# Is Cryptocurrency an off limits topic here on the SDMB? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 8, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273 "2017-10-08T02:33:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/1 "2017-10-08T02:33:59Z")
If so, Why? ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/2 "2017-10-08T02:38:14Z")
Speaking as a member but I have never been a mod. Certainly not, as far as I know. As long as it is legal, there are no off-limits topics on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/3 "2017-10-08T02:41:39Z")
No, and no reason? I’ve seen threads about Bitcoin here in my time here, and googling shows more of them. Any particular reason you thought it was banned? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/4 "2017-10-08T02:50:16Z")
Asking how to use it to avoid paying taxes would probably not be allowed but discussing it in general should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/5 "2017-10-08T02:56:56Z")
Moved to ATMB. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/6 "2017-10-08T03:01:07Z")
> [@Claude Remains](#): > > Is Cryptocurrency an off limits topic here on the SDMB? No. It’s OK as long as posts do not violate US law or promote activity that is illegal in the US. > [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > If so, Why? I’m also puzzled why you think it would be. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/7 "2017-10-08T03:04:05Z")
I’m guessing far too many people still have no idea what the “Straight dope” is on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/8 "2017-10-08T04:11:25Z")
> [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > I’m guessing far too many people still have no idea what the “Straight dope” is on the subject. Do you know something we don’t know? In any case a Google search of the boards for ‘cryptocurrency’ finds 242 threads and ‘bitcoin’ finds 1180 threads. It’s a pretty fair guess that the topic isn’t off-limits. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/9 "2017-10-08T04:20:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > No. It’s OK as long as posts do not violate US law or promote activity that is illegal in the US. > > I’m also puzzled why you think it would be. This could open itself to some narrow interpretations. Would a comment that identifies sanctuary cities be construed as promoting activity that is illegal? Is there any restriction in the Canadope Cafe, regarding one Canadian advising another on how to violate Canadian tax law. Or illegal immigration from the USA into Canada? If so, would the same be applied to Iranians discussing activities that violate Iranian law? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/10 "2017-10-08T04:34:05Z")
I suppose if you were getting into details of using bitcoins to buy drugs or some other illegal transaction on the dark web you would be shut down in a hurry, but other than that you shouldn’t attract any official attention. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/11 "2017-10-08T05:03:19Z")
> [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > I’m guessing far too many people still have no idea what the “Straight dope” is on the subject. I have no idea of what you mean by this. Pretty much everyone who has responded understands our general policy. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/12 "2017-10-08T05:25:14Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > This could open itself to some narrow interpretations. Would a comment that identifies sanctuary cities be construed as promoting activity that is illegal? As of the latest court ruling, there doesn’t appear to be anything illegal about a sanctuary city, so that has got to be safe. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/13 "2017-10-08T09:55:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I have no idea of what you mean by this. Doesn’t the poster mean it’s not a subject too many know a lot about atm. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/14 "2017-10-08T10:01:09Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Asking how to use it to avoid paying taxes would probably not be allowed but discussing it in general should be fine. Why? Tax avoidance is not illegal. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/15 "2017-10-08T10:16:19Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Why? Tax avoidance is not illegal. Maybe I should have said evade paying income tax. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/16 "2017-10-08T10:18:49Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > As of the latest court ruling, there doesn’t appear to be anything illegal about a sanctuary city, so that has got to be safe. While the city’s inactivity may not be illegal, many people living there are breaking the law, and counseling such a lawbreaker to seek refuge there could be promoting activity that is illegal. An activity can still be illegal, even if the local police are not enforcing it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/17 "2017-10-08T11:35:20Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > While the city’s inactivity may not be illegal, many people living there are breaking the law, and counseling such a lawbreaker to seek refuge there could be promoting activity that is illegal. An activity can still be illegal, even if the local police are not enforcing it. Perhaps you don’t understand what a sanctuary city is. You can’t go there “to hide”. It’s just a place where city officials either won’t ask for your immigration status and/or won’t give up that information to the feds. There is nothing illegal about that. But they won’t give you false papers or help you find a job you cannot legally take. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/18 "2017-10-08T12:27:12Z")
IMO **jtur88** has a point. A weak one, but a point nonetheless. The bottom line overall of course is that everything in human society is shades of gray. In a very, \*very \*weak sense, someone commenting merely that “City X is a ‘sanctuary city’.” amounts to saying “If any reader of this post at any time is an undocumented alien here illegally, that person can improve their chances of remaining undetected by moving to City X. And thereby probably continue their illegal status for longer.” Which in some very, \*very \*weak sense amounts to promoting that activity. But ultimately that’s stupid thinking. It’s not true that everything that’s not a rabid denunciation is a form of at least faint support. That’s the fallacy of the excluded middle. Poster **jtur88** ’s point is that very, \*very \*faint almost imperceptible gray isn’t exactly pure white. Thank you Captain Obvious. IOW, true but irrelevant. IMO the board’s rules are meant to police obvious blatant conduct directly advocating violating material laws in material ways, or providing how-tos on doing so. With particular emphasis on some areas of law that matter especially to a communications medium. Namely copyright infringement, digital media piracy, etc. How do I buy / sell / speculate in Bitcoin? Fine. Where can I find a drug dealer who’ll take Bitcoin? Not fine. IMO this isn’t that difficult. Add me to the chorus of people who don’t understand what sort of elliptical point this is meant to make: > [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > I’m guessing far too many people still have no idea what the “Straight dope” is on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/19 "2017-10-08T13:11:55Z")
For example, many people assume Bitcoins are coins with teeth marks in them, which, as **Claude** will explain, is not entirely true. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273/20 "2017-10-08T13:31:23Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > For example, many people assume Bitcoins are coins with teeth marks in them, which, as **Claude** will explain, is not entirely true. I thought those were Bytecoins. It’s what happened when people mistook bitcoins for food and eight them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cryptocurrency-an-off-limits-topic-here-on-the-sdmb/798273.md?page=2)