We are in the era where nostr is mostly about copying things that already exist, with bells and whistles.
Watch the language of people talking about it: They basically want to beat the system in their own corrupt game.
Forget it. Never going to work.
Instead, think of new things to try out. Even if it fails. "Substantially different" is not about something alien.
It is the same need or want, served in a better way, for **some** people. The people you want to serve.
My 2 sats.
Instead of the bells and whistles, we should concentrate on the new user experiences that weren't possible before. The ones that make a spectacular difference.
A controversial take:
ALL such use-cases will revolve around the integration of bitcoin.
I love using Linux (yes I am a normie and I use Ubuntu most of the time because it's easier) ... but a simple thing like "I want the latest Tor update which the developers put **strongly recommend updating** on is way too much hassle.
Look at this nonsense I have to do:
https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2021/01/install-tor-tor-browser-ubuntu-20-10-20-04/
I recommend Nix.
Using even just the package manager solves a lot of headaches but if you have a little time to learn, the OS part is amazing!
* Quick intro to nostr [here](https://bitcoinplebs.org/pleb-lessons/#nostrnotes-and-other-stuff-transmitted-by-relays)
* Steps on how to get yourself setup with the basics [here](https://bitcoinplebs.org/get-on-board/#objective-join-the-bitcoin-plebs-communityprogress-images)(some of this relates specifically to the butcoinplebs course)
* Clients: For Twitter-like experience I use Amethyst and Primal(early phase but quickly improving) on Android and Primal on desktop browser. Coracle is great for group chats too, on desktop browser. Damus good for Apple. Don't buy Apple products though. Zaps won't work without workarounds [like this](https://www.zapplepay.com/). More niche clients with different use cases to come like [highlighter](https://highlighter.com/)
* Key creation: You could use [seedsigner](https://gist.github.com/kdmukai/ae9911ed6fb92f8e7d2c553555b0cb86) dev branch to generate a secure key, or any client for convenience
* Key Storage: [nsecbunker](https://nsecbunker.com/) or [nostr signer](https://github.com/lnbits/nostr-signing-device) on desktop-only with browser extension. Alby works well with nip7 too
* Choose Relays: There are some good public service relays but depends also on what you do and who you want to connect to. Many communities run their own white-listing relays. Might be worth it to try paid relays too
* Send Zaps: Phoenix and Mutiny both worked well for me
* Receive zaps in a sovereign way with [Voltage nostr toolkit](https://voltage.cloud/nostr/?amp). Haven't tried yet though
* Nip5 file can also be hosted very cheaply with own domain, no VPS required with 1984.hosting
* Running my own LNBits nostr relay on a cheap VPS. Easy to setup
Much of the heavy-lifting has been completed to make a better, more decentralized world possible:
1. Machines automate menial, burdensome tasks and help us make more intelligent decisions
2. The internet connects people and machines together in a hive-mind network, multiplying overall intelligence and productivity even further
3. Cryptography makes it possible to own information based on secrets. Private property in the digital realm
4. Bitcoin and Lightning create the right incentives for people to use the right money without single points of failure, tied to cryptography-based ownership
5. Nostr allows for a permissionless semantic web where cryptographic identities and minimal structure create network effects that were not possible with data silos of centralized platforms
One problem remains: Personal responsibility: Private key management.
You want the freedom and convenience but are you ready to take Responsibility into your own hands?
Our world has taught you otherwise: "Let me handle this for you, don't bother I'll take care if it". You cannot pay anyone to fully bear the consequences of **Your** actions.
The last step to a free world is individuals adopting self-responsibility. Can we make it happen?
My plan is to spam nostr with quality educational bitcoin content until everyone gets it:
1. Self-Custody is a must
2. You can do it: By adopting low time-preference and responsible behavior
3. No matter what you do in life: The skills, knowledge and mindset you soak up while practicing self-custody will make you a better person overall.
Start with commitment: [Design](https://bitcoinplebs.org/pledge-of-the-bitcoin-pleb/) your life around learning bitcoin self-custody.
Bitcoin rewards the truth-seekers, not rent-seekers.
Don't sell your soul. Sell your fiat for bitcoin instead.
Take it into self-custody. It will vastly improve your character, 100% guaranteed.
Opportunity cost is real.
Don't waste your efforts. Turn towards the signal, not the bullshit. Analyze incentives and be sceptic in this noisy world.
Many are expecting disasters but few are actually prepared.
Why?
Because they focus on waiting for disasters instead of preparation.
Buy bitcoin and learn self-custody. The only real hedge.
Hey, nostr:npub17tyke9lkgxd98ruyeul6wt3pj3s9uxzgp9hxu5tsenjmweue6sqq4y3mgl , I was wondering if you have the screenshots of your UI. I’m working on a comprehensive guide for the Russian-speakers covering the whole process of assembling and using the device, so they would come in handy.
You can find some [here](https://bitcoinplebs.org/a-fool-and-his-bitcoin/#objective-start-using-a-hardware-wallet).
At the individual Objectives there are links to progress images.
Don't bet against #bitcoin and #nostr.
Not just because you will most probably be wrong.
But because nostr and bitcoin are the hope to bring about a better world for everyone.
Don’t be cynical. Be cheerful. It pays off tremendously.
The proliferation of open protocols and open source software is a good way to measure the time preference of civilization.
If you spend your precious time with relentless and agressive criticism, you will not find your peace of mind.
If you already know why fiat and altcoins don't work, you are beating a dead horse and miss important opportunities to better your own circumstances.
Spend most of your time building your ideal life. Like improving your character and adopting essential skills for that desired life. I know it is 100X harder than playing "mr. know-it-all". But it pays off handsomely.
Real constructive criticism starts with empathy and is best when it is asked-for.
Live and breathe the solution. People who want to know the truth will come and ask. Why bother otherwise with unsolicited advice?
Where does your retention/deletion criteria come from?
I would argue it comes from a bigger framing, a goal that you already determined. Or at least it should be the case.
Training a skill is part of learning. But it is not the whole picture. That is why public schooling fails. It does train you to acquire skills, just not those *you* decided to learn for your own reasons. Thus it fails to actually teach anything.
Clear goals first, practice second. Helps you stay motivated.
Let's assume you want to learn something useful.
You will need to come up with a project with milestones to achieve. Only *after* you set your goal can your brain kindle your whole body to learn.
Without focus it's impossible to master anything. Without specific problems to solve, there is nothing to focus on, nothing to learn, no motivation.
Humans are problem-oriented. If you recognize this you will 10X your passion and your productivity.
Just emulate the open-source devs. That's the passion that created bitcoin and nostr.
Bitcoin Self-Custody is notoriously hard for certain people. If you are stacking sats but are not holding your own keys you most probably fall in one of these categories:
1. You get scared off by the mountain of new knowledge to master.
You can overcome this by taking the smallest viable step forward. Interaction is key: you must get your hands dirty and experiment or you will never truly get it.
Children play like that. They try and they fail. Then go again non-stop. They don't even know the concept of failing. They learn more in a day than adults in a year.
2. You fear the Self-Responsibility part. This is the harder to overcome. Decades of ingrained helplessness makes you avoid responsibility at all costs.
Don't think you can have freedom without responsibility for your actions. Stop blaming and whining. Adopt gratitude and face your shortcomings.
The alternative is to accept slavery. This is a valid choice. Just say it out loud and live with the consequences. Still better than living in ignorance.
PSA:
If you think nostr is going fail, you are wrong.
If you don’t like the experience right now, check back in a few months because you will get a better experience by an order of magnitude.
This is the speed of development you can expect from the talents working on nostr.
You might not understand all the implications of its design but the bullishness of so many is 100% warranted.
It's not a silver bullet but a swiss knife of standards-based but still very flexible communication on the web.
It's open, self-custodial and censorship-resistent nature will change the way you and your devices interact with each other.
Nostr creates an immediate network effect in anything it touches. This is what the creators of the internet must have dreamed about. Data set free.
You have seen nothing of its potential yet.
Open source development benefits greatly from AI because there is nothing to hide.
Companies with secrets and slaves will be left behind by the mass contributions of freedom-loving devs fully embracing the AI revolution.
They are not merely coding a job. They do their work with the hope for a better future.
Which incentive do you think will win in the long-run?
Collaborative Custody schemes can be beneficial for newbies as a stepping stone to sovereignty.
However I would not recommend to do this with a company:
- You are basically doxxed to these companies despite anything they tell you
- They will not respect your privacy when governments crack down on them
- They might leak your private information and you might not know about it for a long time. They have bigger targets on their heads so they often get compromised
- They have an incentive to keep you in the dark and FUD complete Self-Custody
- They push customers into their own software/hardware preferences and might not tell you about their trade-offs honestly
Look for a trusted Uncle Jim to do collaborative custody. If you choose good people they will have an incentive to get rid of your keys and teach you more about bitcoin to make you self-sovereign.
The best incentives in bitcoin are created when there are no single points of failure. Plebs helping Plebs becoming better, day by day.
Whenever you think about what hardware and software to use in Self-Custody, always choose the most verifiable, most standards-based, most crowd-sourced options.
These will be the the ones with the least strings attached: The least motivation to mislead you for selfish reasons or rug you.
Don't fall for shiny design and all those bells and whistles. The more minimalistic the more focused on keeping your bitcoin safe.
Research the people behind the project or product. Look for signs of shitcoinery and greed. Understand the basics of software licensing and why they chose their particular license.
Listen to interviews with people on the project and try to figure out what kind of people they are. Unwarranted bullishness to onboard the next billion bitcoiners immediately sets off my bullshit meter.
Don't bow before self-proclaimed experts. Only ever deal with humbly straightforward people. They will inform you about the trade-offs of their products which is what you absolutely need to know before you make your choice.
Lastly, go for the product that is designed to empower users by not hiding details but letting the user grow from zero to hero with design choices around education. It takes empathy and real expertise to achieve a sweet spot in this respect.
No one and nothing is perfect but the options are getting better and the greedy, high-time-preference projects will eventually die off like they should.
Improve your taste so you get more confident and impervious to bullshit.
Let's go!