[workallday21]

This environmental impact of crypto is like a virus that spreads and spreads. A meme if you will.

The industrial revolution was also bad for the environment. And it's the single most important reason why we are arguing across countries now in home using cheap devices made in China.

So, just drop the environmental impact. Geez, makes me want to buy BitCoin just to spite you.

[Nursie]

"Other things have caused pollution, therefore you can't criticise my thing"

We are in a world where excessive use of fossil energy is a massive problem.

At such a time, bringing a new financial instrument into the world that uses more power than mid-sized countries is irresponsible if not downright malicious.

Sorry if that annoys you.

[shawnz]

Increasing the energy usage of our species is not "irresponsible" or "malicious". Every technological improvement increases the energy usage of our species. I think that is the point they are making, that it is wrong to say that using energy is strictly a bad thing.

If you want to decrease fossil fuel consumption then you should be crusading for worldwide carbon taxes, not bans on new technologies.

[workallday21]

It doesn't annoy me at all. Your attitude annoys me.

Who cares how much energy it uses in aggregate. That energy is paid for. If we are under such an energy shortage problem then I assume individual countries will start rationing it out or switching to renewables or whatever.

It's such a weird attack angle that seems to have latched on some people's minds like glue. Did we ever look at the aggregate impact of every thing in the world? What is the aggregate impact of Facebook? What is the aggregate impact of gas cars? What is the aggregate impact of lawn mowing world wide? What is the aggregate impact of smoking?

Like... of all the things.

It's a global system that runs non-stop, world wide. It would be quite remarkable if it didn't use energy.