a_hard_time

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Every HN thread relating to blockchain turns into either a) immediate dismissal of blockchain or b) immediate dismissal of blockchain based on its carbon footprint. Frankly, this is boring and repetitive. If you have no actual contribution to make, perhaps don't clutter every thread with the same critiques which have been discussed a thousand times before.

a_hard_time

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> That's a considerable development effort and probably out of reach for youtube creators who are large enough to make a living and depend on youtube, but not large enough to justify that kind of investment.

YouTube revolves around free content - this places creators on the platform at an immediate and significant disadvantage in terms of monetising their audience. Many YouTubers who are stuck in that rut of being dependent on YouTube, despite having a fairly large audience, would likely make a lot more money if they started producing content on platforms which offer better options for monetisation (ideally, their own).

A great example of this is Twitch. Direct monetisation of the audience is a fundamental part of the culture on Twitch. The site is optimised for it. Even before the Amazon Prime subscriptions, Twitch was FAR more profitable than YouTube for creators with audiences of comparable size.

a_hard_time

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This is a lesson that YouTubers need to learn far earlier. I know a number of creators with relatively small audiences (under 50,000 subscribers on YouTube) who earn six figure incomes because they properly monetise. Even with the massive pay-outs from sponsor spots in videos, content creators fail to recognise the true value of their relationship with their audience.

It is easier than ever to accept payment directly from an audience in exchange for access to premium content or products. It isn't for everyone - but if their goal is to make a business out of their content, it should be one of the first steps taken.

a_hard_time

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> there isn’t an alternative to AC that uses six orders of magnitude less energy.

There are many alternatives to AC which can solve the same problems - but they are less effective and convenient.

As it stands right now, there are alternatives to proof of work. However, they are not nearly as time-tested, and many of them compromise on security in order to score that big eco win.

Comparing proof of work and proof of stake, as if they are 1:1 comparisons, is not accurate in the slightest. One is clearly inferior in terms of its carbon footprint, but when the function of the technology is transacting and storing value that should not be the primary concern.

a_hard_time

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The top comment on every crypto thread always dismisses blockchain as a failed technology (ignoring cryptocurrency) and smart contracts as having no killer app (ignoring decentralised finance). These comments never come with substance. They are essentially declarations of the poster's own lack of insight and understanding.

I'm open to criticisms of crypto and smart contracts, but the comment above provides nothing in the way of meaningful criticism. It is trash.