Over the years I've found this to be true. I think bitcoiners can easily fall into the trap of assuming others think in the same ways that we do. The reality is that most people that think like we do will find bitcoin on their own.

I think many bitcoiners have a lot in common, at least in how their brains work to libertarians. I seem to recall "The Righteous Mind" proposing that libertarians have a lower value on group identity than liberals or conservatives. Its been my observation that libertarians underestimate the group dynamic when trying to convince people of a position they hold.

For libertarians facts have a higher weight than they do for most other people. It might be easy to think that makes them superior but does it? There's a reason why humans try to avoid being the odd man out, or an outcast. It historically is a very risky position to be in.

In my 20s I began to realize that I thought in ways that were very different from my friend group. I asked questions they didn't ask. I focused on things they ignored. I used to argue and debate on a daily basis. Over the years I came to realize it was a waste of time with most people for the reasons outlined in this article.

In recent years I have stopped trying to convince people of things. The weird thing is I've seen more success by not trying than trying. Being a friend and just asking questions that lead people to learn more about yourself organically leads to one making their world view known. And when people become your friend, they trust you and actually listen.

You see, most people aren't looking to change their world view or have their minds changed. This is the main barrier to changing someone's mind. They don't want it changed. People wired like myself are the opposite. I am very often seeking out multiple views on a subject. Trying to steel man an argument I disagree with. Its helpful to realize that if you think like this, you are likely very different from those around you. That is, unless all your friends are bitcoiners.