Ninjas and Bananas

No day goes by without me thinking that I did something wrong, that I turned at the wrong street corner and ended up in a bad neighborhood.

Some of these decisions were perhaps inevitably wrong, but there are some we can navigate together, and avoid doing the same mistakes, before we start alienating ourselves further from each other. Today, it is observable that our beloved common space is being infested by unnecessary sidetaking. And I am here to warn against it.

Right now, it feels like we started turning against each other, and I felt that it was about time I open my jaws wide for others to hear me.

You are a Bitcoiner, aren't you? 

Why are you taking sides on Bitcoin projects that are not hostile to Bitcoin? 

Is it worth it to become invested in one side, and face possible repercussions in case something goes wrong, and you are going to be forced to face the consequences of having too much skin in the game? Software projects exist within our space to expand the reach of Bitcoin, help others onboard and ease adoption. We should not take sides on these. Just as long as we know that they are not actively participating in an attack against Bitcoin.

Coinbase is currently actively supplying the US Government with espionage tools, to surveil Bitcoiners. This should be taken a side on, effective immediately. But when there are competing solutions that do not cause harm in any possible confirmable way?

Ninjas and Bananas exist for a reason, but they are also very angry at each other for personal reasons.

I must also note that I personally LOVE both Ninjas and Bananas, not matter how much shit they throw at each other. One of them is useful out on the streets to protect me and keep me safe while transacting, while the other gives me complex vitamin D Sets when I'm indoors at home (Ninjas can also do that, but it's a bit more pricey imho).

But, this is all not as shiny as it looks, because some people think it's good to take sides and ostracize those who eat one or the other. But how about those who are eating both (especially when you are a Dragon like yours truly)? Are we left out? Not entirely, but I can personally feel I received negative effects for not declaring my allegiance to neither. And thruth be told, it didn't affect me, and it definitely didn't turn me into a LARPer neither. Instead it made me scrutinize both sides, and be more objective about my views about them. And this is what matters, because while others will refuse to use one when taking sides, it allows me to continue using both and be impartial about my decisions, thus better able to observe negative and positive effects.

But, you took sides on software also! Bitcoin is a software you LARP!

It's not larping when you own Bitcoin and defend it, but you use software only to interact with it.

New software can replace the old, and be used by many newcomers and oldies alike. The only thing that matters in the end is Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is something that ties us together. 

I'm not claiming that side taking is always stupid. Sometimes it is important to do so, especially when one of us is attacked. But problems will start when someone will draw lines out of principle, and wage war from their borders against their neighbours, shelling each other back and forth like a cat and mouse game.

If you are viewing the conflicts from the sidelines, just like I do, while trying to juggle getting roll called into a war by one of your neighbors, with the excruciating doom of having to reject one of them, you know what I am talking about.

Maintaining neutrality during a war, requires skill and virtue that will become ever more necessary for someone to be able to maximize their future potential as a Bitcoiner. - as someone that is not bound by allegiances, but just brotherly camaraderie. I think it might be time for us to move forward, and go beyond just the tenets of Bitcoin Maximalism. With a new mentality and ethical ideology that allows us to exist unrestricted. A form of model Bitcoin extremism, that upholds Bitcoin's message and allows it to progress, but not without undue scrutiny.

This will be a true test of trust for some, but understanding that we all can exist together without giving in to outsider demagogy and ideologues that try to encroach upon our values that hold Bitcoin dear to itself, we can create a prosperous future. We can value friends more than enemies by maintaining our clear morals and ethics, these aspects of life should drive our thoughts and our teachings about Bitcoin. Those who hold secretive agendas will eventually attempt to tear us apart and drive us into the ground, to uphold the superiority of the State. We should not let that happen.

If we think something is fishy, start demanding answers to hard questions. Only radical accountability will determine trustability.

Unaccountability is the cornerstone of distrust in the modern economic systems. This is the reason why the US Federal Reserve was able to capture the whole world into its debt slavery. Because nobody held it to account, it was allowed to run amok. But this should not be a calling for witch hunts or lynching, not everything is an attack by a third part or by the State.

Choose your battles

By not letting your guard down, in a way like how Switzerland maintains its military readiness, you can maintain your neutrality.

Keep building your connections with the outside world, and keep making friends. Even if you find yourself disagreeing with some of them on the future, on politics, or other more uncomfortable topics, remember that they are also Bitcoiners. Aren't you one? Just because one believes in a God and the other doesn't, it does not matter on the subject of doing God's work in bringing about Bitcoin.

As a neutral actor, your neighbours don't have the right to roll call you into a war.

Don't mistake this with a guidance to general inaction or apathy, there will be times that require direct action and joining sides. My point here is that we should be more careful about it, unnecessary action will lead to unforeseen consequences. When Bitcoin or a Bitcoiner is under attack by an outside actor, we must learn to put aside our differences to heed the calling. Taking action about things that are not directly or indirectly threatening Bitcoin is not a mandatory thing. But regarding changing consensus rules? Changing the mechanism of how Bitcoin functions? That's the right time to let Awyee loose. Also it is good to note to never give up on your true friends. If you ever give up on your friends, you will lose everything you worked hard for and more.

Carefully choose your battles, don't let them choose you. Unnecessarily waging war without a casus belli will just erode your reputation permanently.

Take sides on Bitcoin

Remember what the absence of choice has done to our world, where each nation state can enforce the use of its own fiat currency.

The lack of choice leads directly to our problem. Bitcoin was created to give the option to choose between fiat slavery and freedom. If I would force you to use Coinbase, how would you feel? What if your State would do that, and claim it is illegal to hold it outside of their system's reach? What if your wallet have to be connected to the IRS directly, and it has to report the movement of your money at all times? Wouldn't you want different options? These are attacks that require action, but when there are things outside the reach of state, a question arises: Why take sides on tools when you can take sides on Bitcoin?

Taking sides on Bitcoin is what a real Bitcoiner does. 

We don't have to live in walled gardens, there are more outside of it. If there exists no choice other than Coinbase or BitPay, a Bitcoiner takes the initiative to create an ideology free competitor, like BTCpayserver. A good Bitcoiner remains neutral and blends into the crowd, while continuing to contribute. Most of them tirelessly contribute to the betterment of Bitcoin, and that of other Bitcoiners, until we reach the end of our long road towards Hyperbitcoinization.

Bitcoiners usually work on creating a prosperous environment for themselves and their comrades, where competition can reign free. They also fiercely defend the sovereign space of Bitcoin, guard over their freedoms, and that of others. A true Bitcoiner must always be vigilant, and upon hearing the calling, should be battle prepared with a steed at the ready.

A noble knight, a soldier and a fierce warrior, a toxic Bitcoin maximalist all in one. A tech savvy tinkerer, an entrepreneurial spirit or a scholarly noble. We are all equal under Bitcoin's banner. Our choice of software or brand is not something we should brandish as a flag, because Bitcoin is still the only flag we are supposed to hold high above all.

These are some of the present morals and ethics I personally live by. It might not be much different from what Dear Reader is abiding by. For others it might be weird, but remember, it is a choice. My own free decision.

In today's world, to be free is a choice, not a granted liberty. 

I will let you go with this message, to think about the future that lies ahead. Dare to be bold, because our destiny awaits us right around the next corner.