From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from sog-mx-3.v43.ch3.sourceforge.com ([172.29.43.193] helo=mx.sourceforge.net) by sfs-ml-4.v29.ch3.sourceforge.com with esmtp (Exim 4.76) (envelope-from ) id 1WgppU-0001JF-9n for bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net; Sun, 04 May 2014 06:23:16 +0000 Received-SPF: pass (sog-mx-3.v43.ch3.sourceforge.com: domain of hotmail.com designates 65.55.111.82 as permitted sender) client-ip=65.55.111.82; envelope-from=slashdevnull@hotmail.com; helo=blu0-omc2-s7.blu0.hotmail.com; Received: from blu0-omc2-s7.blu0.hotmail.com ([65.55.111.82]) by sog-mx-3.v43.ch3.sourceforge.com with esmtp (Exim 4.76) id 1WgppT-0004zo-8X for bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net; Sun, 04 May 2014 06:23:16 +0000 Received: from BLU402-EAS268 ([65.55.111.73]) by blu0-omc2-s7.blu0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.4675); Sat, 3 May 2014 23:23:09 -0700 X-TMN: [rei8qmz79Fc4GmosCEE6lJcsX9rbZCZn] X-Originating-Email: [slashdevnull@hotmail.com] Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable From: Un Ix MIME-Version: 1.0 (1.0) Date: Sun, 4 May 2014 14:23:08 +0800 References: <53644F13.1080203@gmail.com> <53659234.3020207@gmail.com> To: Aaron Voisine In-Reply-To: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 04 May 2014 06:23:09.0787 (UTC) FILETIME=[51BD1AB0:01CF6761] X-Spam-Score: -2.2 (--) X-Spam-Report: Spam Filtering performed by mx.sourceforge.net. See http://spamassassin.org/tag/ for more details. -1.5 SPF_CHECK_PASS SPF reports sender host as permitted sender for sender-domain 0.0 FREEMAIL_FROM Sender email is commonly abused enduser mail provider (slashdevnull[at]hotmail.com) -0.0 RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE RBL: Sender listed at http://www.dnswl.org/, no trust [65.55.111.82 listed in list.dnswl.org] -0.0 SPF_PASS SPF: sender matches SPF record -0.7 RP_MATCHES_RCVD Envelope sender domain matches handover relay domain X-Headers-End: 1WgppT-0004zo-8X Cc: Bitcoin Development Subject: Re: [Bitcoin-development] "bits": Unit of account X-BeenThere: bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 04 May 2014 06:23:16 -0000 +1(bit) for your bit on bits. > On 4/05/2014, at 2:18 pm, "Aaron Voisine" wrote: >=20 > Bit by bit, it's become clear that it's a bit much to worry even a > little bit that overloading the word "bit" would be every bit as bad > as a two bit horse with the bit between it's teeth that bit the hand > that feeds it, or a drill bit broken to bits after just a bit of use. >=20 > Aaron >=20 > There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole > government working for you -- Will Rodgers >=20 >=20 >> On Sat, May 3, 2014 at 10:18 PM, Drak wrote: >> +1 >>=20 >>> On 4 May 2014 02:06, "Chris Pacia" wrote: >>>=20 >>> Absent a concerted effort to move to something else other than 'bits', I= >>> would be willing to bet the nomenclature moves in that direction anyway.= >>> 'Bits' is just a shorten word for 'millibits' (or microbits, if you >>> will). It's easier to say and my guess is people would tend to use it >>> naturally own their own. Kind of like 'bucks' for dollars. >>>=20 >>> The other synergies are: >>> -bit is part of the word Bitcoin. The currency unit bit is part of a >>> whole bitcoin. >>> -bit symbolically represents the tech nature of the bitcoin. >>> -bit used to be a unit of money way back when. This largely reclaims it.= >>> -when used as money bit when in references to a precession metal coin. >>> The name 'bitcoin' references that as well as the mimicking of the gold >>> standard in the protocol rules. >>>=20 >>> All around I don't think there is a better fit. I doubt people will get >>> confused by it. The context it's used in will distinguish it from other >>> uses of the word. >>>=20 >>>> On 05/03/2014 12:27 PM, Mike Caldwell wrote: >>>> I agree with the sentiment that most people don't understand either >>>> computer science or Bitcoin. The goal of getting people to understand >>>> enough about Bitcoin to use it is achievable and a goal that is "in sco= pe" >>>> of our efforts. Getting them to understand computer science at large at= the >>>> same time, less so. >>>>=20 >>>> The fact that people routinely confuse RAM and hard drive sizes has muc= h >>>> to do with the fact that the average lay person has little need to >>>> prioritize this as something to keep in the forefront. They don't get >>>> "horribly" confused, they just simply don't get worked up over what loo= ks to >>>> them like a rounding error, much to the dismay of anyone who believes t= hat >>>> everyone should be an expert at computer science. The average joe may >>>> assess (accurately from his perspective) that the distinction isn't >>>> important enough to merit significant mental resources and he is justif= ied >>>> in not expending them that way even if someone else thinks he should. >>>>=20 >>>> Poor understanding is precisely what a proper effort to name this would= >>>> be to avoid. It is not frill or aesthetics, it is a planned targeting o= f >>>> language to achieve the clearest communication to the widest possible t= arget >>>> audience using the language most likely to be understood by them in lig= ht of >>>> our objectives. It's marketing. >>>>=20 >>>> Mike >>>>=20 >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>=20 >>>>> On May 3, 2014, at 9:49 AM, "Christophe Biocca" >>>>> wrote: >>>>>=20 >>>>> Context as a disambiguator works fine when the interlocutors >>>>> understand the topics they're talking about. >>>>> Not a day goes by without me seeing "neurotypical people" get horribly= >>>>> confused between RAM and Hard Drive sizes, because they share the same= >>>>> units (not that that can be helped, as the units are supposed to be >>>>> the same, base 1000 vs 1024 notwithstanding). >>>>>=20 >>>>> Bit (as a unit) is already really confusing for anyone who doesn't >>>>> deal with it on a regular basis. I think people who don't see an issue= >>>>> are making an assumption based on their own lack of confusion. We >>>>> understand computer science AND Bitcoin. Most people have zero >>>>> understanding of either. >>>>>=20 >>>>> Bitcoin already has a ton of issues with terrible names for things: >>>>>=20 >>>>> - Mining (for transaction validation). >>>>> - Addresses (which are meant to be one-time use, and don't even really= >>>>> exist at the network level). >>>>> - Wallets (which don't hold your bitcoins, can be copied, and all >>>>> backups can be stolen from equally). >>>>>=20 >>>>> I end up having to make the distinctions obvious every time I explain >>>>> Bitcoin to someone new to it. There's an acceptable tradeoff here, >>>>> because there were arguably no better words to assign to these >>>>> concepts (although I'd argue mining is a really awful metaphor, and is= >>>>> the one that prompts the most questions from people). Then add to the >>>>> pile a bunch of third parties naming themselves after parts of the >>>>> protocol (Coinbase,Blockchain.info). Not blaming them for it, but I've= >>>>> definitiely seen average people get confused between "the blockchain" >>>>> and "blockchain.info" (not so much Coinbase, because that name doesn't= >>>>> come up in beginner explanations). >>>>>=20 >>>>> It seems downright masochistic to add >>>>> yet-another-word-that-doesn't-mean-what-you-think-it-means to the pile= >>>>> for no reason other than aesthetics. Are we actively trying to confuse= >>>>> people? >>>>=20 >>>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- >>>> "Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE >>>> Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. Get >>>> unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform >>>> available. >>>> Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free." >>>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Bitcoin-development mailing list >>>> Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net >>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-development >>>>=20 >>>=20 >>>=20 >>>=20 >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------ >>> "Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE >>> Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. Get >>> unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform >>> available. >>> Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free." >>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Bitcoin-development mailing list >>> Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-development >>=20 >>=20 >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- >> "Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE >> Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. Get >> unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform availabl= e. >> Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free." >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs >> _______________________________________________ >> Bitcoin-development mailing list >> Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-development >>=20 >=20 > --------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- > "Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE > Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. Get=20 > unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform available= . > Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free." > http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs > _______________________________________________ > Bitcoin-development mailing list > Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-development