Not Really An Orange Pill Story, But It Feels Significant \ stacker news ~bitcoin

Not Really An Orange Pill Story, But It Feels Significant

1631 sats \ 39 comments \ @siggy47 10 Jul bitcoin

I just want to share a conversation I had today. As many of you know, I'm an older retired guy, and so are most of the people I know. For whatever reason, my oldest friends are urban, liberal democrats. I don't mean this as a disparagement. Over the years we just have learned to accept each other's political differences. Of course I couldn't help talking to them about bitcoin in the past, and I've been laughed off more often than I can remember. In fact, I don't even bother bringing it up anymore.

Today I got a call, out of the blue,from one of my buddies. He asked about bitcoin. He's a retired, successful guy. I was shocked. I asked him why he's interested now, and he told me he has been reading about it. Of course he asked about the ETFs. I should have just said fine, but of course I engaged him in an attempt to convince him to buy real bitcoin, self custody, etc. In the end, I think he plans to buy the Fidelity ETF, since I begged him to at least avoid BlackRock, and he agreed to also buy a little bitcoin through a dca on cash app. Not perfect, but better than nothing.

Why am I posting this? I feel it's significant because this is the first liberal democrat I know who has expressed anything other than complete hostility towards bitcoin. I think Elizabeth Warren is a big reason. Perhaps I'll see more of this.

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148 sats \ 1 reply \ @Coinsreporter 10 Jul

Convincing people who are wealthy, successful and happily settled is a tough task. But when we suggest someone who is living a life with a lot of difficulty and in dissatisfaction can easily accept Bitcoin. I was also laughed at many times by rich people, however not feeling depressed but I've left suggesting or even talking about Bitcoin to sich guys who think their riches in Fiat money is what they and their many generations can sustain with.

Now, I suggest Bitcoin to people who are not doing better. I don't know if I'm right but I'm more inclined towards people who really want to improve their financial condition.

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

I agree with you.

151 sats \ 2 replies \ @zapsammy 10 Jul

fiat-rich people who think they already have it made and who think that some new information is below them, will learn the hard way. this story is not a success story, it's an indicator of where people are at. we have a lot more work to do.

recently someone hosted me at their house to specifically teach them about bitcoin. i spoke for an hour straight, showed lightning transactions, utxo management, 2-minute video snippets from various educators, and shared links to study from. i kept it fun and funny despite opening with a statement "it's bitcoin or death." they took notes. i left them the bitcoin standard book.

this is such a satisfying feeling, to be able to talk non-stop for an hour and say nothing but the truth, with full confidence, to someone paying attention. this is what i have been training for. with each iteration, i get better and faster.

50 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

Sounds like you are a great educator. I couldn't have pulled that off, even if I had your skills. If I said "it's bitcoin or death" to my friends, they would laugh me out of the room. At best, they would see it as a high flying tech stock, with the ultimate goal of cashing out for fiat. I guess for your presentation to be effective, your audience must be somewhat receptive to bitcoin going in.

68 sats \ 0 replies \ @zapsammy 10 Jul

for sure, show me someone who's already receptive, and i'll go to town, just tell me when to stop or take a break :)

with non-receptive people... idk, better to move on and spend the energy on someone else.

65 sats \ 0 replies \ @BitcoinAbhi 11 Jul

A very interesting story! I'm also trying to orange pill one of my buddies but he seems very much inclined to fiat and state. I feel it's easier to orange pill people in your country than mine.

87 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby 10 Jul

Interesting that he called when the price is depressed. We have seen significant inflows to the etf the past couple days. It seems some tradfi buyers were on the sidelines during the run up to 74k and thought they missed the boat are now interested in buying the dip. If this is the case, this is a big shift of mainstream thinking. Previously when bitcoin had huge drops they would assume it is dead and think "thank god I didn't guy in to that mess".

60 sats \ 2 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

You know, it reinforces to me that you might actually do some good talking about bitcoin even if you are met with derision. He knew I had been interested in it for years. He probably also noticed how the price had gone up during that time, and FOMO might have kicked in.

65 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby 10 Jul

I think ultimately there will be two paths. The naysayers who will just become bitter and resent you for being right all these years and those that realize they missed something. Hopefully the latter category is larger.

60 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

I emphasized that he's not too late. The fiat price seems so high to first time buyers.

67 sats \ 0 replies \ @erict875 12 Jul

I had a similar story a few months ago. After the ETF was approved in the US, one of my buddies, whom I had tried to orange pill a few years ago, called me out of the blue to enquire about bitcoin. You could tell, by the quality of the questions, that he was quite interested. I answered all his questions with honesty, warned him against shitcoins, and did my best to explain the value of dca, and bitcoin as something that may or may not make him rich, but more certainly his daughters. The guy is my taichi instructor, and I'm now paying him in bitcoins.

67 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei 11 Jul

You lost a battle but won the war

77 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven 10 Jul

little bitcoin through a dca on cash app.

Hope he thanks you in a few years for this.

77 sats \ 1 reply \ @0xbitcoiner 10 Jul

Good job! The interesting part is that he was the one who took the initiative. Thanks for your sevice 🤠

42 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

I know. I was really shocked.

77 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 10 Jul

A win is a win.

67 sats \ 1 reply \ @SatsMate 11 Jul

Very interesting, and at least you encouraged him on the better options.

While CashApp has high fees, It is a route I would recommend my non-technical parents. Anything to avoid Blackrock, Coinbase and the like...

Do you think the opposite will happen now that trump is taking a very strong stance for bitcoin? Not that any of this should be a partisan issue, but many may say because trump is for it - I am against it!

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 OP 11 Jul

I can see that happening. Trump is a polarizing figure. I'm still not sure whether his cheerleading for bitcoin survives past election day.

67 sats \ 1 reply \ @quark 10 Jul

I understand having the real bitcoin is scary at first. But he may be falling down the rabbit hole ;)

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

I hope so

67 sats \ 0 replies \ @OT 10 Jul

I think its pretty significant. Good that they remember you as the bitcoin guy and can ask for advice.

67 sats \ 0 replies \ @Msd0457890 10 Jul

The important thing is that your friend has woken up and has realized the world of possibilities that Bitcoin offers. He has begun his path, you must guide him to continue.

67 sats \ 0 replies \ @94f66a6138 10 Jul

Well, you're 1 for n (where n is the number of people you talked to)

I'm still 0 for n

67 sats \ 4 replies \ @DarthCoin 10 Jul

In the end, I think he plans to buy the Fidelity ETF,

34 sats \ 3 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

I would terminate him with extreme prejudice, but he's my friend.

67 sats \ 2 replies \ @DarthCoin 10 Jul

nah no worry, was just a joke :) I understand your frustration when you try to explain him something important and in the end he ruined all your talk.

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

You know, I wonder whether him buying an ETF is better than nothing? In his case he will own a little real bitcoin, but probably not a lot. What about people who only buy an ETF for their first purchase?

67 sats \ 0 replies \ @DarthCoin 10 Jul

Always think about this: if they do not listen to you... why worry? MORE SATS FOR YOU :)

64 sats \ 2 replies \ @TNStacker 10 Jul

I am a 58 year old independent with a liberal Democrat lean, who lived most of his adult life in the SF Bay Area. But it is more complicated. I have had phases - Republican (Reagan and Bush I) and Green (Nader). Politics have nothing to do with it. In fact, the politicization, moreso lately, drives me nuts. It has been conflated.

I think it is more about ones education and awareness of finance and money. Those using Bitcoin in Africa, South America do not fit the western political narrative, except as a feel good for some.

Real money is not political. Fiat by definition is.

21 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

I'm generalizing based on my experience, of course. Maybe I'm mistaken. I hope you're right. We will all be better off.

67 sats \ 0 replies \ @TNStacker 10 Jul

I hope I am right, too! If money is political, poor people lose again. What governments do with the money, that is political.

64 sats \ 7 replies \ @Bell_curve 10 Jul

Timing is interesting… radical chic lol

23 sats \ 6 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

Maybe. Let's hope so.

74 sats \ 5 replies \ @Bell_curve 10 Jul

Urban liberal Democrat is code for cosmopolitan NIMBY lol

Your friend was asking about Fidelity bitcoin ETF for his retirement accounts?

23 sats \ 4 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

He was acting as if ETFs were the only option. I brought up cash app. When he returned to talking ETFs, I steered him away from BlackRock, just because I hate BlackRock.

67 sats \ 3 replies \ @Enemy_of_the_state 10 Jul

Why not strike? Better exchange rate, low fee…I tried cash app and couldn’t even send a transaction.

13 sats \ 2 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

I have no experience with Strike. It's not available in New York. I have to say, Cash App has been my most reliable KYC source, and I have tried many. The fees are high, though. Most importantly to me, I have never had a problem moving my bitcoin.

54 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bell_curve 10 Jul

Strike is not available in New York???

Lame and unconscionable

You would like Strike and Jack Mallers

13 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 OP 10 Jul

Well, yeah. Of course I like Jack! I'm going to verify whether it's available in New York now. It's been a while since I checked. I just checked. No. It's still not available in NY

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