accounts or guarding against inflation. African users who can code/design websites but can’t do video chat because of bandwidth issues. Startup founders who had ideas that couldn’t be funded by traditional VCs.
The blockchain space is full of misfits. Misfits and dreamers. As a technologist, I look at the culture in blockchain and compare it against other tech cultures and sub-cultures: Silicon Valley, VC, AI, and more. The culture in blockchain wins every time for me. From the outside, you see crypto bros, but inside are some of the most inspiring people working today. For me, anyway.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry Link ParentThis is very confusing to me. You CAN connect your laptop to the internet and start publishing things on-chain. You CAN start a new chain. You don’t have to ask 3rd parties to do it - you can do...This is very confusing to me. You CAN connect your laptop to the internet and start publishing things on-chain. You CAN start a new chain. You don’t have to ask 3rd parties to do it - you can do it yourself.
Of course it’s not as easy to do as publishing a website…which speaks more to the tools that exist to make this possible. Also - your website can be blocked in any number of ways, so it’s not as decentralized as it may have been in the past.
I remain confused at this example.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry (edited )Link ParentIn general I agree with you - you need governments to “back” any physical asset for ownership. Or have another way to stop people taking those assets by force. This is what people in crypto call...In general I agree with you - you need governments to “back” any physical asset for ownership. Or have another way to stop people taking those assets by force. This is what people in crypto call “real world asset” use case (or RWA). I’m not very interested in this use case (yet).
But there ARE ways to own digital assets using blockchain right now. You can own currency. You can own access to digital goods and spaces. You can own vaults which hold currencies and digital keys. And that last one enables is ownership of online communities which is what really interests me. Essentially you can make a smart contract that will disburse stored assets whenever certain rules are met (ie at least 50% of tokens vote to disburse).
That’s pretty cool! Because the rules are programmable, you can start to experiment with different kinds of communities and token mechanisms. That’s what’s really interesting to me.
Regarding RWA: I’ll be honest and say EVENTUALLY I believe governments/institutions (including banks) will use blockchain to “back” real-world assets. Perhaps a blockchain that has not yet been invented. Why? Global consensus. People say blockchain could be replaced with a $5 AWS server, and technically that is true…but you would be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to trust that $5 server to hold their transaction records. Banks currently spend billions of dollars securing their own networks and connecting to other bank networks. It’s a hodge podge of technology to allow you to transfer value from one bank to another (even in the same country).
Global consensus is a solved problem on Bitcoin and Ethereum. And it’s an environmentally-friendly solved problem on Ethereum.
So yeah, I am still bullish on RWA long term. And short term the current use cases are really interesting to me anyway.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
GoingMerry LinkI don’t usually talk about web3 online because I get a lot of hate when I do. That being said, I have dedicated the last 3 years of my life to it and still believe it’s a technological revolution...I don’t usually talk about web3 online because I get a lot of hate when I do. That being said, I have dedicated the last 3 years of my life to it and still believe it’s a technological revolution on the scale of the internet itself.
People say it’s a scam or gambling or illegal - and they are right. 95% of stuff IS a scam or illegal or gambling. So I don’t recommend it to others. But the 5% that is legit is extremely interesting.
It comes down to ownership. Everything you own is only yours because someone says it’s yours. The government, a private company, the bank, etc. What if you didn’t have to have these intermediaries? How would that change things?
It probably sounds like an academic point. A solution in search of a problem. But the same was true of the internet. « Who cares if you can instantly communicate with someone else in the world? Getting weather online - Ever heard of a newspaper? Online shopping - just go to the mall you nerds! »
Blockchain enables a kind of relationship that we have less of nowadays - a direct, unimpeded relationship. I believe it will create new tools that will revolutionize our society.
Chances are I am wrong. I’m ok with that. The work I am doing every day aligns with my values. Even if I fail I’m still bringing things like self-sovereignty, self-reliance, and self-respect into the world.
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Comment on Chinese gangs use cryptocurrencies to launder billions in ~finance
GoingMerry Link ParentThe internet was once seen this way as well - a silly technology for nerds with no social skills. So what if you can buy things online? Ever heard of a department store? So what if you can see the...The internet was once seen this way as well - a silly technology for nerds with no social skills. So what if you can buy things online? Ever heard of a department store? So what if you can see the weather online? Ever heard of a newspaper?
There are lots of use cases that exist, RIGHT NOW, but are dismissed offhand by people who don’t understand. That’s totally ok - blockchain IS filled with scams and criminals at the moment. But it’s also filled with tech idealists looking to create a better future. Banning it isn’t going to make the world better.
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Comment on Chinese gangs use cryptocurrencies to launder billions in ~finance
GoingMerry Link Parent“The internet is used for child porn so regulators actively need to engage to ban it.” Instead of demonizing technology how about we go after the bad actors committing crimes?“The internet is used for child porn so regulators actively need to engage to ban it.”
Instead of demonizing technology how about we go after the bad actors committing crimes?
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Comment on Chinese gangs use cryptocurrencies to launder billions in ~finance
GoingMerry Link ParentDisagree. <1s <1cent transactions are coming. And if ACH is your definition of a “good” consumer-level payment system, then you really should take a look at blockchain. Even transferring money...It's not, and is incapable of becoming, a consumer-level payment system. It's not going to be Visa; it's not going to be ACH.
Disagree. <1s <1cent transactions are coming. And if ACH is your definition of a “good” consumer-level payment system, then you really should take a look at blockchain.
Even transferring money from myself to a friend in the USA (for instance, to pay for an airbnb on vacation) is a difficult, expensive, time-consuming, and data-heavy process. Instead I just sent them some ETH and I was done in literal seconds.
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Comment on So how is that One Piece adaptation, anyway? in ~anime
GoingMerry LinkAs a total One Piece nut (watched anime multiple times, up-to-date on manga, even my tildes name is OP-related) I thought it was really good! I’d say that the emotional moments hit 5x harder in...As a total One Piece nut (watched anime multiple times, up-to-date on manga, even my tildes name is OP-related) I thought it was really good!
I’d say that the emotional moments hit 5x harder in the anime, and the production design aesthetic didn’t quite nail it, but it definitely caught the spirit of One Piece in a new medium.
It’s the best intro for anyone wondering about One Piece. I had at least a dozen people reach out to me after watching it (because they know I am a super fan), and at least 2-3 decided to watch/read anime/manga because of it. Anytime anyone has asked me about One Piece i always recommend the live action first because it’s only 10 episodes - low commitment.
The Japanese dub is also incredible for any anime watcher because they get all the original voices to dub it. It’s actually a completely different piece of art in a lot of ways.
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Comment on Substack turns on its ‘Nazis Welcome!’ sign in ~tech
GoingMerry Link ParentParagraph.xyz is the “web3 substack”Paragraph.xyz is the “web3 substack”
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Comment on How would you rewrite the ending of a show that had an unsatisfying finale, or imagine an ending to a show that was canceled prematurely? in ~tv
GoingMerry Link ParentYes there were some infamous black-and-white “bunker photos” from the Iraq war with lots of sand dune during that news cycle IIRC.I think the whole "balls" wmd photo was also about something that happened?
Yes there were some infamous black-and-white “bunker photos” from the Iraq war with lots of sand dune during that news cycle IIRC.
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Comment on What game(s) do you love that you never see brought up in conversation? in ~games
GoingMerry Link ParentMorrowind was an education for me. Although I had played « open world » games before, this was the first that felt truly open. There were always multiple ways to solve quests so you could really...Morrowind was an education for me. Although I had played « open world » games before, this was the first that felt truly open. There were always multiple ways to solve quests so you could really lean into your character strengths without grinding.
I remember using stealth to sneak past dozens of monsters and a sword that froze my opponents to take down this bad guy in a cave that my friend had not been able to beat with straight combat and the feeling was amazing.
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Comment on What game(s) do you love that you never see brought up in conversation? in ~games
GoingMerry Link ParentAtomic Bomberman on LAN/dialup was probably my most exposure to Bomberman and I LOVED it. The frantic pace and cheeky quips were peak 90s « extreme ».Atomic Bomberman on LAN/dialup was probably my most exposure to Bomberman and I LOVED it. The frantic pace and cheeky quips were peak 90s « extreme ».
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Comment on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Season 1) in ~tv
GoingMerry LinkProbably best Trek in a long while.Probably best Trek in a long while.
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Comment on Linux mini computers in ~comp
GoingMerry LinkI’m running Linux Mint on a 2007 Mac mini for my media station. Was great for awhile until all streaming services started requiring non-linux browsers for DRM reasons. Still great for DVDs and CDs...I’m running Linux Mint on a 2007 Mac mini for my media station. Was great for awhile until all streaming services started requiring non-linux browsers for DRM reasons. Still great for DVDs and CDs tho (I’m old shut up)
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
GoingMerry Link ParentIm making my way through wheel of time now - I’m on book 6. It’s enough to keep me entertained, but going in I had many friends say it was their favourite series and it just doesn’t hit that level...Im making my way through wheel of time now - I’m on book 6.
It’s enough to keep me entertained, but going in I had many friends say it was their favourite series and it just doesn’t hit that level for me. I’ll keep reading, though!
I think this is false. By your logic isn’t the internet/host the 3rd party between you and someone who wants to view your site? There’s a lot of levels of trust in serving a simple website.
You have trust technology standards like HTML and TCP/IP are being faithfully implemented so that users will find your site and see what you intended them to see. This is not always the case - ISPs will traffic shape, block sites (DMCA takedowns), and even inject their own data in packets running through their servers.
As a consumer, you have to trust the content you’re getting is actually legitimate (something that can be solved with cryptographic signing of content, which is easy on blockchain).
People probably thought that computers doing calculations that people could do by hand a more expensive way to do calculations at one time as well. The benefit of blockchain isn’t tracking transactions, but in allowing anyone to have access to global consensus without Billions in capital and political connections.