Bitcoin's global hashrate tumbles after Kazakhstan shuts off country's internet

[Sausagemeat]

Still, when you have miners buying up old power stations, you have to draw some sort of conclusion about where need ends, and greed begins. It is fair to say, that as a rule, those at the top of the mining food chain, are "unwilling to share", and only want more. Which creates a stalemate where no one is satisfied

I wouldn't argue that point. But these civilians aren't necessarily the ones hogging up the VGA market.

They deserve our sympathies. But perhaps the really kool hidz with the power stations don't.

As for we in the US, should we step into this "revolution", we'd have to listen to a cascade of bullsh!t about how we think we're "the world's police force". And given Russian interests in this country, gamble on a larger war..

It may sound cold, but, "que, sera sera", is unfortunately. the only viable course of action.

There are loads of people who waste more energy and/or produce more carbon than miners. Why are we questioning miners? Oh yes because they are buying all the hardware we want to play games on. I mean what about actual miners of minerals and metals? They make billions and cause far more harm to the environment. But I see nobody here complaining about them.

And as for greed? Everyone’s entitled to make a bit of money mate. You seem to be suggesting that they only make enough to eat and put a roof over their heads and then stop? Why can’t people get rich? Or are you one of those communist types who want to use force to get other people to give up their profits/possessions?

The hatred for miners is so transparent on tech forums. It’s literally because they are buying all the graphics cards. If they weren’t nobody would even mention them here. Tech enthusiasts typically don’t care about the environment or social well-being. If they did they wouldn’t buy motherboards or graphics cards at all as these are assembled in China by workers who make $10 a day and have suicide nets installed outside their buildings.

 

[captaincranky]

And as for greed? Everyone’s entitled to make a bit of money mate. You seem to be suggesting that they only make enough to eat and put a roof over their heads and then stop? Why can’t people get rich? Or are you one of those communist types who want to use force to get other people to give up their profits/possessions

Well, I do think those uber rich types should pay their fair share of taxes, don't you?

EDIT: I would at least, like to be able to purchase a modern graphics card at, or below, current MSRP. I hope that's not too far left for your taste.

 

[Sausagemeat]

Well, I do think those uber rich types should pay their fair share of taxes, don't you?

Yeah of course. But you were making a point about where need ends and greed begins. Personally I think “needs” end at about $1000 a month. Or enough to rent a basic roof over your head and eat. In Kazakhstan it’s probably a lot lower than that. You can probably survive on just $100 a month if you’re resourceful. But personally I think its fair enough if people want to do better than fulfill their basic survival requirements…

 

[Sausagemeat]

EDIT: I would at least, like to be able to purchase a modern graphics card at, or below, current MSRP. I hope that's not too far left for your taste.

So would I! That’s what we all want. Ironically it’s probably more of a “right wing” request. You don’t need graphics cards! If everyone wanted one there wouldn’t be enough to go around, the left would ban it! It’s very much a product of the free market.

I’m just fed up of this demonification of miners and cryptocurrency’s. It reminds me of when I see people blaming immigrants for their sh1t lives.

 

[captaincranky]

Yeah of course. But you were making a point about where need ends and greed begins. Personally I think “needs” end at about $1000 a month. Or enough to rent a basic roof over your head and eat. In Kazakhstan it’s probably a lot lower than that. You can probably survive on just $100 a month if you’re resourceful. But personally I think its fair enough if people want to do better than fulfill their basic survival requirements…

Well, if you're setting the need threshold at a grand a month, you're placing yourself dangerously close to being labeled a "socialist" yourself.

I'm old school, and my idea of "need", is that every family in the US should be able to afford their own home, and feed the kidz, yadda, yadda, yadda..

This was mostly feasible during my junior years, but certainly not so much nowadays..

 

[Sausagemeat]

Well, if you're setting the need threshold at a grand a month, you're placing yourself dangerously close to being labeled a "socialist" yourself.

I'm old school, and my idea of "need", is that every family in the US should be able to afford their own home, and feed the kidz, yadda, yadda, yadda..

This was mostly feasible during my junior years, but certainly not so much nowadays..

Oh I am very much against deciding how much people should have. I’m not an authoritarian dictator you see. $1000 a month is roughly what I believe you need to survive. Although that massively depends on who you are and where you live.

My point was that most of us work for “greed” or for things we don’t need. It’s not really fair to say that miners can’t do the same.

 

[captaincranky]

My point was that most of us work for “greed” or for things we don’t need. It’s not really fair to say that miners can’t do the same.

How about if we agree that decadence in the US, has gotten to the point where the population at large, can no longer differentiate between "need", and "want", and put this to bed as a draw?

We pretty much agree on a great number of things. But, you have a "cause", that you're promoting. Which is, everyone in a tech forum should, "be nicer to miners". Let it go man, your blood pressure will thank you for it.

 

[Sausagemeat]

How about if we agree that decadence in the US, has gotten to the point where the population at large, can no longer differentiate between "need", and "want", and put this to bed as a draw?

We pretty much agree on a great number of things. But, you have a "cause", that you're promoting. Which is, everyone in a tech forum should, "be nicer to miners". Let it go man, your blood pressure will thank you for it.

Yeah fair point. Arguing against hatred for miners in a tech forum is like trying to persuade a bunch of maga lunatics that Muslims are not all terrorists. The prejudice will prevail. But it is nice to express my thoughts against it.

And sure a draw? I didn’t feel like we were battling, I don’t know all the answers but I do know from being taught history (in my education in the U.K. - not some anti-commie US propaganda) that forced wealth re-distribution is a very self destructive ideology.

And I will definitely agree with you that decadence has spun wildly out of control in not just the US but in the west in general. But then again I believe that believing in communism or “hard left” ideology is decadence.

 

[captaincranky]

But then again I believe that believing in communism or “hard left” ideology is decadence.

I keep getting the feeling that you're, (if only abstractly), categorizing me as "far left". Nothing could be further from the truth.. I don't believe in "redistribution of wealth". What I do believe, is that "John Q. Public" is responsible for our trade deficit, but refuses to take responsibility or even acknowledge their part in it.
I don't like miners. I don't understand how you can pull money out of thin air. Maybe I'm stupid, or old. I keep getting the concept rammed down my throat and called names over it. But, I don't bother participating in those threads anymore. Call it an, "ostrich defense" if you like.

Despite my screen name, which so many seem to take offense at, I'm primarily here for the laughs. I'm also interested in the sociological aspects of forum participation. And trust me, I would swear George Orwell took his inspiration for Animal Farm, by participating in online forums

More to the topic of this thread, I don't believe the Kazakhstani people are benefiting from the vast amount of mining going on there-. My guess is that it's a bunch of cartels reaping all the profits.At best, if the people do benefit at all, it's that old, "trickle down economic theory" kicking in. So, I think that the assumed correlation between the betterment of the people and the mining operations, is erroneous, false, or as they say in statistics: "negative one".

The first thing many oppressive governments do when there is civil unrest, is shut down the web, to keep the situation "in house". And as strange as it may sound coming from me, IMO, the miners are actually, (and this is a stretch), victims.

 

[wiyosaya]

Oh the irony of your reply, since its a poor attempt to misguide my comment, yet you are simply re-validating it.

As I see it, the irony is in assuming that there is a high road here - especially in one that tries to equate miners usage of power to a likely exceptionally small segment of gamers who care about maxing out their GPUs while running games. Who's doing the misguiding? Trying to equate that tiny segment of gamers to miners, who are known to be doing things like buying antiquated and highly polluting power plants to fuel their addiction, is whataboutism in its extreme, IMO.

 

[punctualturn]

As I see it, the irony is in assuming that there is a high road here - especially in one that tries to equate miners usage of power to a likely exceptionally small segment of gamers who care about maxing out their GPUs while running games. Who's doing the misguiding? Trying to equate that tiny segment of gamers to miners, who are known to be doing things like buying antiquated and highly polluting power plants to fuel their addiction, is whataboutism in its extreme, IMO.

Yet you insist….

my main point was simple, either way, its a waste of power and worse case, a battle of who is more entitled.

stop with the whataboutism bs, since you are simply doubling down on it by even mentioning the power plant and no, is not an addiction, its a simple fact that using a tool, some people are making money.

you, like others, are once again justifying your cries for gpus and blaming miners.

Funny how people ignore AMD and Nvidia lack of increase in production of gpus. Do you think they are stupid? They can order more chips but they wont because they wont be able to react quickly enough if suddenly gpu demand plummets and they end up with warehouses full of inventory since miners would flood the market with their gpus.

Anyways, enough wasted time in this nonsense and pointing fingers to the wrong groups.

 

[wiyosaya]

Yet you insist….

my main point was simple, either way, its a waste of power and worse case, a battle of who is more entitled.

stop with the whataboutism bs, since you are simply doubling down on it by even mentioning the power plant and no, is not an addiction, its a simple fact that using a tool, some people are making money.

It's a technique called reflection - I simply reflected to you what you were claiming. Own it.

you, like others, are once again justifying your cries for gpus and blaming miners.

And you are making a significant amount of assumptions about me for which you have no clue.

Funny how people ignore AMD and Nvidia lack of increase in production of gpus.

Again, more assumptions about me for which you have no clue.

Do you think they are stupid? They can order more chips but they wont because they wont be able to react quickly enough if suddenly gpu demand plummets and they end up with warehouses full of inventory since miners would flood the market with their gpus.

Anyways, enough wasted time in this nonsense and pointing fingers to the wrong groups.

People have a right to their opinions - whether they are correct, in your view, or not. If you want to pretend that somehow they are going to learn, and you are going to correct them and bring them to your viewpoint, have fun.

 

[Lounds]

Its not as big a waste of energy as playing dam computer games. People in Kazakhstan are poor and here you are, all upset that these poor people have the audacity to use the hardware you want for playing games on to improve their lives.

PC gamers can be some of the most toxic people in the world. The comments here prove it.

I didn't even mention anything to do with the inflation caused to the graphics card industry lol. What I wrote is a fact, crypto mining is a waste of electricity.
If Kazakhstan is poor it's because of centuries of colonialism and foreign interference. Ukraine is also piss poor yet has some of the most valuable natural resources in all of Europe but do you see the average Ukrainian benefit from that?
And people wonder why communism/socialism is popular with young people.