Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Geez bruce, for someone not invested in AirBitz, you sure seem like you are.
I'll stick with what I said -- don't use AirBitz. I understand they were just trying to make things more user-friendly for people, but that's a fundamental design flaw. Would you like your credit card details encrypted, then passed around to dozens of servers, while not knowing who even owns those servers? Well, that's what AirBitz did, except it's even worse because there is no bank to call when your money gets stolen.
Again, for desktop I can recommend https://electrum.org/ -- I don't use it myself, but it is well time tested and proven, majority of my clients use it, and I've never heard of a problem. I use my own wallet software, but that's of no use to anyone here, as it's developed for merchants and requires things like a dedicated server.
For mobile, I really don't know, as it just so happens you can't buy much in Khon Kaen with bitcoin. :) I believe the most popular mobile wallet out there is https://mycelium.com/ -- I've never used it myself, don't personally know anyone who's used it, but have heard nothing but good things about it.
Smiles, I can somewhat understand the relevance. When someone's boy special they met on holiday in Thailand has their buffalo accidentally die, there's a chance they'll ask for bitcoin instead of Western Union. If it hasn't happened yet, it most likely will within the next couple years.
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce_nyc
You can always tell the intelligence and expertise of a person by how excited they are about the future of bitcoin and blockchain technology.
All the greatest minds on earth are *raving* about it.
No. Actually, fanatics such as yourself give bitcoin a bad name. The "great minds" as you call it actually understand the protocol, understand the long-term technical challenges the bitcoin network faces (there's quite a few), and are realistic about the possibilities. Kind of like that Asian guy in the AirBitz video you posted. He seemed pretty down to earth and intelligent. I'll still say they made a massive design flaw, but I understand why, and at least he seems to know what he's talking about.
I have no problem seeing bitcoin continuing to gain adoption, but you have to realize, this is currently a 6 year old experiment and there are some fundamental technical challenges ahead. I'm sure the core dev team will overcome them, but I'm not going to act like a little 12 year old girl cheerleader.
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce_nyc
' ... All the greatest minds on earth are *raving* about it ...
Obviously Brucie has himself in mind, but is attempting heavy-handed coy-ness, so as not to appear overly self-obsessed.
Quote:
Smiles, I can somewhat understand the relevance. When someone's boy special they met on holiday in Thailand has their buffalo accidentally die, there's a chance they'll ask for bitcoin instead of Western Union. If it hasn't happened yet, it most likely will within the next couple years.
Cndmatt, I have absolutely no idea what you talking about. Perhaps leave out the overdone Thailand cliches [i.e. 'boy special' and 'buffalos'] and your point may become at least halfways lucid.
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[PS ... this thread, unlike the rather dreary title, is fast becoming a quite fascinating delve into human psychology.] :o)
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiles
Cndmatt, I have absolutely no idea what you talking about. Perhaps leave out the overdone Thailand cliches [i.e. 'boy special' and 'buffalos'] and your point may become at least halfways lucid.
I mentioned it already in this thread. Bitcoin has become extremely popular with prostitutes throughout North America and Europe already, so no reason to believe that isn't going to extend to Thailand in the near future, if it hasn't already. 27 million tourists come here every year, and some of them fall in love with a hooker. Then when they go home, they find themselves visiting Western Union once or twice a month.
Again, if it hasn't happened already, within the next couple years you can expect those prosititues to be asking for bitcoin instead of Western Union.
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Matt, you admit that you've never even used a bitcoin wallet before.... and barely even know the names of any.
Mycelium and Electrum are both ancient technology and both are absolutely horrible. They are unsafe for a myriad of reasons I won't even get into. And they are crazy difficult for normal people to use.
I say that about Mycelium too, in spite of the fact that the two lead developers of Mycelium are my friends.... and one happens to be gay. But I do tell them that, to their face. They eventually acknowledge and admit that I am right. Their app cannot come close to the levels of security... *and* ease of use... of Airbitz.
By the way, "that Asian guy in the video" that you think is so "smart and knows what he's talking about".... if you had even bothered to read the description of what you were looking at.... you would realize.... the HE happens to be the genius founder and CEO of Airbitz, my friend, Paul Puey.. Yes, you're right about one thing. He is *brilliant*. He and his company are leading the way in the field of bitcoin, blockchain, and even internet security. ( Oh, and by the way, he is American. Born and raised in California. geeez )
Yes, I am a *very* enthusiastic FAN of many many businesses and technologies that I have zero personal interest in, involvement with, or gain from. I could make a list of 300 companies, services, and technologies that I love love love... and that I don't have any connecting interest in.... other than being a big fan. I love SGT. Ask Surfcrest how much he pays me to say that. I love and promote Ambiance Hotel ( tho I did much more when Marcus and Michael were there ). Ask Daniel how much he pays me to say that. I love A-Bomb. Ask Aod how much he pays me to say that. I love PaleoRobbie healthy meal delivery in Bangkok (which accepted bitcoin long before I had come along, by the way). Ask Robby how much he pays me to say that.
Also, I don't become a fan of, and promote, businesses that are owned by my friends. It's the exact opposite. If I really love a business sooooo much, I usually naturally become friends with the owner. And.... If I really don't like a business.... I won't say good things about it... even if the owner is my friend. Sorry. I tell the truth.
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdnmatt
Bitcoin has become extremely popular with prostitutes throughout North America and Europe already, so no reason to believe that isn't going to extend to Thailand in the near future, if it hasn't already. 27 million tourists come here every year, and some of them fall in love with a hooker. Then when they go home, they find themselves visiting Western Union once or twice a month. Again, if it hasn't happened already, within the next couple years you can expect those prosititues to be asking for bitcoin instead of Western Union.
Finally, you say something I can agree with.
Of course, it's not only popular with prostitutes. It's also accepted by the world's largest travel company, Expedia, Microsoft, Dell, PayPal, Overstock, Wordpress, and millions more. Not to mention the millions of small and medium sized businesses that accept bitcoin too.
By the way, http://coins.ph has a new app very similar to grinr and hornet... for finding individuals very nearby wherever you are.... to exchange bitcoin for baht, or baht for bitcoin... ( or any local currency ). Very very cool.
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce_nyc
If I really love a business sooooo much, I usually naturally become friends with the owner.... I tell the truth.
Careful Brucie, it sounds like you are starting to believe your own bullshit. But don't worry; nobody else does.
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Mt. Gox, Flexcoin, Poloniex, bitstamp, BTER-according to wiki all places where bitcoins were stolen, hacked, evaporated. Keep a tight hold of your digital wallet.
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mancs
Mt. Gox, Flexcoin, Poloniex, bitstamp, BTER-according to wiki all places where bitcoins were stolen, hacked, evaporated. Keep a tight hold of your digital wallet.
Absolutely. And there are a lot more than that. Also, most of those places that claimed, "We've been hacked! So sorry." And, "Yeah! We've been hacked too!"
.....were/are lying. The owner of the website just saw a million dollars or more sitting there under his own control and he.... lost it.... and decided to steal it. So you'll see.... one after the other.... I called them copycat "We got hacked too!" scams.
This is why I am fanatical about security and loss prevention in general. In addition to my advice to never keep any money in any type of web site ( use a bitcoin exchange and get all your money back out quickly ). Users must also be protected from their own dumb mistakes too... like using one of those desktop wallets, and/or never backing it up, or backing it up incorrectly, or getting it all stolen by a virus, or the entire laptop gets stolen, etc, etc....
But always remember.... When a stagecoach gets robbed, you can't really blame the gold itself. ( You have to blame the fools who decided it was a good idea to move it on a stagecoach. )
Re: Alternatives to Western Union
By the way, if you're only going to use bitcoin for sending money internationally, then you're probably only going to keep it in the form of bitcoin for a few moments. In that case, as long as you use the safest technology ( Airbitz ), and you use a strong long extremely unique password, and you don't forget your password..... You couldn't be safer. The money will go from being $ / ┬г / тВм in your bank.... to being THB cash your bf can get out of any ATM in Thailand.... in a few moments.
My advice has always been....
If using bitcoin for sending money -- keep it in the form of bitcoin only for the few moments that that takes
If buying bitcoin as an investment -- hold onto it for a minimum of one year
( This week, for example, your net worth would have gone up by only 45.81%. But some weeks are more. Some weeks are less. My bf has the "bitcoin ticker widget" on his phone. He knows *exactly* what days are the best days to suggest going shopping. :-B )