Criticism of our existing financial systems is valid but it’s a different topic, it does make society happen and has tremendous value.
Crypto has negative value. It undermines society, and it actively facilitates crime.
Attempting to invoke the thankfully largely-discarded concept of "whataboutism" is actually just a kind of backhanded ad hominem used to avoid making a real argument and instead try to make people "look the other way".
Criticism of the existing financial system in the context of discussing a proposed replacement for it is about as related a discussion as possible.
Simply stating that all crypto is bad/criminal adds nothing of value to the discussion.
The truth is that there are (as there generally is with new technologies), useful and practical purposes to which they are applied. Indeed, the majority instances so far of "crypto" having caused harm has actually been the result of an ordinary centralised trust-based fraud donning the label "crypto" to draw in victims to loot.
The #1 mantra of crypto has always been "not your keys, not your coins". Had it been followed, instead of perverted into its opposite and mislabelled "crypto", the most heinous of these scams would not have been enabled.
The thing most actively facilitating crime and fraud in "crypto" lately is the profoundly misguided belief that giving your money to someone you've never met you saw on TV is safer than keeping it in your own wallet.
Crypto is not to blame for that belief, it was invented to provide an alternative.
>Attempting to invoke the thankfully largely-discarded concept of "whataboutism" is actually just a kind of backhanded ad hominem used to avoid making a real argument and instead try to make people "look the other way".
Moments of clarity like this are one of the main reasons I keep coming back to this place. :D
You can question the relevance of a comparison without questioning the integrity of the person bringing it up: say it's off-topic and explain why.
More often than not, accusations of "whataboutery" are used to avoid having to explain why something isn't relevant and thus avoid addressing whatever point is being made. I'd go as far as to say it's why the word even exists.
"EThe Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks"
The financial system is explicitly on topic when discussing Crypto Currency.
No, the financial system is the reason Bitcoin was created: state and banks are cooperating to debase the national currency.
Crypto undermines tyranny, not society.
In all my tears of living I’ve never had a conversation where someone used the word tyranny and banking in the same sentence.
Average joe just wants their assets insured and kept in a safe place.
"Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws." - Mayer Amschel Rothschild