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Comment by yid | Hacker News Reader

> There is no reason a blockchain based app couldn't be implemented.

I don't think anyone is doubting this bit. It's the overwhelming current trend of forcing everything onto the blockchain, whether it improves the application or not. The interesting questions (frequently not answered) revolve around why one should do this.

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To me, the supposed benefit of using blockchain was so obvious as not to require stating: Removal of any central authority over connecting customers to service providers. And you might not want Uber tracking your travels, for example.

There are good arguments for centralization, too. Not saying the blockchain argument win out. Just saying, the benefits are the same as for every other blockchain application, and well understood.

The presence of both "so obvious as not to require stating" and "Not saying the blockchain argument win out" suggests that it's probably not as obvious as it seems. :)

> And you might not want Uber tracking your travels, for example.

Surely a blockchain would only change that to anybody being able to track your travels, though?

The whole system wouldn't have to sit on the blockchain - only the parts that are needed to put out a request. The only part that would need some thought is the initial location. One option would be to put out a general location, within 10 miles, then only give exact location to those who request it and have a proven record of being good drivers. That's another problem as well - how do you create a ratings system on the blockchain that can't be manipulated? Perhaps a page-rank style algorithm could do that.

No more or less than anybody can track my bitcoin transactions, right? If I want to be anonymous, I use a new bitcoin address for each transaction.

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