Uncertainty atop the mountain
Someone told me today that they don't trust cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin will go to zero. Funnily enough, Bitcoin is likely the only crypto they could name. This same person also said in the past, the internet is a fad, digital cameras will never be good enough to replace film and electric cars won't be a thing, let alone self-driving ones. He said it all with absolute certainty and due to a selective memory, doesn't recall any of it.
It is funny how certain we can be about things we don't understand. At the time of saying these things, he had never been on the internet, never owned a camera and still hasn't driven a full-electric car but did talk about a rental hybrid he drove on holiday. What do you think is his experience with cryptocurrencies?
Just think about all the times you have used words along the lines of, "I will never" or "It will never" in your life only to later find out that you would because you did and it could because it did. All of those uninformed and childish statements made looking with certainty into the unknowable make us feel sure of ourselves at the time without having to recognize or own our statement later.
Part of the reason for the 'selective memory' is likely the time between some of these things and that due to the slow build up where it becomes part of the societal conversation before implementation, it gives space for a natural installation into the psyche. At the moment, there is so much FUD and uncertainty in the mainstream conversation surrounding crypto that makes it look extremely risky for anyone who is risk averse, which is all of us, especially those who are on the very fringes of visibility which is, the mainstream.
Before adoption by a majority, every idea has to be first lived as a minority of one. We could see the Genesis block for example as this minority and the first few people in became the first followers of the idea and as more and more joined in, the idea snowballed, as we know. At the moment, the snowball created is still near the top of the mountain but with each passing day, it is collecting more snow, the momentum is building and at some point, it will not only be a Bitcoin snowball, but the avalanche of all of the alts that are carried along with it. Ubiquity.
I wonder what happens when blockchains do become a force and tokenization does happen across his landscape of experience, will he remember what he has said? I don't talk about what I do here with this person and they really have no idea I am involved at all other than a few passing comments I have made that only really indicates that I might read a news article from time to time.
When it comes to certainty, it might make us feel knowledgeable and powerful to make statements of certainty like I have thrown in here concerning the future of crypto but, the future is unknown. I am taking the bet as an investor and holder though that the future of digital currencies is going to be a very bright one in terms of value and that when it comes time for the avalanche, I am going to be among the first snowballers.
Do you feel late to the party already? That is your FOMO kicking in because you know more than the average bear who is waiting for their bank to offer it to them in a nice little package they can order with their credit card. If, you were one of those bears living in the forest at the bottom of the mountain, you wouldn't realise that an avalanche is coming, your future would be certain too. Any talk in the tree from the birds would be ignored as 'nonsense that never will' until the avalanche is too close to escape.
The uncertainty that so many feel and the "It never will" statements they say, are based on parts of conversations heard overhead by the birds in the trees. But while they keep ignoring the signs in the economy, the changes in the way applications present themselves and the little birds above, the avalanche is already on its way, they just don't know it yet.
As I see it, the biggest risk we have is dismissing new information in the system in favor of old without investigating thoroughly what it might mean for our future. The certainty that has never failed so far in history is that everything changes and ignoring this and taking the stance that, what I know always is and will be, is going to lead to a lot of missed opportunity.
Risk isn't for everyone which is why so few people are first adopters, even when they are presented with an opportunity early. This is the same for all kinds of ideas, new technologies and evolutions of course.
Why would crypto be any different?
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
The photos are two more of my wife from the set I took last night.
This is how the centralized-driven societies have led to even more of the “herd-mentality” in that they follow and do not lead... These people will not complain once everyone joins and they follow but will eventually reflect on how much better things are thanks to the technology! To think we are only beginning as well...
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What is funny with this person is that once enough people are on he will consider himself an early adopter :)
IKR? I deal with tonnes of negative feelings towards the blockchain every time I tell people about it especially currently. Bloggers who are common in my circles have a huge problem with this or any other crypto based community I dare introduce them to. I will definitely be looking to hear their thoughts when I am reaping from my investment here!
'We started from the bottom now we are here!' is what came to my mind while reading this.
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There is risk and reward and the risk is losing time and effort and a little financial gain, the reward is making that time and effort worth a whole lot more in various ways.
But most just see the risk of losing time...
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The sociopaths are in charge. We look to them for guidance. An admission of fault and apology are looked at as weakness and to be avoided at all costs. We are quite good at parroting the masters. Leaders require followers.
The interesting thing about blockchain is that it serves to make the leaders obsolete. This will, of course, lead to many dead ends, but it also clears the paths to destinations that were previously impossible to travel to.
This person has NPD I would say.
It is likely going to cause some very unexpected breakages. Looking forward to it :D
There is a reason why the sceptics never achieve anything. Of course, the enthusiasts might lose here and there but since they try many different things, some of them will inevitably work out well.
I think it's a much bigger risk to imagine that how we operate today will be the way how we operate in the future.
In other words, waiting and doing nothing is the biggest risk of all.
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I see it the same way. Doing nothing doesn't mean nothing changes.