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Date: Sun, 4 May 2014 06:18:32 +0100
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Cc: Bitcoin Development <bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net>
Subject: Re: [Bitcoin-development] "bits": Unit of account
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+1
On 4 May 2014 02:06, "Chris Pacia" <ctpacia@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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 scope"
> of our efforts. Getting them to understand computer science at large at the
> same time, less so.
> >
> > The fact that people routinely confuse RAM and hard drive sizes has much
> 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 looks
> to them like a rounding error, much to the dismay of anyone who believes
> that 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 justified
> in not expending them that way even if someone else thinks he should.
> >
> > 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 of
> language to achieve the clearest communication to the widest possible
> target audience using the language most likely to be understood by them in
> light of our objectives.  It's marketing.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On May 3, 2014, at 9:49 AM, "Christophe Biocca" <
> christophe.biocca@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> 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).
> >>
> >> 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.
> >>
> >> Bitcoin already has a ton of issues with terrible names for things:
> >>
> >> - 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).
> >>
> >> 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).
> >>
> >> 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?
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > "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
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> "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
>

--f46d040fa00652c07d04f88c2566
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<p dir=3D"ltr">+1</p>
<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On 4 May 2014 02:06, &quot;Chris Pacia&quot; &lt=
;<a href=3D"mailto:ctpacia@gmail.com">ctpacia@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br t=
ype=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0=
 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Absent a concerted effort to move to something else other than &#39;bits&#3=
9;, I<br>
would be willing to bet the nomenclature moves in that direction anyway.<br=
>
&#39;Bits&#39; is just a shorten word for &#39;millibits&#39; (or microbits=
, if you<br>
will). It&#39;s easier to say and my guess is people would tend to use it<b=
r>
naturally own their own. Kind of like &#39;bucks&#39; for dollars.<br>
<br>
The other synergies are:<br>
-bit is part of the word Bitcoin. The currency unit bit is part of a<br>
whole bitcoin.<br>
-bit symbolically represents the tech nature of the bitcoin.<br>
-bit used to be a unit of money way back when. This largely reclaims it.<br=
>
-when used as money bit when in references to a precession metal coin.<br>
The name &#39;bitcoin&#39; references that as well as the mimicking of the =
gold<br>
standard in the protocol rules.<br>
<br>
All around I don&#39;t think there is a better fit. I doubt people will get=
<br>
confused by it. The context it&#39;s used in will distinguish it from other=
<br>
uses of the word.<br>
<br>
On 05/03/2014 12:27 PM, Mike Caldwell wrote:<br>
&gt; I agree with the sentiment that most people don&#39;t understand eithe=
r computer science or Bitcoin. =C2=A0The goal of getting people to understa=
nd enough about Bitcoin to use it is achievable and a goal that is &quot;in=
 scope&quot; of our efforts. Getting them to understand computer science at=
 large at the same time, less so.<br>

&gt;<br>
&gt; The fact that people routinely confuse RAM and hard drive sizes has mu=
ch to do with the fact that the average lay person has little need to prior=
itize this as something to keep in the forefront. =C2=A0They don&#39;t get =
&quot;horribly&quot; confused, they just simply don&#39;t get worked up ove=
r what looks to them like a rounding error, much to the dismay of anyone wh=
o believes that everyone should be an expert at computer science. =C2=A0The=
 average joe may assess (accurately from his perspective) that the distinct=
ion isn&#39;t important enough to merit significant mental resources and he=
 is justified in not expending them that way even if someone else thinks he=
 should.<br>

&gt;<br>
&gt; Poor understanding is precisely what a proper effort to name this woul=
d be to avoid. =C2=A0It is not frill or aesthetics, it is a planned targeti=
ng of language to achieve the clearest communication to the widest possible=
 target audience using the language most likely to be understood by them in=
 light of our objectives. =C2=A0It&#39;s marketing.<br>

&gt;<br>
&gt; Mike<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Sent from my iPhone<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; On May 3, 2014, at 9:49 AM, &quot;Christophe Biocca&quot; &lt;<a h=
ref=3D"mailto:christophe.biocca@gmail.com">christophe.biocca@gmail.com</a>&=
gt; wrote:<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Context as a disambiguator works fine when the interlocutors<br>
&gt;&gt; understand the topics they&#39;re talking about.<br>
&gt;&gt; Not a day goes by without me seeing &quot;neurotypical people&quot=
; get horribly<br>
&gt;&gt; confused between RAM and Hard Drive sizes, because they share the =
same<br>
&gt;&gt; units (not that that can be helped, as the units are supposed to b=
e<br>
&gt;&gt; the same, base 1000 vs 1024 notwithstanding).<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Bit (as a unit) is already really confusing for anyone who doesn&#=
39;t<br>
&gt;&gt; deal with it on a regular basis. I think people who don&#39;t see =
an issue<br>
&gt;&gt; are making an assumption based on their own lack of confusion. We<=
br>
&gt;&gt; understand computer science AND Bitcoin. Most people have zero<br>
&gt;&gt; understanding of either.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Bitcoin already has a ton of issues with terrible names for things=
:<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; - Mining (for transaction validation).<br>
&gt;&gt; - Addresses (which are meant to be one-time use, and don&#39;t eve=
n really<br>
&gt;&gt; exist at the network level).<br>
&gt;&gt; - Wallets (which don&#39;t hold your bitcoins, can be copied, and =
all<br>
&gt;&gt; backups can be stolen from equally).<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; I end up having to make the distinctions obvious every time I expl=
ain<br>
&gt;&gt; Bitcoin to someone new to it. There&#39;s an acceptable tradeoff h=
ere,<br>
&gt;&gt; because there were arguably no better words to assign to these<br>
&gt;&gt; concepts (although I&#39;d argue mining is a really awful metaphor=
, and is<br>
&gt;&gt; the one that prompts the most questions from people). Then add to =
the<br>
&gt;&gt; pile a bunch of third parties naming themselves after parts of the=
<br>
&gt;&gt; protocol (Coinbase,Blockchain.info). Not blaming them for it, but =
I&#39;ve<br>
&gt;&gt; definitiely seen average people get confused between &quot;the blo=
ckchain&quot;<br>
&gt;&gt; and &quot;<a href=3D"http://blockchain.info" target=3D"_blank">blo=
ckchain.info</a>&quot; (not so much Coinbase, because that name doesn&#39;t=
<br>
&gt;&gt; come up in beginner explanations).<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; It seems downright masochistic to add<br>
&gt;&gt; yet-another-word-that-doesn&#39;t-mean-what-you-think-it-means to =
the pile<br>
&gt;&gt; for no reason other than aesthetics. Are we actively trying to con=
fuse<br>
&gt;&gt; people?<br>
&gt; ----------------------------------------------------------------------=
--------<br>
&gt; &quot;Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For=
 FREE<br>
&gt; Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. =C2=
=A0Get<br>
&gt; unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform avail=
able.<br>
&gt; Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free.&quot;<br>
&gt; <a href=3D"http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs" target=3D"_blank">http://p.s=
f.net/sfu/SauceLabs</a><br>
&gt; _______________________________________________<br>
&gt; Bitcoin-development mailing list<br>
&gt; <a href=3D"mailto:Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net">Bitcoin-d=
evelopment@lists.sourceforge.net</a><br>
&gt; <a href=3D"https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-develo=
pment" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitco=
in-development</a><br>
&gt;<br>
<br>
<br>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---<br>
&quot;Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE=
<br>
Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. =C2=A0Get<=
br>
unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform available.=
<br>
Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free.&quot;<br>
<a href=3D"http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs" target=3D"_blank">http://p.sf.net=
/sfu/SauceLabs</a><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Bitcoin-development mailing list<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net">Bitcoin-develo=
pment@lists.sourceforge.net</a><br>
<a href=3D"https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-development=
" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-de=
velopment</a><br>
</blockquote></div>

--f46d040fa00652c07d04f88c2566--