Quote from: Pmalek on July 03, 2021, 06:57:44 AM

Quote from: Laudanum on July 02, 2021, 10:31:40 AM

Bitcointalk simply doesnt provide incentive for people to bother with it now for varying reasons.

That's because new users don't want to put in any effort and want to go straight to picking the apples from the highest branches. It doesn't work like that in life or on the forum. You want your rewards, do the work just like everyone else.

Speaking like someone who had a merit giveaway thread (that died do to inactivity) and I am currently posting riddles where I ask Newbies, Jr., and Members to solve them in exchange for some merits for the best answers and the possibility to learn something, my opinion about those lower ranks is that many don't deserve the effort. Some do, but most don't. When there is an initiative to help them, they couldn't care to take part, when there isn't, they complain why there isn't one.

Quote from: Laudanum on July 02, 2021, 10:31:40 AM

Primarily this is financial but also even in terms of being an information source.

I guess it depends on what kind of information you are looking for. I find Bitcointalk useful for finding out everything new that is happening around Bitcoin. Since I don't care about alts, ICOs, DeFi, and stuff like that, I don't go looking for news about that. There are also many local forums here that keep you informed about what is going on in your region. I find that very useful.

Quote from: Laudanum on July 02, 2021, 10:31:40 AM

Merit killed bitcointalk because the only thing bitcointalk offered over reddit or any other crypto related platform was the ability to earn.

You can still do that. Just look at all the signatures underneath the profiles. All of them are paid. You just have to make an effort to be accepted in a campaign.

Quote from: Laudanum on July 02, 2021, 10:31:40 AM

Once the centralized self serving merit system was implemented it destroyed the feeling of opportunity and free speech for most new members.

As long as free speech doesn't go against the forum rules, nothing is stopping you from speaking your mind. The fact that you are not banned and still posting, shows the forum has free speech.

Quote from: Laudanum on July 02, 2021, 10:31:40 AM

There are now zero outstanding characters here, good or bad (.. well maybe 2 or 3 exceptions so not zero). Just a bland bunch of non achieving low level grifters and their ass munchers. I mean I often read the board but nothing happens or is said that is even interesting in a bad way.

That's the way you see it and I am not going to try and change your mind. Why don't you take part in a civilized discussion about Bitcoin or the technology for once? I don't think I have ever seen a post of yours that isn't negative.

This may sound like a hostile reply but it seeks only the truth.

Ah the standard chipmixer spammers reply... works fine for me because I can spam chipmixer.

Here are some questions and challenges for you the answers to which will demonstrate you're talking rubbish.

1. Read this thread and then try to debunk it.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5088852.0

This thread is actually understating the damage of merit since merit was not at that point directly being conflated with trust.

2. Find a post made by myself or any of my alleged alts that was ever conclusively debunked or seriously challenged that relates to the obviously undeniable independently verifiable and insoluble problems with the current merit and trust control systems and their direct impact upon free speech here. I mean a ban is not the only threat that can create an echo chamber. But threats of banning have been issued to people before.

The joke is that simply presenting independently verifiable truths will get you slathered in bogus red tags from chipmixer spammers who wish to protect their merit and trust cartel that allows them to cream off the higher paying sig spots.

3. If you have been here since may 13 and are not wealthy enough to allow someone else a chance with chipmixer ? What does that say about you? If you are not a multi millionaire, that demonstrates terrible judgement or if you are already superwealthy then it is extreme greed to deprive others of a sig spot.

4. It is untrue that you need to break the rules to be banned or threatened with a ban.
I notice TOAA documented all of his deleted posts and then challenged anyone to present a solid argument as to why they were deleted.
The mods ran off and when they did try to provide an explanation it was immediately debunked and shown to be bogus.
These kinds of bogus metrics can be used as a weapon to propose a ban.

Telling inconvenient truths or even presenting indisputable evidence of scamming or scam facilitating by DT or others can get you tagged and banned. They will get you tagged for sure.

The forum is toxic at its core. People will not be part of a system where scammers are able to punish whistleblowers and this is supported by admin who join in and support the scammers against their whistleblowers.

The truth is the truth. It can never be negative. The truth needs to be accepted and then the appropriate solutions need to be implemented.
Relating unpopular truths is the most positive thing one can do for this forum.

Lack of fair playing field in terms of earnings or even being able to reveal independently verifiable truths or evidence without punishment are 2 key reasons some will leave.

Of course becoming wealthy will bring more opportunities into range that take up time.

But it's a spiral. One of the most interesting members was banned, people that I notice seemed to post directly in response to him then didnt bother posting. People that came to read their interactions and join in now and then didnt post much.
The less interesting and enjoyable content to read the less you visit.

There a numerous reasons some of which were beyond the forums control that lead to its demise but merit was the cancer especially when it was conflated with trust that polluted its core and made it toxic.

It really doesnt matter much because bitcoin and crypto in general have outgrown bct.
Bct did its job great, so what happens to bct now is of small import.

It is useful for perhaps very technical discussions but how many of the 200 or 300 online are super eggheads and boffins and how many are chipmixer sig spammers regurgitating each others comments over and over to max their posting payouts is anyone's guess.

Bitcointalk shouldn't be judged on what it has become now. It should be admired as the birth place of bitcoin, alts and quite possibly the largest paradigm shift in many peoples lifetimes. Finding bct was the best thing that happened to many people myself included.
So we must all be grateful for bct and the job it has done to foster the adoption of bct and alts.

I see a few bad eggs spoiled the recent years but they were just capitalizing on some poorly conceived and implemented attempts to prevent spam.

I do believe a smarter control for the bots and spammers would have seen bct grow and harness the energy from all those that will spend hours and hours even if they have little natural ability or creativity for 50 bucks...without letting their negative side infiltrate those that want to contribute quality and reasonable value.

The issue we have now is that alts have noticed bct is dead and no longer launching here.

There isn't really much point to fighting over how the left over scraps of bct turn out.

Perhaps it should gradually aim to forget "size" or number or posters and focus on becoming a tight knit technical community that purely encourages egg heads and boffins. Cut back more to the valuable hardcore and any projects that spring from that.

In that case just delete all sigs and see what real enthusiasts remain.