Peter bought a football team and two Astin Martins. How did that help?
After several years of FOMO, I finally attended HRF's #OsloFreedomForum. I took a friend who's political but not Bitcoiner, so I had the experience of seeing it through someone else's eyes, as well as my own. Obviously there's a lot to unpack: talking face-to-face with activists who are working in real danger is confronting in itself, and hearing their experiences fresh and recent is an emotional and impactful experience.
I was surprised, however, at the large number of Bitcoiners at the conference: it's not a Bitcoin conference, but the HRF (particularly nostr:npub1trr5r2nrpsk6xkjk5a7p6pfcryyt6yzsflwjmz6r7uj7lfkjxxtq78hdpu) has been courting bitcoiners for technical assistance (and, presumably, donations) for several years now and it has resulted in a fascinating intersection. Those present are builders, not (just?) talkers. My non-bitcoiner friend noted the remarkable humility of those present: an insightful comment.
Of all the discussions I had, the one which haunts me most is a conversation with Peter McCormack (ex- WBD, now rejuvinating his home town and trying to raise awareness of UK's pressing misgovernance issues). To paraphrase: "Where are the Bitcoiners improving the world? Wasn't that what this was about?". In a context of three days' exposure to people who are dedicating their lives to something much bigger than software, this question really affected me.
I was expecting to leave the conference with a list of software priorities, and I did. But I still feel it's inadaquate, and so I'm now pondering the question: "what else should I be doing?".
Discussion
Developed the local football team, the ground, started a women's team, a scholarship for local kids, a cafe, a conference, started an initiative to reduce crime downtown, and brought international visitors to Bedford?
Rusty, I do fully understand what you are saying and I would really like to agree with you. I can't.
We begged Peter to stop shilling some shady af advertisers on WBD; companies like BlockFi. We begged him because we knew beyond any reasonable doubt what was coming. From unknowns like me to very large fish. He refused, pushed back and said we were just jealous.
What happened? We all know what happened, so, when you list these examples of the "good things" Peter is doing I have to remember that a lot of people got reamed on the FTX/Alameda/BlockFi etc. etc. etc.
Some of the money he made came directly from straight up scams. If no one had said a word it would be forgivable but, as I have said, we not only informed him, we begged him to stop.
He didn't.
You're wrong so you moved the goalposts? And you threw FTX in there for good measure.
Stop wasting my time.