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I don’t.
That’s it. That’s the post.

Extracts from one of my favorite pieces of writing ever, two years ago for Bitcoin Magazine:
In all sincerity, that is the full message: Just don’t do it. It’s not worth it.
You’re not an excited teenager anymore, in desperate need of bragging credits or trying out your newfound wisdom. You’re not a preaching priestess with lost souls to save right before some imminent arrival of the day of reckoning. We have time.
This, though, I suppose American HODL or Erik Cason might disagree with. Saving souls—or at least their wealth/purchasing power—is the task of all upstanding Bitcoiners who love thy neighbors, and honor their father and mother, etc.
Gigi's quote here always resonated with me
It’s highly unlikely that your uncle or mother-in-law just happens to be at that stage, just when you’re about to sit down for dinner. Perhaps on the porch, one-on-one, whisky in hand, with the most curious and intellectually balanced precoiner—that might be worth a shot.
Those are the standard rules of engagement that apply:
Now, I’m not saying to never ever talk about Bitcoin. We love to talk Bitcoin—that’s why we go to meetups, join Twitter Spaces, write, code, run nodes, listen to podcasts, attend conferences. People there get something about this monetary rebellion and have opted in to be part of it. Your unsuspecting family members have not; ambushing them with the wonders of multisig, the magically fast Lightning transactions or how they too really need to get on this hype train, like, yesterday, is unlikely to go down well. However, if in the post-dinner lull on the porch someone comes to you one-on-one, whisky in hand and of an inquisitive mind, that’s a very different story. That’s personal rather than public, and it’s without the time constraints that so usually trouble us. It involves clarifying questions or doubts for somebody who is both expressively curious about the topic and available for the talk. That’s rare—cherish it, and nurture it.
And remember, nobody gives a shit:
Everyone has some sort of impression or opinion of bitcoin—and most of them are plain wrong. But there’s nothing people love more than a savior in white armor, riding in to dispel their errors about some thing they are freshly out of fucks for. Just like politics, nobody really cares.
Bitcoin is more important that probably anything else. But not at the margin, not in others' face, and probs not at all at the Thanksgiving dinner table.
PEACE, friends
That's exactly what my advice was going to be.
Do other people like talking about bitcoin in settings like that? I think it's an awful experience, just speaking into a bunch of vacuous uncomprehending faces. Then again, that's why I avoid talking to most people about anything of substance.
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truly. People are the worst.
I sound like an arrogant prick when I say this, but it's just a waste of my time and effort. Chill out, touch grass, eat cake, and go do something else.
Your once-a-year dinner doesn't have to be the source and fuel for your intellectual curiosity
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87 sats \ 1 reply \ @Shugard 27 Nov
I don’t. That’s it. That’s the post.
Best advice ever! Will do exactly that!
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...or won't do that, as it were.
HIHIHIHIHI
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I think that being an ambassador or promoter of Bitcoin is a great task, it is not easy but not impossible either, not at social events like Thanksgiving but on a personal level with my family or coworkers I try to name it clearly, of course as you have said there are many sides, many perspectives on Bitcoin.
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This carrot is orange. Do you know what orange reminds me of? Bitcoin. Let me tell you about Bitcoin
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well said 🤙
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Great post and solid advice.
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You really can't imagine how much I needed to read this. I don't spend my time preaching about bitcoin to acquaintances or even friends, I don't mention it, I don't say anything about it, I'm not interested in doing so either. But, but, but it's not the same with my parents, for a while I was a bit annoying about it, I stopped doing it, I didn't mention it again, until now that I want to talk to them about it again, but I don't want to be a pain again.
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Totally agree. Don't force it on anyone. If someone asks then cautiously try to point them in the right direction- I would start by asking 'Do you understand how fiat money works?'... 99% of citizens don't, probably less than 50% of Bitcoiners do...
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"what's fiat...?"
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Unsolicited advice is rarely appreciated or followed. Great advice here.
In my experience people often talk about things they are interested in because they want to show off. It is usually more of that than trying to educate. Its good to check yourself and try to be the person you want others to be.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @B_rian 27 Nov
It might be good to get some.
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you think, in case it catches on...?
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is very simple: just say "I told you so". End of story.
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perhaps a good way to police a conversation is to listen for the lies, and stop them dead in the tracks; don't let the lies take hold in people's heads unrebutted. such as "companies price-gouge" or "bitcoin is bad for the environment" or "politicians will fix the problem."
if a lie is treated as an insult to the mind, one could anticipate the attack and intercept it quickly, like "the intercepting fist." truth is aggressive and destructive (to the lies), but the lie has to be first spotted and then arrested. what if i was pro-freedom, and someone at a table was advocating for slavery?
the degree of the counter-attack should match the degree of attack. if the conversation stops, that's a good outcome. if the conversation never begins, that's fine too. furthermore, a solution does not have to be offered until a solution is requested; finally, do hold back and ask why exactly they want the solution, and why now.
having a conversation one on one is great! even better if it's 2+ bitcoiners : 1 normie.
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I have stopped bringing it up until someone draws it out. Once they ask...I can't shut up.
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Just show them your Lambo.
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pff what a waste. And too unhumble of a brag. NO THANKS
nah-nah-nah.
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If anyone talks about how your job is, work, money, how inflation sucks, etc, you could use that as an opening. I wouldn’t just come right out with it. I wouldn’t want someone to just come right out and talk about some miracle drug that cures and prevents cancer when I don’t want to know about that… wait a second, maybe that isn’t the best example.
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HAHAH, yeah.
"Ah, shit man -- inflation really sucks for you, I'm sorry to hear that."
"If only there was a way to opt out from that nonsense, huh?"
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Exactly 😄
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experience that I once told my colleagues, they think it's all bullshit, if they think it's all bullshit, that's no problem for me, my goal in introducing bitcoin is to introduce the world of technology, so my colleagues will not be far away lagging behind, but in my opinion, understanding technology is important.
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I am thinking about talking about nostr, like helping those interested in downloading some nostr client then setting up some dumb LN like wallet of satoshi, any other suggestion?
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Have fun and enjoy your time with friends and family over the holidays. If that means donning all your swag and holding a lecture so be it. If not, don't worry. Bitcoin has got this.
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Re: ledger buttplug. wow, i made a meme a while back just for this moment! so proud of myself, hehe.
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