More than just Charts

I logged into Facebook today. Yes, I’m not particularly proud of it, but I was curious. Current events have that effect on me sometimes. At any rate, I saw a bunch of unread messages. Normally I ignore them, since they’re usually spam, but this time I clicked.

A long-time friend had sent me a message. A friend I know to be a Bitcoin maxi, so you know I had to listen. There was an audio blob, and a picture to go along with it. A chart of Hive, and its decline. He said, and I’m paraphrasing of course, that he’s happy he’s only in Bitcoin, and that I should repent, basically. See the error of my ways and “go back” to sanity.

I had to think for a minute. When you hear or read things like that, it’s easy to react with anger, or to get passive aggressive. After all, we get defensive. I know I can. But after a pause, I replied with what I think was just naked honesty.

I’m not a gambler. My involvement with Hive isn’t about trading, or waiting for the token to pump so I can dump. I’ve built something there. I’m building there. There’s more value in Hive than just its valuation.

I saw the familiar dots appear, the ones that mean someone is typing. But the reply never came. I wonder if he decided I’m simply too far gone, or if he actually understood what I meant. I didn’t just send that one truth bomb either. I sent links. Snapie’s website. 3Speak. I explained the value propositions as best I could. Silence.

It’s almost 10 p.m. on my side of the world, and I admit I’m still waiting for the reply. Is it because I want to fight someone? No, not really. It’s because I’m passionate about this place, about this chain of blocks, and I can’t help but defend it. Almost as if it has feelings. Dumb? Maybe. Honest? Absolutely.

The truth is, if I had never dumped my wallets into this place, if I had stayed with my Bitcoin, my BNB, and whatever else, I probably would have made some good money by now. Maybe. Discipline is another challenge altogether, but I digress. The point is this: maybe I would have “made it” as a crypto dude, but I also wouldn’t have this place. These friends. These allies.

How do you put a price on that? How do you put a price on community? Flaws and all, because we have them. Still, my point stands.

— MenO