*

Offline Particle Person

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2987
  • born 2 b b&
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #300 on: May 18, 2014, 10:33:33 PM »
That said, a physical bitcoin is actually just a serial number (a private key).

Is the number one a physical thing?

The number one is not a unique identifier attached to a network. All bitcoins exist, physically, on harddrives/thumb drives/sheets of paper. There is no such thing as a bitcoin that is not physical.

The number one exists in all networks.

It's how your computer processes information and communicates. It's how the 'bitcoin' serial number is calculated.

You are trying to make a number (and an algorithm) into a 'physical thing'.

Computers don't operate with magic. There is no real separation between "virtual" existence and physical existence.
Your mom is when your mom and you arent your mom.

*

Offline Rushy

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 8569
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #301 on: May 18, 2014, 11:19:28 PM »
ITT: Irushwithscvs derails his own thread on accident.

It's my thread and it goes where I please, dammit.

Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #302 on: May 19, 2014, 07:17:56 AM »
That said, a physical bitcoin is actually just a serial number (a private key).

Is the number one a physical thing?

The number one is not a unique identifier attached to a network. All bitcoins exist, physically, on harddrives/thumb drives/sheets of paper. There is no such thing as a bitcoin that is not physical.

The number one exists in all networks.

It's how your computer processes information and communicates. It's how the 'bitcoin' serial number is calculated.

You are trying to make a number (and an algorithm) into a 'physical thing'.

Computers don't operate with magic. There is no real separation between "virtual" existence and physical existence.

Now you're using the term existence. Changing the goal posts again I see.

He is trying to make a number (and an algorithm) into a physical thing. Where did the term existence come into it?


*

Offline Particle Person

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2987
  • born 2 b b&
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #303 on: May 19, 2014, 07:21:59 AM »
Sorry, I thought you were claiming that bitcoins can exist without any physical manifestation.
Your mom is when your mom and you arent your mom.

Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #304 on: May 19, 2014, 07:28:33 AM »
Sorry, I thought you were claiming that bitcoins can exist without any physical manifestation.

Numbers exist without any physical manifestation.

That said, a physical bitcoin is actually just a serial number (a private key).

I'm addressing this.

*

Offline Particle Person

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2987
  • born 2 b b&
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #305 on: May 19, 2014, 07:34:46 AM »
Sorry, I thought you were claiming that bitcoins can exist without any physical manifestation.

Numbers exist without any physical manifestation.

Correct, but numbers stored on computers don't.
Your mom is when your mom and you arent your mom.

*

Online Lord Dave

  • *
  • Posts: 7653
  • Grumpy old man.
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #306 on: May 19, 2014, 10:05:21 AM »
Saying a number stored as magnetic/optical/flash bit is a physical object is as silly as saying a number stored on a piece of paper has monetary value based on the number.
If you are going to DebOOonK an expert then you have to at least provide a source with credentials of equal or greater relevance. Even then, it merely shows that some experts disagree with each other.

Offline Blanko

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2471
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #307 on: May 19, 2014, 10:11:16 AM »
a number stored on a piece of paper has monetary value based on the number.

So, bitcoins?

Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #308 on: May 19, 2014, 08:41:43 PM »
computers

What do they have to do with anything?

*

Offline Fortuna

  • *
  • Posts: 2979
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #309 on: May 19, 2014, 09:15:33 PM »
"Physical" for the purposes of this argument should be defined as something that is tangible; something that you can pick up and show to someone, not an electron. Discussions like this aren't meaningful unless you're in law school or something.

Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #310 on: May 19, 2014, 09:24:57 PM »
A bitcoin isn't actually a 'thing' you can point at. It is just a number

associated with a bitcoin address.

ZOMG WTF LOL

*

Offline Particle Person

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2987
  • born 2 b b&
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #311 on: May 19, 2014, 09:30:14 PM »
Yes, a number and address stored in a physical medium.
Your mom is when your mom and you arent your mom.

*

Offline Fortuna

  • *
  • Posts: 2979
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #312 on: May 19, 2014, 09:32:03 PM »
Stahp.

*

Offline Particle Person

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2987
  • born 2 b b&
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #313 on: May 19, 2014, 09:32:56 PM »
Your mom is when your mom and you arent your mom.

Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #314 on: May 19, 2014, 09:33:13 PM »
Yes, a number and address stored in a physical medium.

Any physical medium?

*

Offline Particle Person

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2987
  • born 2 b b&
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #315 on: May 19, 2014, 09:34:37 PM »
Yes, a number and address stored in a physical medium.

Any physical medium?

Usually an HDD or SSD.
Your mom is when your mom and you arent your mom.

Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #316 on: May 19, 2014, 09:36:48 PM »
Usually an HDD or SSD.

Are they the only media that can be used to record a bitcoin?

*

Offline Particle Person

  • Planar Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2987
  • born 2 b b&
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #317 on: May 19, 2014, 09:38:46 PM »
I don't know, ask our resident bitfag. You can get a neat coin, but presumably the key is still stored in a server somewhere.
Your mom is when your mom and you arent your mom.

Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #318 on: May 19, 2014, 09:40:52 PM »
I don't know

then why are you posting?

*

Offline Fortuna

  • *
  • Posts: 2979
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Rushy about Bitcoins.
« Reply #319 on: May 19, 2014, 09:44:45 PM »
Usually an HDD or SSD.

Are they the only media that can be used to record a bitcoin?

Your wallet has the encryption keys. The blockchain has the addresses, and everyone mining bitcoins has information on every bitcoin transaction through the blockchain. That's how a transaction is verified as legitimate.