Nick Szabo  🔑

No, I think there is a rudeness overall, unfortunately. People want to learn and it isn't helpful when people are mean spirited or suggest you are an idiot if you aren't a computer scientist expert, a libertarian man, or not an OG. I like your historical perspective though.

It is the people throwing around their money or titles (e.g. CEO) to try to control Bitcoin, despite lacking those important areas of knowledge, who properly draw the ire of knowledgeable Bitcoin proponents (not just maximialists).

Even though I have yet to experience any rudeness from Bitcoin maximalists, I would trust a rude skeptic over a nice scammer any day.

It also depends on the individual. One can be a maximalist without being rude, but one shouldn’t allow their chosen position to serve as blinders. A healthy dose of skepticism coupled with an open mind is important to maintain in this space (as well as most others).

where do you draw the line? is political correctness nice? i think it isn't, even though it's designed to be mistaken for politeness, for example. is being rude to people you consider scammers a way of being nice to everyone else?

It’s a cloudy area that’s for sure. I think it’s a case by case basis. Be kind and polite when it’s appropriate to be, but you also can’t allow yourself to be walked all over. You have to determine when to draw the line somewhere, but where that line gets drawn is up to you.

But that’s beginning to get into another discussion all together :)

yup. personally i can be a bit of a pushover, and so i often regret not having spoken my mind in situations where I really should have, if only for other peoples' sake. but then again, people do also complain that I nitpick and obsess if I do allow myself. no easy answer IMHO

one must be pragmatic, and choose one's battles, because attention is limited, scams are plentiful, and life is short

There's a middle ground you're all missing but whatever. It doesn't matter. Blockchains are going to win despite anyone's attitude.