One of these days I’ll write an article or put together a talk to flesh out the idea that decentralized reputation / WoT is analogous to a nuclear reaction.

Y’all seen Oppenheimer? Remember the scene when he describes two things: 1. high energy neutrons, and 2. atoms. Neutrons hit atoms and split them apart, and then the atoms produce neutrons. If 1000 neutrons ==> 999 neutrons, then it fizzles out. But if 1000 neutrons ==> 1001 neutrons, then BOOM.

For decentralized WoT, we also need two things:

1. We need platforms, ontologies, etc that will allow us to pose any question of interest to our WoT.

2. We need to ask out WoT how to build and maintain the aforementioned platforms, ontologies, etc.

The goal should be to build both of the above and to establish a positive feedback loop, analogous to the one between neutrons and atoms, so that each one sustains and grows the other. Up until now, all attempts at WoT have been disappointing. Always seem to fizzle out. What’s the problem? We haven’t achieved critical mass.

To achieve critical mass, we need to build 1. and 2. (above), we have to build them well, and we have to build them in the midst of a permissionless system of social interaction with lots of users, which is what nostr provides.

Once we achieve ignition, it will be like the ignition of a star.

You think bitcoin is world changing? You ain’t seen nothing yet.

🌟 ⭐️ 💫