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Blockchain beliefs

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  • W W Balboos GHB

    It seems the real question that should be asked is not if "code is the law" and buggy and all that. The code needs to be interpreted and the interpreter can be not only buggy, itself, but even deliberately designed to be corrupt. Thus, those making this 'contract' are having involvement (with neither their knowledge nor consent) by a third party. The entire concept falls apart.

    Ravings en masse^

    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

    "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

    R Offline
    R Offline
    raddevus
    wrote on last edited by
    #15

    Yes, the beauty of the system is that there is no central authority. However, that is also the problem that could destroy the system also. It seems as if the people who are for blockchain smart contracts are saying, "oh, it'll all work out, just fine". :suss:

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    • T theoldfool

      computers make very precise errors, very fast.

      If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.

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      raddevus
      wrote on last edited by
      #16

      theoldfool wrote:

      computers make very precise errors, very fast.

      Exactly! :) Bank teller: <explaining why all your money gone> Well, it looks as if the computer only deducted $0.05, so no big deal. Customer: Yes, isn't that lovely. Only $0.05...But it deducted it 4 trillion times!!! :wtf: :laugh: :laugh:

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      • R raddevus

        I'm reading this book, Building Blockchain Apps (Addison-Wesley Professional)[^] and I came across the following which explains Smart Contracts:

        Quote:

        In Code We Trust The smart contracts can often closely resemble legal contracts in the real world. For example, the transaction parties might enter an escrow agreement that the fund will be paid out only when certain conditions are met. It is now up to network validators and maintainers to assert whether such conditions are met and how the transaction should be executed when new blocks are appended to the blockchain. However, unlike legal contracts that are enforced by the centralized government power, the smart contracts can automatically apply collaboration rules on the blockchain. The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion. Because of that, we consider smart contract code the “law” in blockchain networks. The code is executed as written. Even if the code contains bugs or side effects unexpected by its author, it is still trusted as a source of truth and enforced as the law.

        So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes: Oh, no worries, when this all lands our AI Overlords will settle it all. :laugh:

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        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #17

        The mentally ill cannot enter into "contracts", even if they do.

        It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it. ― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food

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        • R raddevus

          PIEBALDconsult wrote:

          "Mostly Harmless"

          Five years from now. PiebaldConsult: <on phone with bank> What do you mean my account has a negative balance!?! AI Banker : It is the will of the code. :laugh:

          P Offline
          P Offline
          PIEBALDconsult
          wrote on last edited by
          #18

          This is the way.

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • R raddevus

            I'm reading this book, Building Blockchain Apps (Addison-Wesley Professional)[^] and I came across the following which explains Smart Contracts:

            Quote:

            In Code We Trust The smart contracts can often closely resemble legal contracts in the real world. For example, the transaction parties might enter an escrow agreement that the fund will be paid out only when certain conditions are met. It is now up to network validators and maintainers to assert whether such conditions are met and how the transaction should be executed when new blocks are appended to the blockchain. However, unlike legal contracts that are enforced by the centralized government power, the smart contracts can automatically apply collaboration rules on the blockchain. The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion. Because of that, we consider smart contract code the “law” in blockchain networks. The code is executed as written. Even if the code contains bugs or side effects unexpected by its author, it is still trusted as a source of truth and enforced as the law.

            So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes: Oh, no worries, when this all lands our AI Overlords will settle it all. :laugh:

            Sander RosselS Offline
            Sander RosselS Offline
            Sander Rossel
            wrote on last edited by
            #19

            Report: Blockchain-related hacks have declined in 2020[^] Yes, Blockchain hacks have declined, meaning they exist. I remember reading about hacked Bitcoin wallets so not even Blockchain is 100%, despite what they say. The decline may be attributed to the fact Blockchain isn't as hot and happening as in 2019. In fact, this post of yours may be the first I see of it in 2020 :laugh:

            Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript

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            • T theoldfool

              computers make very precise errors, very fast.

              If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.

              G Offline
              G Offline
              Gaston Verelst
              wrote on last edited by
              #20

              To err is human but to really foul up requires a computer.

              Check out my blog at http://msdev.pro/

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              • R raddevus

                I'm reading this book, Building Blockchain Apps (Addison-Wesley Professional)[^] and I came across the following which explains Smart Contracts:

                Quote:

                In Code We Trust The smart contracts can often closely resemble legal contracts in the real world. For example, the transaction parties might enter an escrow agreement that the fund will be paid out only when certain conditions are met. It is now up to network validators and maintainers to assert whether such conditions are met and how the transaction should be executed when new blocks are appended to the blockchain. However, unlike legal contracts that are enforced by the centralized government power, the smart contracts can automatically apply collaboration rules on the blockchain. The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion. Because of that, we consider smart contract code the “law” in blockchain networks. The code is executed as written. Even if the code contains bugs or side effects unexpected by its author, it is still trusted as a source of truth and enforced as the law.

                So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes: Oh, no worries, when this all lands our AI Overlords will settle it all. :laugh:

                G Offline
                G Offline
                GenJerDan
                wrote on last edited by
                #21

                raddevus wrote:

                The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion.

                "Trustless" Yes, I know what it means. Still, it'll look scary to ordinary people.. ;P

                We won't sit down. We won't shut up. We won't go quietly away. YouTube, and My Mu[sic], Films and Windows Programs, etc. and FB

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                • R raddevus

                  I'm reading this book, Building Blockchain Apps (Addison-Wesley Professional)[^] and I came across the following which explains Smart Contracts:

                  Quote:

                  In Code We Trust The smart contracts can often closely resemble legal contracts in the real world. For example, the transaction parties might enter an escrow agreement that the fund will be paid out only when certain conditions are met. It is now up to network validators and maintainers to assert whether such conditions are met and how the transaction should be executed when new blocks are appended to the blockchain. However, unlike legal contracts that are enforced by the centralized government power, the smart contracts can automatically apply collaboration rules on the blockchain. The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion. Because of that, we consider smart contract code the “law” in blockchain networks. The code is executed as written. Even if the code contains bugs or side effects unexpected by its author, it is still trusted as a source of truth and enforced as the law.

                  So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes: Oh, no worries, when this all lands our AI Overlords will settle it all. :laugh:

                  B Offline
                  B Offline
                  BDieser
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #22

                  It is scary to an extent. In fairness, human contracts and laws can be ambiguous and have loop holes too. Many people sign contracts without actually reading them. Some of them get burned badly because of that. I think smart contracts have their place, but the technology is just a little too new yet.

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                  • G GenJerDan

                    raddevus wrote:

                    The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion.

                    "Trustless" Yes, I know what it means. Still, it'll look scary to ordinary people.. ;P

                    We won't sit down. We won't shut up. We won't go quietly away. YouTube, and My Mu[sic], Films and Windows Programs, etc. and FB

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                    raddevus
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #23

                    GenJerDan wrote:

                    Still, it'll look scary to ordinary people.

                    I think so too. It seems like an odd term to try to convince people that it is safe.

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                    • B BabyYoda

                      raddevus wrote:

                      how buggy software is?

                      True, but computers only do what they are told to do. They never, ever break the law. They can't. They can't think or decide. They simply execute code and do exactly what they are told to do. Even when there is a "bug" the computer did exactly what it was told to do.

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                      theDrd2k1
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #24

                      That it what they said about #5!

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                      • R raddevus

                        BabyYoda wrote:

                        Using your bank analogy, can you imagine a financial application that could not track down when and how money moved?

                        :laugh: :laugh: Yeah, they'll just tell the customer, "well the computer decided and we know computers do things correctly". :laugh: :laugh:

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                        P Offline
                        Pete Kelley
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #25

                        "...just tell the customer, 'well the computer decided and we know computers do things correctly'. "

                        This is exactly what they do today! If it came out of a computer or cash register display the teller/cashier/branchmanager is dumbfounded that anyone would question it! Thinking is so old-school.

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                        • T theDrd2k1

                          That it what they said about #5!

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                          Keefer S
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #26

                          My thoughts exactly when I read the comment!

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • R raddevus

                            I'm reading this book, Building Blockchain Apps (Addison-Wesley Professional)[^] and I came across the following which explains Smart Contracts:

                            Quote:

                            In Code We Trust The smart contracts can often closely resemble legal contracts in the real world. For example, the transaction parties might enter an escrow agreement that the fund will be paid out only when certain conditions are met. It is now up to network validators and maintainers to assert whether such conditions are met and how the transaction should be executed when new blocks are appended to the blockchain. However, unlike legal contracts that are enforced by the centralized government power, the smart contracts can automatically apply collaboration rules on the blockchain. The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion. Because of that, we consider smart contract code the “law” in blockchain networks. The code is executed as written. Even if the code contains bugs or side effects unexpected by its author, it is still trusted as a source of truth and enforced as the law.

                            So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes: Oh, no worries, when this all lands our AI Overlords will settle it all. :laugh:

                            D Offline
                            D Offline
                            Dan Neely
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #27

                            raddevus wrote:

                            So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes:

                            What could possibly go wrong? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 ['$300m in cryptocurrency' accidentally lost forever due to bug](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/08/cryptocurrency-300m-dollars-stolen-bug-ether)

                            Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt

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                            • B BabyYoda

                              raddevus wrote:

                              how buggy software is?

                              True, but computers only do what they are told to do. They never, ever break the law. They can't. They can't think or decide. They simply execute code and do exactly what they are told to do. Even when there is a "bug" the computer did exactly what it was told to do.

                              M Offline
                              M Offline
                              MKJCP
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #28

                              Same is true for guns...

                              B 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • R raddevus

                                I'm reading this book, Building Blockchain Apps (Addison-Wesley Professional)[^] and I came across the following which explains Smart Contracts:

                                Quote:

                                In Code We Trust The smart contracts can often closely resemble legal contracts in the real world. For example, the transaction parties might enter an escrow agreement that the fund will be paid out only when certain conditions are met. It is now up to network validators and maintainers to assert whether such conditions are met and how the transaction should be executed when new blocks are appended to the blockchain. However, unlike legal contracts that are enforced by the centralized government power, the smart contracts can automatically apply collaboration rules on the blockchain. The rules are written in code and checked by trustless participants of the network to prevent corruption or collusion. Because of that, we consider smart contract code the “law” in blockchain networks. The code is executed as written. Even if the code contains bugs or side effects unexpected by its author, it is still trusted as a source of truth and enforced as the law.

                                So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes: Oh, no worries, when this all lands our AI Overlords will settle it all. :laugh:

                                M Offline
                                M Offline
                                MKJCP
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #29

                                The whole thing is too abstract for me to trust with my assets. I like contracts I can, at least in theory, print and read. I hope blockchain keeps fading away. To me it is a dark figure in an alley on the bad side of town.

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • T theDrd2k1

                                  That it what they said about #5!

                                  B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  BabyYoda
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #30

                                  theDrd2k1 wrote:

                                  That it what they said about #5!

                                  What is #5?

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • M MKJCP

                                    Same is true for guns...

                                    B Offline
                                    B Offline
                                    BabyYoda
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #31

                                    MKJCP wrote:

                                    Same is true for guns

                                    And everything else inanimate.

                                    M 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • B BabyYoda

                                      MKJCP wrote:

                                      Same is true for guns

                                      And everything else inanimate.

                                      M Offline
                                      M Offline
                                      MKJCP
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #32

                                      Indeed. I am hoping computers stay inanimate.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • P Pete Kelley

                                        "...just tell the customer, 'well the computer decided and we know computers do things correctly'. "

                                        This is exactly what they do today! If it came out of a computer or cash register display the teller/cashier/branchmanager is dumbfounded that anyone would question it! Thinking is so old-school.

                                        R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        raddevus
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #33

                                        Pete Kelley wrote:

                                        This is exactly what they do today! If it came out of a computer or cash register display the teller/cashier/branchmanager is dumbfounded that anyone would question it! Thinking is so old-school.

                                        Agree 100%!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • D Dan Neely

                                          raddevus wrote:

                                          So smart contracts are going to enforce rules for transactions which become "law" (the system will not break the "law" (code), no matter how fouled up the "law" may be"). Do these Blockchain enthusiasts not understand how buggy software is? :rolleyes:

                                          What could possibly go wrong? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 ['$300m in cryptocurrency' accidentally lost forever due to bug](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/08/cryptocurrency-300m-dollars-stolen-bug-ether)

                                          Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt

                                          R Offline
                                          R Offline
                                          raddevus
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #34

                                          Wow! From the article...

                                          Quote:

                                          “We are analysing the situation and will release an update with further details shortly,” Parity told users. Hard fork Some are pushing for a “hard fork” of Ethereum, which would undo the damage by effectively asking 51% of the currency’s users to agree to pretend that it had never happened in the first place.

                                          Wonder if they ever resolved it? After reading the first 3 chapters of this book I mentioned I at least understand what the "hard fork" solution means. I wouldn't have known otherwise.

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