On Saturday, November 09, 2013 3:55:33 PM Benjamin Cordes wrote:
> Is having conversations with the CIA a bad thing?
> Is having a google developer as a core member of the bitcoin dev group a bad
> thing?
> Would having a self declared anarchist as a member of the bitcoin core dev
> group a bad thing?

No, why is it a bad thing for anyone to contribute? Or for anyone to talk to
who they like? Everyone should be free to participate in Bitcoin how they
want; the problem comes about when they purport to claim that their interests
represent Bitcoin itself - regardless of what their interests are.

I'm a monarchist and interested in Bitcoin to advance the tonal number system.
But I don't claim that is *Bitcoin's* goal, as if using the technology
inherently makes one a monarchist or tonal supporter.

> Imagine the hypothetical scenario that some entity would hack bitcointalk
> and reddit and would declare certain changes to Bitcoin in the name of the
> developers.

Developers shouldn't have any special authority. People need to understand
that most fundamental changes require the consent of the users, not the
developers.

Luke