Now that Den is on a (very brief, very temporary) Tyler Cowen binge (#1470120, #1470476), let's do some more:
It is the main topic, so whatever.
Do we have a right to know who Satoshi is? That is, the Satoshi Nakamoto who created Bitcoin in 2008 and mysteriously disappeared. He announced that he was leaving Bitcoin development in 2011, leaving no further trace except for two emails of uncertain authenticity that may have been sent in 2014 and 2015.
Yes, I think so. At no point in reading and digesting Carreyrou's NYT piece (#1467408, #1467667, #1468526) did I think it ought not to be out there. Investigative journalists, even when they're looking at things you'd rather they didn't or when they use motivated reasoning and confirmation bias to get to absurd conclusions, are still important things to be out there.
I'd rather his (erroneous, poorly reasoned) conclusions be out in the world, than his entire research journey be gatekept or ignored. As an editor at a certain Bitcoin magazine, god knows I let past a number of pretty stupid things I disagreed with but that I could professionally see had merit to (some of) our readers. Welcome to journalism.
Based on evidence that ranges from an early interest in anonymous digital cash to hints in his writing style, the Times article concludes that Satoshi is British crypto CEO Adam Back.
Subtle irony there... yeah, idiots... they breathe air, too!
"The identity of Satoshi isn't just the greatest mystery of the crypto world, it's one of the greatest mysteries of the world, period.""The identity of Satoshi isn't just the greatest mystery of the crypto world, it's one of the greatest mysteries of the world, period."
Many have tried, all(?) have failed.
...
and for some stupid reason, all my paywall tricks fail so this is all you getz -.- Anyone to my rescue?
In spirit I agree with you. People should write about whatever they want. But I'd prefer to meet such reporting as Carreyrou's with mockery for the following reason:
Somehow, his rather weak claims that Back is Satoshi were translated into my mother in law believing that I'm involved in criminal activity.
You might think that this says more about my mother in law than anything else, but I'd disagree. Here is how she laid out the case to me:
She heard a story on NPR that reported that it was 99% certain, scientifically, nay mathematically demonstrated that Adam Back was indeed Satoshi Nakamoto. And, the NPR reporters continued, this had grave implications because this same Adam Back had recently been involved in the production of a public company, the shareholders of which, had not been informed that Mr Back was Satoshi Nakamoto, which was indeed information materially relevant to the business and operations of this public company.
My mother in law will forget Adam Back's name in a month or two. At that point all that will be left is a little stronger sensation that Bitcoin is a criminal enterprise.
Assholes like Carreyrou do about as much good as those assholes who make up fake stuff about the history of memes. They should all be mocked.
Have lots to say about this, too. There's an unpublished news rant somewhere... This is what happens when a population consumes "news"... We try insanely distorted idea of what's up, under the veneer of "oh I'm just aware of what's going on in the world"
Filed away/related to mental obesity, and I don't believe the exact content of the broadcast matters
Not to mention how many people in the media and academic world treat NYT as gospel truth.
That's a bigger, different problem
How many anonymous billionaires do you think bitcoin has created so far?
three!
I think they have a right to investigate. They also have a right to act like a tabloid. And that's what they did, and that's what the New York Times is. A tabloid.
Nah, this is too high quality/detail for tabloid
Of course people can search for him. But just because you can do something, doesn't always mean you should.
why shouldn't you? (I don't mean Bitcoiners, or everyone, but some outsider or investigative journalist like Carreyrou...)
it's a little bit of a test of Satoshi's privacy setup, too.
https://twiiit.com/rettlerb/status/2042257399600607582