Bitcoin News

Andreas Antonopoulos Blocks Bitcoinist on Twitter After “Hit Job Story”

Andreas Antonopoulos Blocks Bitcoinist on Twitter After “Hit Job Story”

​Within the Bitcoin community, there are frequently disagreements and issues regarding a matter of opinion. Communication and dialogue usually can cure any and all such problems, at least keeping them from boiling over. A noticeable lack of communication has now created a rift between know Bitcoin savant Andreas Antonopoulos that has led him to block any future Twitter interaction with a Bitcoin news site after what he called a “hit job story,” published on Wednesday.

Can’t we all just get along?

The Brew-ha-ha erupted in the online Blogger/Twittersphere between Bitcoin orator and educator Andreas Antonopoulos and the Bitcoin news site Bitcoinist after the recent article posted on the site. The writer, Justin O’Connell, created an oped piece called “Andreas Antonopoulos’ Folly On Private Blockchains.” The article seems to be built around a recent tweet by Antonopulos, stating the following:

I'm reclaiming the word "Blockchain", but using it with a qualifier:

Open Blockchain

If it ain't open, it ain't worth shit

— AndreasMAntonopoulos (@aantonop) May 9, 2016

In Antonopoulos’ opinion, this is the crux of the matter, as O'Connell failed to reach out to Antonopoulos about the extent of his opinions, which he has been expounding upon quite liberally in his travels around the world. In direct response to the article, Antonopoulos responded on Wednesday night with the following on his Twitter account.

Bitcoinist did a pathetic hit job story about me, without asking me for comment. They constructed an entire critical article off one tweet.

— AndreasMAntonopoulos (@aantonop) May 11, 2016

First time I've blocked a news writer and a media site on Twitter.

— AndreasMAntonopoulos (@aantonop) May 11, 2016

Writing an op-ed piece is fine, as I’ve done more than my share over the last eighteen months. The problem with this piece is:

A) It is not hard to find Antonopoulos’ full opinion on private blockchains or any other Bitcoin-related matter. He has a YouTube channel that has several videos going over his views on multiple topics.

B) O'Connell​ failed to contact Antonopoulos at all to get a direct quote, clarifying any misconceptions.

This is particularly funny, because, in the article’s first paragraph, O'Connell comes right out of the gate blaming Antonopoulos for having a misconception of relevancy of private blockchains, yet O'Connell​ had no problem pushing his own misconception of Antonopoulos’ opinion without asking him for clarification. The “folly” does not seem to be in Antonopoulos’ understanding of private blockchains, but in O'Connell speaking for someone who’s full opinion is not at all difficult to find, either in person, or in video.

This article also infuriated Antonopoulos enough for him to go to the site and comment below the article with the following statement:

“What a bullshit strawman argument. You made up what I think based on a single tweet, without asking me what I actually think. You built up an empty strawman argument and then gleefully tore down your own misconception. Perhaps next time you will ask me? Or is it just easier to put together a pile of speculation under a click-bait heading? It's not even worth the bytes it consumes on the server.”

After this fire was started, Bitcoinist saw enough fallout to force them to add the following note at the top of the article, in response:

“Editor’s Note: The following article is the opinion of the writer. It has started debate along with both positive and negative reactions. All voices should be heard and acknowledged.”

For those who want to know what Antonopoulos does believe when it comes to the relevance of private blockchains, see the video below. Posted on his YouTube channel last month, it should illuminate his opinion against any lingering misconceptions.

It seems the old adage about blame still applies here: ‘When you point the finger at someone else, there are always three fingers pointing right back at you.'