Bitcoin culture has been justifiably ruthless It takes some honest effort for an individual to initially understand bitcoin, but once it clicks, there’s no going back. It can’t be unseen, and it even appears obvious in hindsight.

So obvious, in fact, that it can become quite frustrating that so many other people are failing to grasp it. It’s a natural instinct to want to help propagate the truth, especially because doing so would benefit both you and the listener.

Some people might be able to be convinced through careful and thoughtful discussion, if they are open-minded and curious. But unfortunately, this only describes a minority of people. So instead, bitcoiners often find themselves resorting to alternative tactics.

Rhetorical bullying is not nice, but it can serve a good purpose. If the bullying is focused on a behavior that the victim has the power to change, then it can be a form of social tough love: “stop engaging in that stupid behavior, it’s turning you into a loser.”