#bitcoin-dev - Pieter Wuillle "it's ridiculous to propose that at this point. So do not worry, i have no intention of merging such a thing in Core" To those spreading FUD about core switching PoW algo if a HF occurs, stop. Its toxic to our ecosystem to spread misinformation designed to cause fear.

The full log -

• <Luke-Jr> if the miners attempt to hardfork, against the consensus of the community/economy, the the community/economy may very well change PoW to overrule the miners' defection/betrayal*
  
• <sipa> Luke-Jr: they may, but it's ridiculous to propose that at this point, sorry
• <Luke-Jr> if there is a real consensus (not just miners) for a hardfork, then we don't have that situation and it can proceed safely
  
• <sipa> i would strongly oppose merging it in bitcoin core, on the grounds that it would require an extremely high degree of consensus, and i do not see that hapoening
• <sipa> Luke-Jr: yes, i understand, but it sends the completely wrong message imho
  
• <sipa> the incentive is to maintain a single chain, and changing pow would be very damaging for that
  
• <sipa> if mining would become completely centralized, the rest of the ecosystem should have a reason to *together switch PoW
  
• <sipa> as mining is an expensive choice for the ecosystem, and its only purpose is avoiding central control and censorship;; in a highly centralized mining ecosystem, you get the coss without the benefits
  
• <sipa> however, i think that it is clear right now that switching PoW would be way harder to get consensus on than other things thay are being debated
  
• <sipa> so do not worry, i have no intention of merging such a thing*

So, to summarize -

Luke-Jr is a troll who no one agree's with, as usual. Im not sure if he's doing this because he's emotionally unstable or just doing this for fun to get a rise out of people, but one thing is clear, he's a minority and is often the black sheep of the core maintainers. Its very difficult to take anything he says seriously.

The possibility of a Hardfork to change the mining algo on the PoW is a valid and real option, but as sipa said he would strongly oppose such a action if it did not maintain a high degree of consensus and only if the community banded together to decide to switch it.

This is kind of like a nuclear "emergency" button only to be used as a last-last resort situation if it became clear that the centralization of mining is actually threatening the most valuable features of bitcoin.

We all know that the danger is real. But we are no where near that point. Anyone who is saying that Core will change the PoW are using appeal to fear fallacy to manipulate you into siding with them.

Ignore them and point to this thread.

Submitted January 21, 2016 at 02:50AM by GentlemenHODL http://bit.ly/1JYyb5g