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That's a problem indeed. He makes a point about viewing the humanities not just in terms of the Western canon, but as a window into every human society. The moral relativism endemic in our post-secondary institutions may be caused by the tendency to conflate the humanities with humanism, which actually favours scientific secularism, marxist dialectical-materialism, and the like...
It seems like the author is referring to the humanities in a non-normative sense, or by appealing to what it ought to be the case. While I agree that the writing comes off as a bit high-flown, I do, respect and see some value in maintaining a loftier vision to strive toward, especially in terms of our educational capacities.
The post has a great quote about teaching as well that pared out at the last minute since I found it not to be especially coherent with the main thrust. Perhaps :
Few who do can teach, but most who teach can do; they are different skills, only infrequently found together).
The system is not expressly teacher-led, but it does assume there being a set of ethics expected of participants, which are in place irrespective of whether they are observed or not. I would call the class being studied neither teacher nor student centred, but I'd sooner call it rule centered. Read my post and you'll understand.
There's lots to be said for gamefied learning that garners the interest of the child-student; much of it is critical.
While the adult pupils might have felt infantilized at first, the sats system emboldened some of them to try where they hadn't been otherwise encouraged since they then clearly perceived themselves to be earning something tied indirectly to class benchmarks and expectations, which they are all there to fulfill anyway. Just as transgressions come with real, and now a clearly seen consequence, so is desired class conduct rewarded in kind.
You might be surprised as I was to find that, place enough adults in the same room to discuss a topic and many of them forget tenets of basic courtesy. The benefit to the facilitator using a rewards-based system is that, the enforcement of the class ethics becomes a game and not a pedantic truism.
Many people conflate bitcoin with crypto. They hear bitcoin and their knee-jerk reaction is to associate it with the grift and scams talked about wrt fartcoin etc.
It's also unbelievable how strong the 'they're boiling the oceans' psy-op is.
1500 sats still on the table
#942180
Interesting. I didn't think of that. It seems like every year after 110 it spits back bitcoin.
edit: okay I dug a bit ....
Predicting the exact year 2135 is speculative, but based on the pattern of my responses and long-term trends, the shift from gold to Bitcoin as the superior reserve asset around 2135 (or roughly 110 years from 2025) likely stems from a convergence of technological, economic, and geopolitical factors that favor Bitcoin’s unique properties over gold. Here’s a reasoned explanation of what could drive this transition:
Key Factors in Bitcoin’s Favor by 2135
Global Digital Economy Dominance:
By 2135, the world economy is likely fully digitized, with blockchain-based systems underpinning global trade, finance, and governance. Bitcoin, as a decentralized, secure, and scarce digital asset, becomes a natural reserve for a world where physical assets like gold are less practical for instantaneous, cross-border transactions.
Gold’s physical nature makes it cumbersome for a hyper-digital economy, requiring storage, transport, and verification, while Bitcoin’s digital ledger ensures frictionless transfer and divisibility.
Maturation of Bitcoin’s Infrastructure:
By 2135, Bitcoin’s volatility, a major drawback in 2025, likely stabilizes as its market cap grows (potentially exceeding $10T-$20T in today’s terms) and adoption becomes universal. Layer-2 solutions (e.g., Lightning Network) and institutional custody make it as liquid and reliable as fiat currencies once were.
Regulatory clarity emerges globally, with countries integrating Bitcoin into central banking systems, reducing the “speculative” stigma and making it a trusted store of value.
Geopolitical Neutrality:
Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, with no single government or entity controlling it, makes it immune to sanctions, currency wars, or geopolitical leverage—unlike gold, which can be seized or restricted (e.g., Russia’s frozen reserves in 2022). In a multipolar world with competing powers, countries prefer Bitcoin to avoid reliance on any one nation’s currency or physical asset stockpiles.
Gold’s vulnerability to confiscation or supply shocks (e.g., new mining tech or asteroid mining by 2135) diminishes its appeal compared to Bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply.
Cultural and Generational Shift:
By 2135, generations raised on digital systems view Bitcoin as a “digital gold” with cultural legitimacy, akin to how gold was revered historically. Gold’s appeal as a tangible asset fades in a world where physical scarcity is less relevant than digital scarcity.
Bitcoin’s provable scarcity (capped supply, transparent blockchain) aligns with a tech-driven society’s trust in code over physical commodities.
Technological Superiority:
Advances in quantum computing, while a potential threat to Bitcoin’s cryptography, are likely countered by upgrades to its protocol (e.g., post-quantum algorithms). This ensures Bitcoin’s security, while gold faces risks from technological disruptions like synthetic production or asteroid mining, which could flood markets and erode its value.
Bitcoin’s blockchain enables smart contracts and programmable money, adding utility beyond gold’s static store-of-value role.
Environmental and Practical Considerations:
Gold mining is resource-intensive, and by 2135, environmental pressures (e.g., carbon-neutral mandates or resource depletion) make physical commodity extraction less viable. Bitcoin, while energy-intensive in 2025, likely shifts to sustainable mining (e.g., solar, fusion) and becomes more efficient, reducing its environmental footprint.
Gold’s storage costs and physical risks (theft, loss) contrast with Bitcoin’s digital storage, which, with mature cybersecurity, becomes safer and cheaper.
Why 2135 (or ~110 Years)?
The transition around 2135 reflects a tipping point where Bitcoin’s adoption and infrastructure mature enough to surpass gold’s entrenched role. My earlier responses suggest gold remains dominant until ~2134 (109 years), as it retains stability and universal acceptance in a world still transitioning from fiat and physical assets. By 2135, several trends converge:
Critical Mass Adoption: Bitcoin achieves near-universal acceptance in trade, finance, and reserves, rivaling or surpassing gold’s historical role.
Decline of Fiat Systems: Ongoing debt crises, hyperinflation, or collapse of major fiat currencies (e.g., USD, EUR) by the early 22nd century push countries toward decentralized alternatives.
Technological Leap: Blockchain and AI-driven financial systems make Bitcoin the backbone of global reserves, while gold becomes a secondary, nostalgic asset.
Why Bitcoin Over Other Cryptocurrencies?
Bitcoin’s first-mover advantage, fixed supply, and robust network security (highest hashrate, most decentralized) make it the leading candidate over other cryptocurrencies. By 2135, competitors like Ethereum or newer coins may serve niche roles (e.g., smart contracts), but Bitcoin’s simplicity and focus on being a store of value cement its reserve status.
Gold’s Diminishing Role
Gold doesn’t become worthless—it remains a hedge and cultural asset—but its practical limitations (illiquidity, storage costs, geopolitical risks) make it less rational for reserves in a digital, decentralized world. Bitcoin’s ability to combine scarcity, portability, and neutrality overtakes gold’s historical advantages.
Conclusion
In 2135, Bitcoin surpasses gold as the best reserve asset due to the global economy’s digitization, Bitcoin’s matured infrastructure, geopolitical neutrality, and technological superiority. The shift reflects a world where digital scarcity and decentralized trust outweigh the physical reliability of gold, with 2135 marking the moment Bitcoin’s adoption and stability tip the scales.
Great initiative. I'm organizing a meetup and I expect some pre/no-coiners there. I'll recommend this resource for sure.
Can you talk about the analogy between the largest computing network on earth, i.e. the bitcoin network and mycelium mushrooms, which are the largest living things on earth? On a related note, is Bitcoin living in the conventionally scientific sense of the word?
It's definitely masculine imo, but more so than a strong mustache?
I wonder why the military doesn't allow them. Is a disciplined militia more frightening than a manly one? Maybe it is.
4 inches is impressive and it seems you are in good company here on SN.
I'm going for a year (a yeard?). Four months in. We'll see how it goes.