Quote from: Spaceman_Spiff on October 18, 2014, 07:13:02 PM

Quote from: JorgeStolfi on October 18, 2014, 06:39:41 PM

Quote from: Spaceman_Spiff on October 18, 2014, 06:11:33 PM

Quote from: JorgeStolfi on October 18, 2014, 05:32:48 PM

People who try to sell bitcoin as a way to protect one's investment from inflation should be jailed, IMHO.

Surely everybody who has a different economic opinion than yours deserves to rot in jail.....

No, just those who try to swindle others by selling them shares of dry oil wells, water-powered cars, ponzi schemes, etc..

And people who recommend bitcoin fall into that category?

Quote from: JorgeStolfi on October 18, 2014, 05:32:48 PM

Real estate, and stocks of large, established and diversified companies are usually a safe investment. Even if they are overpriced at some point, and may crash eventually, there is a limit to how much they can go down before hitting their fair price. Since they are material property, their real value will not be affected by inflation. For those who are too lazy or small to use those investments, there are many bonds and investment funds that are somewhat riskier and offer smaller returns, but will still protect from inflation.

There is no limit to how low established companies can go in price (unless you count 0 as the hard limit

)
Stocks are not material property.
Real estate will indeed never be worthless, but in certain political environments it might be confiscated, so it's not a zero risk investment either, you could lose all.

Quote from: JorgeStolfi on October 18, 2014, 05:32:48 PM

No one can honestly predict the future of bitcoin. It may rise again to thousands of dollars, or it may be superseded by something else and go down to zero. It is a big gamble, a lottery ticket with unknown odds. People should be free to gamble, but must know that it is gambling and not investment.

Investment implies risk.

I own land where the yearly school, garbage, road, water fees total up to more than the property is worth. Wasn't the case 20 years ago when i bought them.

edit: anyone want to buy some amazing land for bitcoins?